WCRC celebrates International Day for People with Disabilities

By Yamkela Xhaso
03 December

The Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre (WCRC) has declared today that it is International Day for People with Disabilities.

The facility’s vice chairperson says Lucia Hess-April says that the MEC Marius Fransman was amongst the speakers.

According to Lucia the significance of this day is build understanding of disability issues and mobilizes support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.


Each year has a different theme as this year’s theme is Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us",

Lucia said that the programme lasted for the morning.

“The speakers who participated were people with disabilities”

“International Day for disability is the celebration of the achievements of people with disabilities. Recently we had the United Nations for the rights of persons with disabilities. We have to celebrate all the achievements that we had in terms of inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream society”

Lucia said also it is a day of reflecting what challenges they are still facing and how they could overcome environmental barriers, resources and general attitudes of the community towards disabled people.

“We still have a long way to go in regards to that”

The WCRC, situated on the grounds of Lentegeur Hospital, is a rehabilitation facility for people that have suffered physical disabilities, due to accidents, strokes, amputations etc. Staff at the facility delivers services to improve the lives of people with physical disabilities.