Learners from Orange Farm’s Duzenendlela Special School were among the 45 schools that participated in Africa’s largest Disability Summit and Career Expo, held last week at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec.
The two-day event provided disabled learners with valuable information about career opportunities and what companies seek when hiring individuals with disabilities.
This annual initiative is sponsored by the Road Accident Fund (RAF) with the aim of empowering students, graduates, and entrepreneurs with disabilities. The summit highlighted the importance of workplace inclusion for people with disabilities, a group that currently faces significant challenges in finding employment. Only one in nine South Africans with disabilities are employed.
Over 30 corporations participated in the summit, offering learners a chance to connect and explore potential career paths. Inspirational speakers shared their experiences and shed light on the opportunities that await after school.
The Summit also featured interactive elements like career demonstrations and exhibitions showcasing wheelchair tennis, blind cricket, foot and mouth painting, and a guest appearance by marathon runner Ipeleng “Crazy Legs” Khunou, who uses crutches to raise awareness about what people with disabilities can achieve.
“Effecting transformative change in the disability arena takes a collaborative effort,” said Noluthando Mvabaza, the Road Accident Fund’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager. “This event served to inspire learners and solidify their value as future assets to South African corporations.”
The RAF plays a critical role in South Africa by providing financial cover and support to road accident victims, including those with disabilities. “Our vision is to ensure that people with disabilities are reintegrated back into society and the economy,” Mvabaza concluded.
