MEDIA INVITATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2 NOVEMBER 2021, PRETORIA
MEDIA INVITATION: COMMEMORATING NATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS AWARENESS MONTH
On 3 November 2021, the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) and its partners (Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Pan South African Language Board, South African Library for the Blind, Department of Correctional Services, Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs and Sport, Government Communication and Information and Systems and George Municipality) will be commemorating Disability Rights Awareness Month. We have, through our Community Publishing Grant managed to empower and assist Richard Albertse, a visually impaired author to self-publish his book VISION: The Story of a Seeing Bling Man. Mr Albertse will on 3 November 2021 take us through his journey of writing and publishing in Braille.
Various research suggests that for decades, persons with disabilities have been viewed as inferior and their lives sees as less valuable than those who are non-disabled. However, persons with disabilities are an important minority group in our communities. It is for this reason that the NLSA is committed to brining about disability inclusion at every level of our operations. We will therefore host an event to create awareness about inclusivity and to promote social cohesion.
According to the World Health Organisation, persons with disabilities make up 15% of the world’s population. Persons with disabilities experience exclusion, vulnerability to abuse and violence, lack of access and are more likely to experience multiple deprivations as compared to their peers. South Africa is among the signatories of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol on 30 March 2007, which are intended to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Members of the media are invited to our commemoration as follows:
Date: 3 November 2021
Venue: National Library of South Africa’s Centre for the Book, 62 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town
Time: 17H30
Zoom: Meeting ID: 925 7383 1362 / Passcode: 100233
