“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

click image to visit the NCPD website

NCPD Casual Day

For any information relating to the Coronavirus, please visit the SA Government’s COVID-19 Portal at https://sacoronavirus.co.za

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…

2 days ago

The audiogram provided as evidence of impairment or disability is insufficient for motivating reasonable accommodation. It lacks information on the actual impairment, its impact, functional limitations, or required accommodations for individuals who are deaf or hearing-impaired. A functional report aligned with the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is necessary.Employers require functional reports to determine disability status. Reports relying solely on clinical descriptions and audiograms without detailing functional impact, limitations, and potential accommodations cannot accurately assess hearing disability. This hinders reasonable accommodation and employment equity processes.What is a functional report?youtu.be/aCSKDzusFWs?si=SJ4KDn9n1DYf602IThe Protocol for identifying the functional needs of a deaf or hearig impaired adult & how to compile a functional report.youtu.be/xEmH9RITS60?si=ztcjcgm1tzobLE3ZContact Information:Fanie du ToitAdult Basic Education Practitioner (Unisa)Independent mentor: hearing loss mattersFreelance producer & presenter: SABC/RSG Education#faniedreamsmovement www.faniedreams.co.zafaniedreams@gmail.compeersupport@faniedreams.comfanie.dt@mweb.co.za fanie@roadtoindependence.co.zafaniedt@ncpd.org.za064 757 5528 (only text)Youtube channel:youtube.com/@faniedutoit1402?si=MzsK9litMtuzwh6BWebsites:www.faniedreams.co.zawww.roadtoindependence.co.zancpd.org.za/hearing-loss-matters/ ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

3 days ago

The #faniedreamsmovement supports #GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay on May 15th. Let's highlight the importance of inclusive spaces and accessible opportunities for all persons with impairments, promoting equality. At #faniedreams, we aim to create a world with equal opportunities in all spheres of life.The wheelchair symbol and ear sign promote physical and hearing accessibility, but the wheelchair symbol's widespread recognition can overshadow other impairment groups' needs, including hearing, visual, intellectual, and neurological disabilities.According to the SA White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2015), persons with disabilities face barriers hindering equal participation. This emphasizes the need for inclusive accessibility symbols and practices. For access assessments, contact erica@ncpd.org.za.Fanie du Toit Fanie Dreams Adult Basic Education Practitioner (Unisa)Independent mentor: hearing loss mattersFreelance producer & presenter: SABC/RSG Education#faniedreamsmovement www.faniedreams.co.zafaniedreams@gmail.compeersupport@faniedreams.comfanie.dt@mweb.co.za fanie@roadtoindependence.co.zafaniedt@ncpd.org.za064 757 5528 (only text)Youtube channel:youtube.com/@faniedutoit1402?si=MzsK9litMtuzwh6BWebsites:www.faniedreams.co.zawww.roadtoindependence.co.zancpd.org.za/hearing-loss-matters/My storyyoutu.be/8M_cUjAKNd4?si=SJPzL_jAJI5QCfsr ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

2 days ago

The audiogram provided as evidence of impairment or disability is insufficient for motivating reasonable accommodation. It lacks information on the actual impairment, its impact, functional limitations, or required accommodations for individuals who are deaf or hearing-impaired. A functional report aligned with the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is necessary.Employers require functional reports to determine disability status. Reports relying solely on clinical descriptions and audiograms without detailing functional impact, limitations, and potential accommodations cannot accurately assess hearing disability. This hinders reasonable accommodation and employment equity processes.What is a functional report?youtu.be/aCSKDzusFWs?si=SJ4KDn9n1DYf602IThe Protocol for identifying the functional needs of a deaf or hearig impaired adult & how to compile a functional report.youtu.be/xEmH9RITS60?si=ztcjcgm1tzobLE3ZContact Information:Fanie du ToitAdult Basic Education Practitioner (Unisa)Independent mentor: hearing loss mattersFreelance producer & presenter: SABC/RSG Education#faniedreamsmovement www.faniedreams.co.zafaniedreams@gmail.compeersupport@faniedreams.comfanie.dt@mweb.co.za fanie@roadtoindependence.co.zafaniedt@ncpd.org.za064 757 5528 (only text)Youtube channel:youtube.com/@faniedutoit1402?si=MzsK9litMtuzwh6BWebsites:www.faniedreams.co.zawww.roadtoindependence.co.zancpd.org.za/hearing-loss-matters/ ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

3 days ago

The #faniedreamsmovement supports #GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay on May 15th. Let's highlight the importance of inclusive spaces and accessible opportunities for all persons with impairments, promoting equality. At #faniedreams, we aim to create a world with equal opportunities in all spheres of life.The wheelchair symbol and ear sign promote physical and hearing accessibility, but the wheelchair symbol's widespread recognition can overshadow other impairment groups' needs, including hearing, visual, intellectual, and neurological disabilities.According to the SA White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2015), persons with disabilities face barriers hindering equal participation. This emphasizes the need for inclusive accessibility symbols and practices. For access assessments, contact erica@ncpd.org.za.Fanie du Toit Fanie Dreams Adult Basic Education Practitioner (Unisa)Independent mentor: hearing loss mattersFreelance producer & presenter: SABC/RSG Education#faniedreamsmovement www.faniedreams.co.zafaniedreams@gmail.compeersupport@faniedreams.comfanie.dt@mweb.co.za fanie@roadtoindependence.co.zafaniedt@ncpd.org.za064 757 5528 (only text)Youtube channel:youtube.com/@faniedutoit1402?si=MzsK9litMtuzwh6BWebsites:www.faniedreams.co.zawww.roadtoindependence.co.zancpd.org.za/hearing-loss-matters/My storyyoutu.be/8M_cUjAKNd4?si=SJPzL_jAJI5QCfsr ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

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

 

Audiology Private Practice Forum

independent audiologists

Hearing Test Prep

independent audiologists

Ivory Tower

independent audiologists

Proudly endorsed by