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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - A disability awareness day hosted by the Garden Route Mall, the George Municipality Disability and Gender section and Nelson Mandela University was held in the mall parking lot on Friday last week to make youngsters aware of the real struggles disabled people have to face every day.
The Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD) was also there to show that people with disabilities have feelings, wants and needs just like other people. Cllr Sean Snyman, Portfolio Councillor for Community Development and Social Services, who lives with a disability himself, said we need to change the mindsets of our youth.
He said many children today still mock, criticize or look down upon other children because of their differences.
Snyman told attendees that, although the day is about having fun and enjoying the activities, it is an extremely serious day, "because what you will be enjoying for a few hours, 7,9% of South Africans experience all day, every day of their lives. Having a disability is not something that one can simply forget about or walk away from when things get tough."
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The participating schools were Pacaltsdorp Primary, Dellville Park Primary, Haarlem Primary, Waboomskraal Primary, Tyholorha Primary, Franken Primary, Hibernia Primary and Conville Primary.
Surina Ganief of George APD said they work hard to make people see that those with disabilities want to do all the things "normal" people do, but are unable because their bodies or minds do not allow them. Ganief told the learners that when they see a disabled person, they should not be scared or laugh, but rather approach that person and ask questions.
Keeping the ball in the air while sitting down proved to be a real juggling act.
Students of the Nelson Mandela University supported the event through organising and presenting activities that learners could take part in.
The activities included having able-bodied learners sit in wheelchairs to show them what it feels like not to be able to use their legs, arms or, in some cases, their whole body.
They participated in wheelchair races and volleyball and learned a lot about being disabled, while having fun in the process.
A group of disabled children attended the function to help bring home the message that they are people with needs and wants like everyone else. Photo: Salette Cloete
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