The South African National Deaf Association (Sanda) has called on G20 leaders to prioritise disability-responsive budgeting, equitable participation, and meaningful representation of Deaf people in all policy-making processes.
Speaking to SABC News ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, which begins in Nasrec, Johannesburg, this Saturday, Sanda’s SA Sign Language (SASL) facilitator, Qiniso Skosana, said full accessibility across public services remains urgent.
“We want to stress the need for full accessibility in education, healthcare, employment, and governance. SASL must be recognised and embedded as a fundamental enabler of inclusion,” Skosana said.
He added that Sanda welcomes SA’s hosting of the G20 Summit, describing it as an opportunity to place inclusive development on the global agenda.
“This platform allows us to highlight that Deaf people and persons with disabilities are essential contributors to national and global progress,” he said.
Skosana said the summit should leave behind a legacy of stronger commitments to human rights, universal accessibility, and inclusive economic development.
“Disability inclusion cannot be an afterthought; it must be a central pillar in all discussions. We also call for the formal recognition of the Disability 20 Conference as part of the G20 structure,” he said.
Inclusive Education
KG Maluleke Memorial Disability Integration Organisation’s Kgomano Valentina Senwamadi said public schools need to fully embrace inclusive education for children with disabilities.
Her organisation supports physically disabled learners and integrates them into mainstream schooling.
“When children are integrated late, they struggle to adjust to their peers and feel excluded. But when inclusion begins early, they adapt more easily as they progress through school, enter the workplace, and navigate everyday life like anyone else,” Senwamadi explained.
–SABC–
