Airlines warned not to bar disabled | The Australian

I wonder if some local airlines are taking note of this... Perhaps it would be a good time to finally go ahead with the court action against Nationwide Airlines, before they completely disappear!?

Airlines warned not to bar disabled | The Australian: "'It's fine for low-cost or budget airlines to reduce services,' human rights commissioner Graeme Innes said yesterday. 'But not carrying passengers with disabilities can't be part of those reductions and to do so is against the law. 'As commissioner, I intend to ensure wherever I can that airlines meet their obligations to all passengers, not just passengers without disabilities.' Tiger is offering affected passengers a full refund and says the problem stems from the inability of its third-party ground handler to obtain special hydraulic devices capable of lifting wheelchairs on to planes. It did not expect the lifters to be available at all destinations until the end of February. Tiger's application comes as a report, due to be released this week by the PIAC, says an analysis of the experiences of 110 airline passengers demonstrates a systemic failure of legislation introduced in 2002 to set standards for disabled access to public transport. The report finds recent development and application of airline policy, and changes to baggage handling, have made disabled access more difficult, particularly for people with motorised or bigger wheelchairs. 'Some passengers who travelled independently for many years now find themselves barred from travel or facing the imposition of unreasonable conditions,' it says."

Accessible Tourism is Big Money | ENAT

If it is true for Europe then I am sure that the same would apply in Africa...

Accessible Tourism is Big Money | ENAT: "At a congress held last week by the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), over 200 representatives from international disability organisations, tourist boards and private enterprise came to the overwhelming conclusion that accessible tourism is the fastest-growing business opportunity in the tourism industry."

M Shilowa: International Day of Disabled Persons celebration

OK, here is a politician admitting an awful (but believable) statistic. Remember that the target is 2% (which in itself one could argue is far, far, too low, considering 10 - 20% of any population may be considered as disabled). 0.09% is disgraceful, but probably about the norm for government departments. But the question is, what penalties will be invoked when departments fail to meet their targets? Without penalties, these will always remain empty promises. The Gautrain is also mentioned in the speech; apparently it, and all the transport systems feeding it will be fully accessible...I hope so...but we shall see...

M Shilowa: International Day of Disabled Persons celebration: "We have struggled to meet our target to ensure that two percnet of the total workforce of government employees is people with disabilities. We have only managed a less than ideal 0,09%. I have heard managers argue that they are experiencing significant challenges in finding suitably qualified people for employment in various positions. This sounds disturbingly like the argument that the corporate sector once advanced for their slow progress in implementing affirmative action."

E Molewa: International Disability Day

Does Edna Molewa, Premier of the North West province, really believe what is being said here??! The reality is almost the complete reverse of what is being claimed here. It does make me quite frustrated when political figures try to score points by basically saying untruths(although there again...how can you tell when a politician is lying? Their lips are moving)...

E Molewa: International Disability Day: "As a nation we have a proud tradition where people with disabilities were integrated into society, viewed as part of us, and somewhat privileged members of communities as they tended to get the attention of everyone."