Integrated National Disability Strategy

White Paper
Office of the President

CHAPTER SIX

Recommendations

RECOMMENDATION 1 PREVENTION

It is recommended that the Department of Health, in consultation with other relevant departments and the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), facilitate the development of a National Inter-Sectoral Disability Prevention Strategy that will set national norms and minimum standards for the prevention of disabilities. Aspects that should receive attention are:

(a) a co-ordinated referral system and network, including the development of screening procedures and record keeping, the reporting of disability resulting from injuries or accidents and the development of a data base;

(b) inclusion of training programmes;

(c) key performance indicators to determine (measure) the effectiveness of disability prevention programmes;

(d) national norms and standards for focused and participatory research in disability prevention, and

(e) the development of clear inter-sectoral mechanisms.

RECOMMENDATION 2A PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RAISING

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, in consultation with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other stakeholders, should develop a medium and long term disability awareness strategy that will include, amongst other things:

(a) national guidelines for the use of disability sensitive terminology and uniform disability related definitions;

(b) highlighting the role of both the public and private media (e.g. SABC, community radio stations, print media, etc.) and the IBA in raising awareness of disability as a human rights and development issue, and

(c) criteria for the development of sectoral disability awareness projects.

RECOMMENDATION 2B PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RAISING

It is recommended that every government line function, in consultation with the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, and the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), facilitate the development of a disability public awareness programme relevant to its own area of responsibility.

RECOMMENDATION 3 HEALTH CARE

It is recommended that the Department of Health, in consultation with the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), work towards the inclusion of disability as a priority in the National Health Plan for Universal Access to Primary Health Care, the White Paper on Health and the proposed Health Act.

RECOMMENDATION 4A REHABILITATION: SERVICES

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, in consultation with the Departments of Health, Welfare, Education, Labour, Justice and Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and other stakeholders, facilitate a process to:

(a) develop a national rehabilitation policy that sets national guidelines for inter-sectoral responsibilities and co-ordination of rehabilitation services in South Africa (short term), and

(b) investigate the feasibility of developing a Disability Services Act for South Africa.

RECOMMENDATION 4B REHABILITATION: HEALTH

It is recommended that the Department of Health, in consultation with the Departments of Education and Welfare, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), universities and professional associations, work together to develop:

(a) national policy guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the early detection of disabilities. This could take the form of a comprehensive integrated early identification policy so that children with, for example, communication disabilities could be referred to appropriate rehabilitation programmes for communication training.

(b) rehabilitation within the health servicesãincluding the reorientation of rehabilitation and health personnel to help them to develop an understanding of the implications of the social model of disability, and the development of community rehabilitation worker training and post structures, and

(c) national norms and standards for the provision of appropriate psychological rehabilitation services in South Africa.

RECOMMENDATION 4C REHABILITATION: EDUCATION

It is recommended that the Department of Education, in consultation with the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), universities and other stakeholders, work together to develop national policy guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the provision of educational rehabilitation services.

This should include the reorientation of rehabilitation personnel to work within regular schools as a resource to teachers and the provision of career guidance and vocational skills training programmes.

RECOMMENDATION 4D REHABILITATION: LABOUR

It is recommended that the Department of Labour:

(a) consult with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other stakeholders with a view to achieving the ratification of the ILO Convention on Vocational Rehabilitation (159 of 1983);

(b) consult with the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), the National Training Board, the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), the South African Association for Vocational Rehabilitation and Training and other stakeholders with a view to developing national policy guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the provision of vocational education and training services that will equip disabled job seekers to access employment opportunities.

This should include, among other things, the transformation of existing sheltered factories and NGO/DPO workshops into vocational training centres, and the deployment of rehabilitation workers in regular subsidised vocational training centres.

RECOMMENDATION 4E REHABILITATION: WELFARE

It is recommended that the Department of Welfare and Population Development facilitate a process for the development of national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for accessible social rehabilitation services in consultation with the Department of Health, the South Africa Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other stakeholders.

RECOMMENDATION 4F REHABILITATION: TECHNOLOGY

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, in consultation with, amongst others, the Departments of Health, Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), the private sector and other stakeholders, and with the assistance of international agencies, facilitate:

(a) the development of a national strategy and programme of action for the integrated development of appropriate rehabilitation technology, and

(b) the development of national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the provision and maintenance of appropriate and affordable assistive devices.

RECOMMENDATION 4G REHABILITATION: ASSISTIVE DEVICES

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, enter into discussions with the Department of Defence, Denel, the Swedish Development Agency and the various international players in the alternative technology field with a view to:

(a) discussing the feasibility of alternative technology applications within the arms industry, and

(b) facilitating the manufacture of wheel chairs and other assistive devices in South Africa.

RECOMMENDATION 5A BARRIER-FREE ACCESS: GUIDELINES

It is recommended that the Department of Public Works, in consultation with the National Environmental Accessibility Programme (NEAP) and other stakeholders, develop national guidelines and minimum norms and standards with regard to barrier-free access, including:

(a) the inclusion of barrier-free design norms and standards in the Public Sector Briefing document;

(b) barrier-free design of all buildings leased by the department, including the development of a barrier-free clause for all lease agreements;

(c) the possible introduction of tax incentives to owners of existing private sector buildings that require upgrading, and

(d) the development of a broad spectrum of barrier-free design expertise within the department at national, provincial and local level.

RECOMMENDATION 5B BARRIER-FREE ACCESS: LEGISLATION

It is recommended that the Department of Public Works, in consultation with the Department of Constitutional Development and Provincial Affairs, the Department of Justice, National Environmental Accessibility Programme (NEAP) and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), facilitate a process for the:

(a) review of existing barrier-free access legislation;

(b) effective implementation and administration of existing and new legislation, especially at local government level, and

(c) development of appropriate and effective monitoring mechanisms, especially at local level.

RECOMMENDATION 5C BARRIER-FREE ACCESS: TRAINING

It is recommended that the Department of Public Works, in consultation with professional bodies in the design and construction industries, universities and other relevant tertiary institutions and National Environmental Accessibility Programme (NEAP), facilitate a process for the development of:

(a) appropriate curricula and updating of handbooks focusing on integrated and barrier-free design as a part of the professional training of architects, town planners and engineers, and

(b) adequate supplementary training for professionals and workers.

RECOMMENDATION 5D BARRIER-FREE ACCESS: NATIONAL BUILDING REGULATIONS

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, in consultation with the National Environmental Accessibility Programme (NEAP):

(a) commission an investigation of National Building Regulations, with particular reference to Section 5 relating to barrier-free access, and

(b) propose measures for the tightening of regulations and/or their implementation.

RECOMMENDATION 5E BARRIER-FREE ACCESS: TOURISM

It is recommended that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, in consultation with the National Environmental Accessibility Programme (NEAP) and the South African Tourist Organisation (SATOUR), develop national norms and standards as well as monitoring mechanisms to ensure barrier-free access in the tourism industry.

RECOMMENDATION 6A TRANSPORT

It is recommended that the Department of Transport, in consultation with NEAP and other relevant stakeholders, facilitate a process for the development of a national strategic plan for the promotion of accessible public transport in South Africa.

The following aspects should be included

(a) inclusion of enabling mechanisms in the National Transport Policy;

(b) the development of enabling legislation;

(c) the development of national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for access in airport buildings (including equipment and communication access), training of personnel in the transport industry, etc., and

(d) the development of public transport pilot projects in both rural and urban centres, e.g. taxi subsidies, dial-a-ride, training of transport personnel.

RECOMMENDATION 6B TRANSPORT

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, initiate discussions with the Department of Finance and the Department of Transport regarding the possibility of tax incentives for the importation and local manufacturing of wheelchair lifts for buses.

RECOMMENDATION 6C TRANSPORT: MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT FUND

It is recommended that the Department of Transport, in consultation with the Departments of Welfare and Health, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other relevant stakeholders, review the Road Accident Fund (RAF).

RECOMMENDATION 7A COMMUNICATIONS: SIGN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

It is recommended that the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, in consultation with the Pan South African Language Board, Langtag, the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DEAFSA) and other stakeholders, facilitate a process for the development of a national strategy and programme of action for the establishment of:

(a) a central pool of Sign Language interpreters nationally and provincially;

(b) national and provincial Sign Language Pilot Training and Development Units, and

(c) the inclusion of special language systems and Sign Language interpreters in the national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for language facilitation services, training courses (including qualifications and accreditation) for interpreters and communication facilitators.

RECOMMENDATION 7B COMMUNICATIONS: TECHNOLOGY

It is recommended that the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, in consultation with the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), the SA Speech, Language and Hearing Association (SASLHA), the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC), the Departments of Education and Labour, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the South African Bureau of Standards (SA13S), facilitate a process for the development of a programme for the support, co-ordination and development of infrastructure for alternative language systems.

RECOMMENDATION 7C COMMUNICATIONS: ELECTIONS

It is recommended that the Independent Electoral Commission and the Department of Home Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Constitutional Affairs, provincial governments, and the disability sector, facilitate a process to develop national guidelines and minimum standards for communication during national, provincial and local government elections.

RECOMMENDATION 7D COMMUNICATIONS: ACCESS TO INFORMATION

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, the Office of the Deputy President, in consultation with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), communication divisions within all line functions, the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DEAFSA), the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) and the public and private media, facilitate a process for the development of a comprehensive access to information policy.

RECOMMENDATION 8A DATA, INFORMATION AND RESEARCH: DATA
BANK

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, in consultation with the Central Statistical Services, the Department of Finance, other relevant national line functions, the South African Disability Institute (SADI) and other stakeholders, initiate a national data bank on disability, which would include:

(a) statistics on available services and progammes as well as on the different groups of people with disabilities, and

(b) the development of appropriate terminology and criteria for the conduct of surveys.

RECOMMENDATION 8B DATA, INFORMATION AND RESEARCH: RESEARCH

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, in consultation with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the South African Disability Institute and other research agencies, universities and the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), facilitate the development of national guidelines and minimum standards for inclusive research on social, economic and participation issues that effect the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

RECOMMENDATION 8C DATA, INFORMATION AND RESEARCH: INFORMATION SERVICE

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, in consultation with relevant line functions, the provincial disability desks in the Offices of the Premiers, South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) (Disabled People Information Service Project), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other stakeholders, facilitate the establishment of an accessible and integrated national information service on disability services, programmes, and paralegal assistance.

RECOMMENDATION 9A EDUCATION: EARLY CHILDHOOD

It is recommended that the Department of Education, in consultation with the departments of Health and Welfare, the Disabled Children Action Group (DICAG), the Early Childhood Education (ECD) sector and other stakeholders, facilitate a process that will integrate the special needs of young children with disabilities within both the formal and informal Early Childhood Education sector. This should include:

(a) co-option of representatives of parents of children with disabilities onto all existing ECD policy-making structures at all levels;

(b) the development of policy that will clearly highlight the respective responsibilities of all stakeholders, i.e. relevant government departments, local governments, NGOs, parents organisations, the private sector and relevant others;

(c) the development of inclusive curricula and accreditation policies for ECD practitioners, and

(d) the incorporation of informal community based day care centres into the formal ECD sector.

RECOMMENDATION 9B EDUCATION: SIGN LANGUAGE

It is recommended that the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DEAFSA) and other stakeholders, facilitate a process for the development of a comprehensive education policy to promote and protect equal education opportunities for children with communication disabilities and to protect their language medium.

RECOMMENDATION 9C EDUCATION: ACCESS TO CENTRES OF LEARNING

It is recommended that the Department of Education, in consultation with National Environmental Accessibility Programme (NEAP) and other stakeholders, facilitate a process to develop national norms and minimum standards for the design and construction of accessible new education centres, as well as for the renovation of existing education centres. This should include the co-option of a representative from NEAP to the Standing Committee on Space and Cost Norms for Education Buildings, a substructure of the Education Heads of Departments Committee.

RECOMMENDATION 9D EDUCATION: GENERAL AND FURTHER

It is recommended that the Department of Education, in consultation with the Departments of Labour, Health and Welfare, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), teacher unions and other stakeholders, facilitate a process that will transform the education system to accommodate effectively the special education needs of learners with disabilities within the school system. This will include, amongst other things, the development of:

(a) national guidelines for institutional and curriculum development;

(b) national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the training and development of educators, service-providers, managers and administrators, as well as the development of community resources;

(c) national guidelines for a responsive organisational structure, funding of schools, governance of schools, etc.;

(d) national norms and standards for vocational education and training that will meet the needs of learners with disabilities within an inclusive environment;

(e) effective monitoring mechanisms to eliminate discrimination in schools, and

(f) a five-year plan for the implementation of the South African Schools Act as it affects learners with special needs in education and training.

RECOMMENDATION 9E EDUCATION: HIGHER

It is recommended that the Department of Education, in consultation with the councils of technikon and university principals, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other stakeholders, facilitate a process to develop inclusive strategies that will:

(a) remove all discriminatory practices and barriers in admission policies, examination procedures, decision-making processes, etc.;

(b) place at the centre of the transformation debate the need to create an inclusive environment that caters for the diverse needs of all students. This should be done through the development and implementation of national norms and minimum standards for barrier-free design, access to communication support, appropriate technology, etc., and

(c) facilitate representation by students with disabilities as a distinct constituency on all forums and governance structures.

RECOMMENDATION 9F EDUCATION: ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING

It is recommended that the Department of Education, in consultation with the Departments of Labour and Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DEAFSA), the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC), the National Literacy Co-operative (NLC) and other stakeholders, facilitate a process to develop national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the inclusion of adult learners with disabilities in Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) provisioning by:

(a) co-opting adult learners with disabilities onto all bodies responsible for the development of national norms and minimum standards in adult education and training (e.g. ABET forums, SAQA, NQF forums etc.), and

(b) giving specific attention to the accessibility of adult centres within an integrated environment, flexible curricula, appropriate material development and access to appropriate technology.

RECOMMENDATION 9G EDUCATION: SUPPORT SERVICE

It is recommended that the Department of Education, in consultation with the Departments of Health, Welfare and Labour, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other relevant stakeholders, facilitate the development of national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the effective provision of education support services that will meet the needs of all learners, including learners with disabilities.

RECOMMENDATION 1OA EMPLOYMENT: LEGISLATION

It is recommended that the Department of Labour, in consultation with relevant government departments, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), National Economic Development Labour Council (NEDLAC), trade unions and other stakeholders, facilitate the development and implementation of enabling legislation on employment equity that will protect disabled job-seekers and workers against unfair discrimination, and promote an inclusive work environment that accommodates diversity.

RECOMMENDATION 10B EMPLOYMENT: SMALL, MICRO AND MEDIUMENTERPRISES

It is recommended that the Department of Trade and Industry, in consultation with the Departments of Health, Welfare and Labour, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency (NEPA), National Small Business Council (NSBC) and other stakeholders, develop comprehensive and inter-sectoral strategies and national guidelines for the removal of barriers and implementation of enabling and inclusive mechanisms within existing and proposed SMME infrastructure.

RECOMMENDATION 10C EMPLOYMENT: SHELTERED AND VOCATIONAL

It is recommended that the Department of Labour, in consultation with the Departments of Welfare and Health, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), trade unions and other stakeholders, develop national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the subsidisation of:

(a) sheltered workshops/units within the ordinary work environment;

(b) adaptations and support mechanisms in existing vocational training centres to make them more inclusive and responsive to the needs of people with disabilities, and

(c) disabled people's organisations engaging in sheltered employment and/or vocational training

RECOMMENDATION 11A HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT: ILO CONVENTIONS

It is recommended that the Department of Labour, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), National Economic Development Labour Council (NEDLAC), the National Training Board and other stakeholders, facilitate the urgent ratification of ILO Conventions 142 and 159, including the development of a national programme of action for vocational guidance, training and rehabilitation of people with disabilities.

RECOMMENDATION 11B HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT: VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

It is recommended that the Department of Labour, in consultation with the Departments of Welfare, Education and Health, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other stakeholders, develop national guidelines for the subsidisation of adaptations (barrier-free access, work area organisation), and support mechanisms (trained instructors, Sign Language interpreters, etc) in existing vocational training centres to make them more responsive to the needs of people with disabilities

RECOMMENDATION 11C HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT: VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES

It is recommended that the National Training Board, in consultation with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), the Departments of Labour and Education, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other stakeholders, facilitate the integration of national norms and standards for the training, testing and certification of people with disabilities (where these might differ slightly from standards applied in the general vocational training system) into the National Qualifications Framework and Industry Training Boards.

RECOMMENDATION 12A SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: SUBSIDISATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE'S ORGANISATIONS

It is recommended that the Department of Welfare, in consultation with the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) and other stakeholders, revise existing national guidelines for the subsidisation of welfare services and community development initiatives to facilitate subsidisation of DPOs engaged in the provision of services.

RECOMMENDATION 12B SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES

It is recommended that the Department of Welfare, in consultation with the Departments of Housing and Health and the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), develop national guidelines for the development of residential facilities for people with disabilities who, as a result of the severity of their disabilities, require permanent residential care. This would include:

(a) subsidisation for the physical structure;

(b) subsidisation for the running of the centres, and

(c) minimum standards and measures to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are protected and their wishes taken into account.

RECOMMENDATION 12C SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNIT DEVELOPMENT: PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES

It is recommended that the Department of Welfare, in consultation with the Department of Health, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other stakeholders, initiate pilot projects in urban, rural and peri-urban settings in order to investigate:

(a) the feasibility of appropriate, equitable and affordable home-based Personal Assistance Services (PAS), and

(b) how these should be linked to the present subsidisation of residential care and the development of national guidelines and minimum norms and standards.

RECOMMENDATION 12D SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

It is recommended that the Department of Welfare, in consultation with the Department of Health, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), and other relevant stakeholders in community development, develop national guidelines and enabling mechanisms for effective inclusion of people with disabilities in community development initiatives.

RECOMMENDATION 12E SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: COMMUNITY BASED ACTIVITY CENTRES

It is recommended that the Department of Welfare, in consultation with the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), the Departments of Labour and Health and other stakeholders, develop national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the establishment of community and/or residentially based activity centres for people who are unable to engage in economic activities due to the severity of their disabilities.

RECOMMENDATION 12F SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNIT DEVELOPMENT: PERSONNEL TRAINING

It is recommended that the Department of Welfare, in consultation with the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), South African Management Development Institute (SAMDI), the Interim Social Worker Council and other relevant stakeholders, facilitate the development of national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the development of personnel training packages, including:

(a) re-orientation of existing personnel;

(b) induction courses for new personnel, and

(c) graduate training of social workers in order to develop a disability sensitive cadre of personnel with a clear understanding of disability as a human rights and development issue, and the implications of this approach as it relates to community development.

RECOMMENDATION 12G SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL DISABILITIES

It is recommended that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), in consultation with the Departments of Health and Welfare, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other relevant stakeholders, develop national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the institutional care for people with severe mental disabilities, including the development of regular independent monitoring mechanisms.

RECOMMENDATION 13A SOCIAL SECURITY: LEGISLATION

It is recommended that the Department of Welfare, in consultation with the Departments of Justice, Labour, Transport, Mineral and Energy Affairs and Health, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), the South African Law Commission and other relevant stakeholders, facilitate the development of a co-ordinated and effective social security legislative and administrative framework, that will include:

(a) a review of existing laws that contain social security components;

(b) a review of existing administrative procedures, and

(c) an investigation of the viability of a Social Security Act.

RECOMMENDATION 13B SOCIAL SECURITY: BENEFITS

It is recommended that the Department of Welfare, in consultation with the Department of Health, the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), the Black Sash and other relevant stakeholders, facilitate an urgent review of the present system of social security benefits to people with disabilities and children with disabilities, and to make recommendations for:

(a) the removal of barriers in the present social security system which create dependency;

(b) the removal of punitive assessment mechanisms which lead to exploitation and
corruption;

(c) the development of appropriate administrative mechanisms and procedures, including an appeal system, which are fully accessible to all people with disabilities and their families or advocates;

(d) the development of national guidelines for the payment of social benefits to disabled people, either employed in sheltered employment or self employed (SMME sector), and

(e) the development of national guidelines to move people with disabilities receiving social benefits into self- or open labour market employment by linking them with training opportunities.

RECOMMENDATION 13C SOCIAL SECURITY: WORKMEN's COMPENSATION

It is recommended that the Department of Labour, in consultation with the Departments of Welfare, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and other stakeholders, review the national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for the provision of assistive devices and other assistance under the Workmen's Compensation Act.

RECOMMENDATION 14 HOUSING

It is recommended that the Department of Housing, in consultation with the Departments of Welfare and Health, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD), the National Housing Board and other relevant stakeholders, facilitate the development of national guidelines and minimum norms and standards for:

(a) additional subsidies to the existing housing subsidy scheme;

(b) subsidies for capital expenditure for residential group homes, and

(c) funding for the transformation of existing large institutions into smaller group home units.

RECOMMENDATION 15A SPORT

It is recommended that the Department of Sport, in consultation with National Paralympic Committee of South Africa (NAPCOSA), the Special Olympics, the Department of Education, the National Sports Congress (NSC) and National Olympic Committee of South Africa (NOCSA), facilitate the development of national guidelines for the development of sport for disabled people in South Africa. This would include the development of:

(a) national norms and standards for public sport and recreation facilities;

(b) national guidelines and criteria for the inclusion of sport for disabled people in national sport development programmes, and

(c) specific development programmes for sport for disabled people, both within and out of schools.
RECOMMENDATION 16 LEGISLATION
It is recommended that the Department of Justice, in consultation with the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and the South African Law Commission, facilitate a legislative task team to:

(a) develop and consider recommendations on anti-discriminatory legislation as it affects people with disabilities, and

(b) review existing legislation with a view to eliminating discrimination on the statute books, as well as regulations that result in discriminatory practices.

RECOMMENDATION 17 MONITORING

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, the South African Human Rights Commission and the South African Federal Council on Disability make recommendations on a programme to monitor violations against people with disabilities in South Africa.

RECOMMENDATION 18 INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION: PROVINCIAL DISABILITY PROGRAMMES

It is recommended that the Provincial Premiers establish Disability Programmes in each Province in order to ensure the implementation of disability policy in all departments.

RECOMMENDATION 19A INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION: NATIONAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE

In order to ensure collaboration between all the spheres of government and a multi-disciplinary approach between regular government departments, it is recommended that a national co- ordinating committee be established and be made up as follows:

(a) the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons as principal coordinator;

(b) the Directors-General of all relevant government departments or their nominees;

(c) representatives of the Disability Desks in the provincial Premiers' Offices.

RECOMMENDATION 19B INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION: FUNCTIONS OF CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE

It is recommended that the functions of the national co-ordinating committee will be to:

(a) co-ordinate policy and implementation;

(b) ensure effective monitoring;

(c) ensure the commitment of resources;

(d) negotiate keyu performance indicators with all role players, and

(e) develop effective reporting strategies.

RECOMMENDATION 19C INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION: LIAISON WITH CO-ORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION UNIT, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT

It is further recommended that the co-ordinating committee liaise with the Co-ordination and Implementation Unit in the Office of the Deputy President through the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons.

RECOMMENDATION 20A BUDGETING FOR DISABILITY PROGRAMMES: ALLOCATION OF FUNDS BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

It is noted that the following departments make provision for specific disability related programmes: Health, Welfare and Population Development; Education; Labour; Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and Public Works.

It is noted further that departments which need to include disability related programmes in their functions include: Arts, Culture, Science and Technology; Housing; Sport and Recreation; Justice; Public Service and Administration; Trade and Industry; Communications; Transport, and Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development.

In order to ensure that the necessary financial and personnel resources are allocated and integrated within departmental budgets, it is recommended that:

(a) provision is made for specific disability related programmes by government departments which have not yet done so;

(b) the Office of the Deputy President negotiate key performance indicators (time frames, performance review mechanisms, departmental policy, programmes, budgets, staff and staff training) with these departments to ensure the optimal use of the necessary resources and that in this regard,

(c) priority be given to the departments of Health, Labour, Housing, Trade and Industry and Transport.

RECOMMENDATION 20B BUDGETING FOR DISABILITY PROGRAMMES: FUNDING OF DISABLED PEOPLE'S ORGANISATIONS

It is noted that disabled people's organisations (DPOs) at present receive limited state funding despite their impact on the lives of disabled people, and that such funding is restricted to the provision of subsidies for services and professional posts. It is therefore recommended that:

(a) the role of DPOs as representatives of people with disabilitiesãboth politically and as service providersãbe acknowledged, and

(b) the importance of funding for services provided by DPO's be reflected in budget allocations, and that the present negotiations with the Department of Welfare in this regard be pursued. (Footnote 1)

RECOMMENDATION 20C BUDGETING FOR DISABILITY PROGRAMMES: OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR DPOs

It is recommended that:

(a) in view of the potential loss of revenue to disabled people's organisations implied by the setting up of the National Lottery, (Footnote 2) 10% of the total income of the National Lottery be allocated specifically to the disability sector, in particular to disabled people's organisations;

(b) the National Development Agency prioritise the disability sector when allocating funds.

RECOMMENDATION 21 PEOPLE WITH ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME

It is recommended that the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, Office of the Deputy President, in consultation with the Departments of Health, Welfare and Labour, the South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD) and AIDS NGOs, develop national guidelines on the relationship between HIV Positive, AIDS and disability with regard, amongst other things, to definitions, employment equity, access to education and social security.

CHAPTER SIX: NOTES

(1) See also Recommendation 12a.

(2) The lobbying and leadership functions of disabled people's organisations have thus far been funded through the lotteries of the Viva and Ithuba Trusts.

National Disability Strategy Contents

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