South Africa smooths the road for disabled travellers

Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 March 2010 09:13 Written by Helga McLeod Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:02

South Africa - Disabled Travel

South Africa has approximately 4 million disabled and ability-challenged people. It is in the process of improving its services and accommodation establishments, tourism attractions and venues to our own and foreign visitors.

Blind people can now get a Braille version of the Department of Home Affairs "Know your Home Affairs Services" brochure - and hopefully this has helped our blind visitors and locals in their travels while some companies (such as QuadPara, see below for contact details) provide wide-wheeled chairs for beaches. 

South African Airways has all major airports provided wit passenger aid units and most popular holiday destinations cater for all people, differing in age and ability. One will mostly find disabled parking near entrances and restaurant, shop and toilet facilities to suit. Shopping centres generally cater for wheelchairs and money templates and coin selectors can be obtained from South African National Council for the Blind.

About 1.6 million South Africans' first language is Sign Language - which means more people share this language than those speaking in Swazi, Ndebele, Tsonga and Venda. Soon Sign Language will have to become the 12th Official Language of South Africa. For the deaf or hard-hearing visitor, signing may be possible widely - but it is still advisable to check with the Deaf Federation in South Africa (kindly see below for details).

The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) is placing great focus on improved access to/in accommodation. Our hospitality industry is now urged to adapt and upgrade facilities in the near future and thus allow South Africa the opportunity to access an untapped market - the idea is to make every hotel and accommodation option able for also the disabled. The Universal Accessibility grading scheme aims to have the South African tourism sector transformed and to grow in areas previously neglected. The first guesthouse that received a Universal Accessibility rating in South Africa is Hermanus is Francolinhof

NOTE: It is extremely important that any visitor, including the disabled tourist, gets comprehensive medical insurance beforehand and to be informed about health issues of South Africa.

For more guidance to useful numbers/addresses and further help, see associations below:

-South African National Council for the Blind +27 (0)12 452-3811 admin@sancb.org.za, fax: +27 (0)12 346-4699;

-South African Guide Dogs Association, +27 (0)11 705-3512 info@guidedog.org.za, fax: +27 (0)11 465-3858;

-Deaf Federation of South Africa +27 (0)11 482-1610 deafsa@icon.co.za, fax: +27 (0)11 726-5873;

-QuadPara Association of South Africa +27 (0)31 767-0348 ari@qasa.co.za, fax: (0)31 767-0584;

-The National Counsel for People with Physical Disabilities in South Africa, +27 (0)11 726-8040 nationaloffice@ncppdsa.org.za, fax: +27 (0)11 726-5705.

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