Wheels for the win

AWARENESS was the name of the game in May when the Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD) encouraged over 50 corporate movers and shakers, along with their assistants, to participate in ‘Wheelchair Wednesday’ – a five week campaign that literally demonstrated the challenges faced by those who are wheelchair bound.

Top businesspeople and high level Nelson Mandela Bay personalities dedicated one Wednesday in May to performing their regular duties in a wheelchair. 

“The event was very successful and practically exposed the challenges that mobility impaired people face and the opportunities that exist to rectify them – it raised well needed awareness on a very important matter,” said the executive director of APD, Brian Bezuidenhout.

The idea has pioneered a new way of fundraising for the organisation.  Company heads, chief executives, and city leaders in general donated R5000 for the four hours they spent in a wheelchair – the funds raised have been earmarked for the purchase of wheelchairs and other critical items for those who need them.

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) chief executive, Mandlakazi Skefile was keen to participate, and highlighted two major factors in the importance of this initiative to NMBT. “Firstly we are committed to assisting in raising awareness for reform in the local tourism industry in terms of universal accessibility for the physically challenged (including those in wheelchairs). Secondly, we want to grow the stature the city gained during the World Cup when it was incredibly supportive of people with disabilities coming in to Nelson Mandela Bay and moved to cater for their needs.”

“The entire experience was an eye-opener. As able-bodied people, we take things for granted until faced with an unlikely incident. It is the little things, like having enough space in ablution facilities and drawing money from an ATM safely, that we take for granted – but these small things are really quite big for those who are not able-bodied,” said Skefile. “Spending four hours in a wheelchair was by far the best way to create a sense of awareness of the daily obstacles faced and a certain empathy for those who make this struggle every day.”

 “The ABay Wheelchair Wednesday campaign has exceeded our wildest expectations. The fact that we could start a unique ground- and barrier breaking initiative, and taken seriously by business at large in our city, was refreshing,” said Bezuidenhout.

The initiative has gained huge media coverage – further adding to the awareness and exposure of the cause. “With over 75 000 people with disabilities living in Nelson Mandela Bay, it is important that people be more conscious of those who have physical disabilities.”

 “One of the major factors that prohibit persons with disabilities from integrating and functioning normally within society is the issue of reasonable accommodation,” Bezuidenhout explained. “It is to this end that we have devised this awareness campaign. The ABay Wheelchair Wednesday initiative has challenged the mindset of the decision-makers within society and helped to bring about an unprecedented paradigm shift in the way persons with disabilities are treated.”

The donations raised by this initiative made the purchase of 50 wheelchairs possible for 50 children in need of life-changing wheels. But the greater outcome of this project, according to Bezuidenhout, was the experience participants took from it: “These are the people who can make a change in these people’s daily lives.”

The initiative has the support of naming sponsor ABay Stationers, which has contributed “extensively” to launching the campaign. “It is with much gratitude that we acknowledge the financial assistance of local stationer retailers ABay Stationers for their substantial assistance in getting the project off the ground. We also acknowledge the assistance of our other sponsors who have come on board,” added Bezuidenhout.

“It was certainly not easy being in a wheelchair, but it was heart-warming to see how kind the people of our city can be. On our trip around town, there were many people who were happy to assist me when I had needed it. More than anything, this speaks volumes about our city’s friendly people,” added Skefile.

The Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities Nelson Mandela Bay is an NGO that has served this region for the last 71 years. APD Nelson Mandela Bay provides income generating work to 120 people who would for various social-related reasons be unemployed. In Motherwell, at the APD Day Care Centre cares for 29 children with disabilities.

THE WHEELCHAIR WEDNESDAY OBJECTIVES WERE ALL MET:

• Involved businesses in making  a difference by handing over 50 Wheelchairs to needy beneficiaries
• Created awareness regarding issues relating to accessibility for people with disabilities within the business environment of Nelson Mandela Bay
• Have business at large assess and recommend changes regarding accessibility
• Raised much needed funds for the APD Day Care Centre for Children with Disabilities in Motherwell. This modest operation has running costs in access of R600 000 pa with no government funding.