Read our Impact team’s report on the gap between policy and service delivery that results in avoidable, preventable inequities for people with disabilities.
SUMMARY:
Dysfunctional ecosystems undermine the capabilities of people with disabilities and adversely impact on their, as well as their families’ ability to live full and productive lives. The significant influence of appropriately available support services and assistive devices influences access to and experiences of community inclusion, access to education and work, community stigma and shame as well as parents’ understanding of why they need to advocate for the fulfillment of their children’s rights.
Through nearly 35 years of field experience, interactions with Government and other stakeholders delivering outreach services, the Shonaquip Social Enterprise (SSE) is well aware of the disability-specific costs in ensuring reasonable accommodation and support services and making mainstream services accessible to persons with disabilities. For example, the cost of transport suitable to accommodates wheelchair users along with their carers & mobility devices is prohibitive for many and leads to non-adherence to regular follow-up appointments at recommended intervals.
Barriers to access to services result in the exclusion of the most complex and advanced users, particularly when living in rural and inaccessible areas. Sadly, the burden of the cost of care (amongst other costs) falls to a part of the South African population that is mainly dependent on social (disability) grants to cover these costs. This also impacts on other family members’ ability to earn money.
Authors/contact information:
- The Shonaquip Social Enterprise team
- Compiled by Erna van der Westhuizen (Impact & Learning manager at SSE), Jacqueline Murray (Data Analyst) and a group of amazing field workers who dedicated their time over the Holiday period to make this research possible.
- erna@uhambofoundation.org.za; 072 969 856
- Jacqueline Murray Consulting; 083 655 9142
- Copyright © 2020 Shonaquip (Pty) Ltd OR Uhambo
- Foundation NPC (Shonaquip Social Enterprise) All rights reserved.