Page 62 - DSD ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2

PART B: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION PERFORMANCE BY PROGRAMME

Conversation on Independent or Supported Living for • Ensuring the development and implementation of disability
Persons with Disabilities appropriate and inclusive intervention approaches,
The Department hosted a conversation bringing together different • Ensure continuous improvement by learning from global and
stakeholders to fast track the implementation of government national disability responses,
housing processes to the benefit of different persons with • Scale up social work interventions and trauma counselling
disabilities. The abilities of persons with disabilities, irrespective post training to have a meaningful impact on persons with
of their disabilities, to benefit from the different policies of disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, and
government relating to social housing (with more relevance to • To empower parents and persons with disabilities with
the Department of Human Settlement) and Cabinet approved appropriate and accurate knowledge on the prevention,
Universal Access Design, was highlighted as extremely important. containment and management of Covid-19 or any subsequent
The platform was used to consult and finalise the Department’s pandemics.
Policy on Independent Living.
Launch of accessible multimedia centres with specialized
A facilitated capacity building/training on COVID-19 for equipment
Social Workers, Parents and Persons with Disabilities The Department and MTN SA formed a longstanding partnership,
The Department in collaboration with Japan International which saw the establishment of accessible multimedia centres with
Corporation Agency (JICA) conducted a capacity building programme specialized equipment that is responsive to the special needs of
regarding understanding and managing of the current pandemic vulnerable communities and learners with disabilities.
and beyond, in a train-the-trainer format. The capacity building
programme targeted Social Workers, with specific reference to The centres were established in four (4) special schools to assist
parents and persons with disabilities. The training, which reached the learners to acquire more skills focusing more on learners
over one hundred and thirty-five (135) Social Workers, and in rural areas who will have access to a wealth of information
workshops attendant by over ninety (90) parents and persons with relating to their curriculum needs through the use of Information
disabilities, were facilitated between January and March 2022. The and Communication Technology (ICT). The support from MTN SA
capacity building programme was aimed at: through the stewardship of the Deputy Minister, is a part of the
• Consolidating the professional and technical capabilities of ongoing commitment of ensuring that DSD makes a positive impact
Social Workers to provide psychosocial and trauma counselling in the communities in which it operates.
to parents and persons with disabilities during and beyond the
pandemic.

62 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22