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Western Cape APD Profile
The Association serves as a pro-active forum for the advancement of persons with physical disabilities so as to enable them to attain their maximum level of independence and integration into the community, and is active in the prevention of physical disablement.
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Mission |
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The Association serves as a pro-active forum for the advancement of persons with physical disabilities so as to enable them to attain their maximum level of independence and integration into the community, and is active in the prevention of physical disablement.
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Objectives |
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- To advocate and lobby for the rights of persons with disabilities, and to influence legislation and policies so as to ensure that these rights are protected;
- To promote and support measures which will prevent or reduce the occurrence of disabling conditions and their effects;
- To promote the development of accessible and equitable community based rehabilitation and social development services and facilities in Branches;
- To research and formulate policies and guidelines, and design service models for implementation by our branches, in order to ensure effective and efficient service delivery;
- To support activities which will improve the access of the physical and social environment, thereby promoting the integration of persons with disabilities into the community;
- To educate and raise awareness amongst the general public about disability;
- To initiate and facilitate the formation of branches so as to address specific areas of need;
- To build capacity of Branch Management Committees and staff through staff development programmes;
- To provide supervision and consultation service to professional and other staff as required;
- To mobilise resources for utilisation by the Association and its Branches;
- To monitor and evaluate the overall functioning of Branches on an ongoing basis;
- To network and form strategic partnerships with other role-players;
- To ensure effective communication and information sharing between this Provincial Association and its Branches, and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities in South Africa;
- To co-ordinate a Provincial database of clients served by Branches;
- To enhance the sustainability of the Association and its Branches;
- To ensure sound governance of the Association and its branches; and
- To implement all or any of the foregoing objects by any lawful means which are registered in terms of the Non Profit Organisations Act of 1997 and the Income Tax Act, Act 58 of 1962.
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History |
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On 25 February 1937 the Cape Cripple Care Association was established, following
the establishment of the Invalid Children's Aid Committee, the Lady Michaelis
Orthopaedic Hospital, Princess Alice Orthopaedic Hospital and St. Joseph's Home
for Chronically Invalid Children. In the same year, Lord Nuffield of England
donated £100 000 to South Africa "for the development of orthopaedic surgery
and for the discovery and cure of crippling disabilities." Cape Cripple Care
Association decided that the time had come to form a national body. A conference
was called in Cape Town in June 1939, the result of which was the establishment of
the National Council for the Care of Cripples in South Africa. At this conference,
a cripples care charter was adopted. In 1939, the trustees of Lord Nuffield's gift
recognised National Council as executive for the Nuffield Trust.
- In 1983, Cape Cripple Care Association underwent a change of name to Association for the Physically Disabled (Western Cape)
- and in 2003 became the Western Cape Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities
- and in 2005 became Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities.
Over the past 65 years, the Association has played a vital role in:
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- the establishment of rural orthopaedic clinics;
- establishment of training for orthopaedic nurses;
- the supply of orthopaedic appliances and products;
- the establishment of social services throughout the Province (Branches);
- securing accommodation and establishment of group homes;
- establishment of sport and recreation facilities;
- vocational rehabilitation;
- establishment of protective workshops and sheltered employment;
- establishment of day care centres;
- ensuring suitable education;
- promoting a barrier free environment.
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Transformation |
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The Association recognizes that in order to survive in a changing world, it must look at ongoing transformation of services. This ensures that the best and most efficient services will be available to persons with disabilities and their families, and in fact to the greater public who look to us for information and advice. We embarked on this transformation process early in 2005 and implemented a transformation plan which concentrates on the following areas -
- Governance
- Funding
- Partnerships
- Finance
- Staff and Volunteers
- Access and Awareness
- Education
- Information
- Work & Employment
- Empowerment
- Care & Rehabilitation
The Association aligns itself with the Employment Equity Act and the Code of Good Practice for the Employment of persons with disabilities and, together with its own transformation goals, gives preference to persons with disabilities who apply for positions at the organisation. To this end, clients are empowered through various structures to allow them access to suitable mainstream employment.
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The Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities is one of 9 Provincial Associations situated throughout South Africa affiliated to the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa, which in turn is affiliated to Rehabilitation International (RI).
