GEORGE NEWS - In celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the George Municipality acknowledged people living with disabilities on Thursday 7 December at the Outeniqua Transport Museum.
The aim of the day is to promote an understanding of disability issues, the rights of persons with disabilities, and the gains that can be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the social, economic and cultural life of their communities.
Cllr Sean Snyman, ward councillor for Ward 19, who lives with a disability after a car accident, was the keynote speaker of the day.
He said disabled people should be known as a super-able society, as they can do everything able-bodied people can do, just differently and, in many instances, better.
Snyman has lost the use of this right arm.
"In a 300th of a second my whole life changed. After I came out of a coma, I weighed 58kg. I have spent my life chasing the wrong things.
"It is not about what is on the outside but what goes on the inside (that matters)."
Rudolf Lombard, a member of the Association of Mouth & Foot Painters, showed the audience how he paints with his mouth to support himself. He urged people who live with disabilities or have children who live with disabilities to become a part of the association.
He told the audience how he could not find a job after the accident but he was determined and opened his own business.
As a councillor he is pushing for universal accessibility and mainstream jobs for people living with disabilities.
"We should stand up for ourselves," he said.
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