Few with mental disability have jobs

Published Mar 7, 2017

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Only 1.2% of the workforce in South Africa consists of people with disabilities.

This is according to the 16th Commission for Employment Equity Annual Report, says Cape Mental Health (CMH), as the country marks Intellectual Disability Awareness Month.

CMH will focus on the right of people with intellectual disabilities to have employment.

CMH spokesperson Gerrie van Eeden said an estimated 7.5% of the population lived with some form of disability, according to the 2011 Census report, "Profile of Persons with Disabilities in South Africa".

He said a group often excluded from the open labour market was that of adults with intellectual disability.

“In South Africa the majority of adults with intellectual disability (ID) are either unemployed or underemployed, despite their ability, desire, and willingness to work in their community,” he said.

“People with intellectual disability are often marginalised and excluded from various aspects of life because there is a perception that they are unable to contribute or play a meaningful role due to their disability.

“In South Africa adulthood is not based on an individual’s mental or physical capabilities, but rather on their legal age.

‘‘Despite this, many adults with intellectual disability are treated like children regardless of their age, and are denied the opportunities that other adults have, such as employment,” Van Eeden said.

This stigma and discrimination is a violation of their human rights and prevents them from achieving a degree of personal independence, as well as being unable to share their skills, insights and abilities with their communities, he added.

Jason Pereira, who lives with an intellectual disability, said having employment meant he could be independent.

He started at Training Workshop Unlimited, a protective workshop run by CMH, in 2000 as a trainee in the work skills area. In 2005, he was selected to be part of the Siyanceda project - a 24-month set skills development project.

Through this, Pereira was equipped with various skills, including hygiene and cleaning skills, proper use of indoor and outdoor cleaning equipment and materials, and good workplace behaviour, as well as skills such as budgeting and socialisation.

In 2008 he applied for a position as a cleaner at the Foundation for Community Work (FCW).

A job coach helped him prepare for the interview.

Pereira has now been an employee of FCW for eight years and he still arrives at work one hour early every day.

“I like to be early because it gives me a chance to prepare myself, get settled and have a cup of coffee before I start my day," he said.

"I am very proud of myself and being employed is such a great feeling.

‘‘I am independent, I can travel to work on public transport, I am part of FCW staff... I can manage my own money,” Pereira said.

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