“Is hearing loss affecting your freedom to live life to the fullest?”

The Road to Independence is a proud project of the   NCPD

Meet the Road to Independence founders, Fanie du Toit, from NCPD, and the late Francis Slabber

Fanie du Toit

Fanie du Toit

Fanie is an Adult Education Practitioner and for more than two decades, presenter of the programme, “Leefwêreld van die Gestremde” on RSG, as well as on many Community Radio Stations in SA. He is the senior specialist in hearing impairment & deaf affairs at the National Council of & for Persons with Disabilities.

Francis Slabber

Francis Slabber

Francis qualified her as a Speech & Language Therapist and Audiologist in 1992 at the University of Pretroia. Although dually qualified, she soon realized that audiology was where her heart and passion was. She relocated to Cape Town in 1999 when she started working at The Hearing Clinic. She later became a partner there and eventually owned the practice until her untimely death in November 2021.

Road to Independence works in conjunction with

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News Articles

Prevalence of hearing loss in SA

What all stake holders in SA should know:

12 million people in South Africa may be affected by hearing loss, as hearing loss affects 20% of the Global Population.

Read more…

The Stigmatism of Hearing Loss

The over-emphasis on the size and discreet positioning of hearing aids may contribute to the stigmatisation of hearing loss.

It is worrying that many people with hearing loss are suffering unnecessarily due to the stigma attached to hearing loss.

Read more…

Access to Primary Health Care Facilities for Persons with Hearing Loss

Here are some guidelines and background information that can be kept in mind by hearing impaired or deaf persons, as well as health professionals at primary healthcare facilities, in times of screening, testing and possible hospitalization…

Read more…

Road To Independence is at 24 Bower Road Wineberg.
Road To Independence

11 hours ago

The International "Wheelchair Symbol" is often seen where access has been improved, particularly for wheelchair users, but also for other disability groups. In practice, this can be detrimental to the other four impairment groups in terms of respecting diversity and equal access."Persons with disabilities include those who have perceived and/or actual physical, psychosocial, intellectual, neurological, and/or sensory impairments. These impairments can hinder participation in society on an equal basis with others due to various attitudinal, communication, physical, and information barriers" (WPRPD 2015). Other symbols, such as those for deafness or hearing impairment, are equally important and must be promoted on an equal basis.I am highlighting the importance of inclusive accessibility symbols beyond the wheelchair symbol. The wheelchair symbol is often used to indicate improved accessibility, particularly for physical disabilities. However, this can overshadow the needs and representations of individuals with other types of impairments, such as sensory, intellectual, neurological, or psychosocial impairments.The World Health Organization's (WHO) definition emphasizes the diversity of impairments and the importance of addressing various barriers to ensure equal participation in society. Promoting a range of accessibility symbols is essential for:1. Raising awareness about different types of impairments.2. Encouraging inclusivity and diversity3. Providing equal representation and recognition4. Fostering a more accessible and equitable environment for allIt is crucial to promote a range of accessibility symbols to ensure all individuals with disabilities feel represented, included, and empowered to participate fully in society.Image descriptions:1. The International Symbol of Access is a widely recognized symbol indicating accessibility for people with disabilities. The symbol consists of a blue square with a white image of a person with a wheelchair.2. NCPD's brochure on International Symbols of Disability and Access is available in PDF-format at erica@ncpd.org.zaFanie du Toit Fanie Dreams#faniedreamsmovement #faniedreams ... See MoreSee Less

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Road To Independence
Road To Independence

3 days ago

Disability Rights Awareness Training should be integrated into the curriculum of educational programs.WPRPD 2015: "Life-long Education and Training: Disability rights awareness training programs must be integrated into the curricula of all education and training programs."Source: WPRPD: The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2015 states in paragraph 6.4.1.2 For training Opportunities contact michele@ncpd.org.za or erica@ncpd.org.zaNational Council of and for Persons with Disabilities Brochure on training opportunities is available on request in PDF-format ... See MoreSee Less

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Road To Independence is at 24 Bower Road Wineberg.
Road To Independence

11 hours ago

The International "Wheelchair Symbol" is often seen where access has been improved, particularly for wheelchair users, but also for other disability groups. In practice, this can be detrimental to the other four impairment groups in terms of respecting diversity and equal access."Persons with disabilities include those who have perceived and/or actual physical, psychosocial, intellectual, neurological, and/or sensory impairments. These impairments can hinder participation in society on an equal basis with others due to various attitudinal, communication, physical, and information barriers" (WPRPD 2015). Other symbols, such as those for deafness or hearing impairment, are equally important and must be promoted on an equal basis.I am highlighting the importance of inclusive accessibility symbols beyond the wheelchair symbol. The wheelchair symbol is often used to indicate improved accessibility, particularly for physical disabilities. However, this can overshadow the needs and representations of individuals with other types of impairments, such as sensory, intellectual, neurological, or psychosocial impairments.The World Health Organization's (WHO) definition emphasizes the diversity of impairments and the importance of addressing various barriers to ensure equal participation in society. Promoting a range of accessibility symbols is essential for:1. Raising awareness about different types of impairments.2. Encouraging inclusivity and diversity3. Providing equal representation and recognition4. Fostering a more accessible and equitable environment for allIt is crucial to promote a range of accessibility symbols to ensure all individuals with disabilities feel represented, included, and empowered to participate fully in society.Image descriptions:1. The International Symbol of Access is a widely recognized symbol indicating accessibility for people with disabilities. The symbol consists of a blue square with a white image of a person with a wheelchair.2. NCPD's brochure on International Symbols of Disability and Access is available in PDF-format at erica@ncpd.org.zaFanie du Toit Fanie Dreams#faniedreamsmovement #faniedreams ... See MoreSee Less

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Road To Independence
Road To Independence

3 days ago

Disability Rights Awareness Training should be integrated into the curriculum of educational programs.WPRPD 2015: "Life-long Education and Training: Disability rights awareness training programs must be integrated into the curricula of all education and training programs."Source: WPRPD: The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2015 states in paragraph 6.4.1.2 For training Opportunities contact michele@ncpd.org.za or erica@ncpd.org.zaNational Council of and for Persons with Disabilities Brochure on training opportunities is available on request in PDF-format ... See MoreSee Less

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Proud Partnerships

Ida Institute and the NCPD

I am so privileged to be part of the “partnership” between Ida Institute South Africa Chapter and National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities This a career highlight after 37 years in the sector of and for Persons with Disabilities. I so wish it could have happened 20 years ago.

Fanie du Toit
Adult Basic Education Practitioner – Unisa 1994

“Free new resources helps people with hearing loss and professionals build trusting, productive partnerships.”

Read the article here. Courtesy of The Ida Institute

 

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