Pretoria - Government is to use this year's National Disability Month to intensify its programme of empowering people with disabilities.
Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana will on Thursday launch Disability Month at Itsoseng in North West province, where a National Accessibility Campaign will be unveiled.
The accessibility campaign, expected to run from November 2011 to March 2014, will pay attention to reasonable accommodation in the workplace, accessibility of the built environment, access to personal assistance and assistive devices; access to buildings where government services are being provided, including educational institutions, housing, medical facilities, emergency services and access to public transport.
The campaign will also focus on information and communication, including electronic services; Braille and signage and sector campaigns; access to assistive devices as well as access to social security.
As part of the day's programme on Thursday, the minister will visit a housing project for people with disabilities, a school for learners with special needs and a skills development centre.
Xingwana will also lead an unannounced visit to a building to assess its accessibility to people with disabilities.
In South Africa, the period 3 November to 3 December has been declared Disability Month, and it will be observed under the theme, "Working together to build a better South Africa for all: Persons with disabilities as equal participants in development".
