With still too many instances where people with disabilities are not seen, heard, and included in day-to-day planning, this year's Casual Day 2024 theme, “I See You", aims to shine a light on individuals with visible, and particularly invisible disabilities.
Casual Day is celebrated annually on the first Friday in September – this year on Friday, 6 September 2024.
According to Luigia Nicholas, Coordinator: Marketing and Training at the Disability Unit, “being seen, being heard and being included involves, amongst others, having accessible transportation, inclusive education, and accessible physical spaces" in society and particularly at Stellenbosch 肆客足球's (SU) campuses.
“Although it is a time to dress up and be seen, the theme also invites us to ponder more deeply about its meaning," she says.
“Many disabilities are not 'visible', such as debilitating mental health conditions, specific learning disabilities, some chronic medical conditions, and some visual and hearing disabilities."
Because of this, individuals with invisible disabilities can easily be excluded. Another obstacle facing individuals with these disabilities is that people tend to not believe, or doubt and question that the person has a disability, as they cannot see it.
“In the same breath, even when disabilities are visible, persons with disabilities may still not be seen, heard or included, whether wittingly or unwittingly."
While legislation such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has gone a long way to broaden participation, closer to home, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 seeks redress for legislated discrimination based on race, gender, and disability, amongst others.
“Maintaining dignity and seeking social justice and transformation for people with disabilities in South Africa is of paramount importance," adds Nicholas.
Casual Day serves as a reminder that “we must all work together to create an inclusive and equitable society in which people with disabilities can reach their full potential".
“We have made remarkable progress with the integration of people with disabilities into society, whereas before societal exclusion was widespread, particularly prior to the introduction of human rights legislation globally and locally."
On Tuesday, 03 September 2024, the Disability Unit hosted an online panel discussion delving into the Casual Day theme with staff and students. The session was hosted and run by students with less visible disabilities, which provided interesting insights. Christopher Chase facilitated a panel discussion that involved students from the university Daniel Terblanche, Bianca van der Walt, and Keagan Brown, as well as Victor Snyder (an external participant), and Dr Marcia Lyner-Cleophas, Head of the Disability Unit.
“Some of the take-home points were centred around the need for ongoing staff training to conscientise them about the less visible disabilities and being sensitive and understanding instead of second-guessing or forgetting about students' needs. Flexibility and individualisation in teaching, learning, and assessment practices were also emphasised, as well as the importance of check-ins by educators with students," explained Lyner-Cleophas.
?During the discussion, student panelists highlighted their concerns regarding how Casual Day is celebrated at school level, where discussions and awareness creation about physical and mental disabilities are not common or may not happen at all.
“The students felt that there was a need for more conscientisation and awareness campaigns at schools."
Lyner-Cleophas said that the Disability Unit has also seen an increase in requests for quiet spaces, as some shared campus spaces become very noisy when you have large crowds of students present. For some neurodiverse individuals, this can lead to sensory stimuli overload, which can lead to anxiety, feeling distressed, or uncomfortable in such a space.
“Students are encouraged to use spaces such as the SU Botanical Gardens, which they can enter free of charge with their student card, find quieter spaces in academic buildings where there is seating, spend time in the computer-user areas, such as HUMARGA or FHARGA, or utilise the hub spaces within some of the clusters that are open to students from that cluster.
She also recommends networking with other students to find out where they go to get centered.
Added Nicholas: “We really need society to be more cognisant of inclusion, with specific reference to people with disabilities on campus."
By participating in Casual Day, Stellenbosch 肆客足球 supports the Stellenbosch Work Centre (SWC) through sticker sales, of which a certain percentage goes to the SWC. A percentage of ticket sales also go to the national body that arranges the annual Casual Day event, the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).
?More information on the Stellenbosch Work Centre can be found at www.stellenboschworkcentre.org.za. They can be contacted via e-mail at info@stellenboschworkcentre.org.za.
