Building a more inclusive South Africa: progress and pitfalls in disability rights and inclusion. Issue 3 (3rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Black, David R.; de Matos-Ala, Jacqueline
• Is Part Of: Third world thematics. Volume 1:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 335
• Page End: 352
• Publication Date: 2016-05-03
• Subjects: South Africa -- disability -- mainstreaming -- neo-liberalism -- human rights -- civil society; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Periodicals; 338.90091724
• DOI: 10.1080/23802014.2016.1252687
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2379-9978

Abstract

Abstract: For disabled South Africans, the legacy of protracted conflict and conflict resolution has led to a paradoxical situation. The struggle of people with disabilities within the larger politics of struggle helped produce major gains through constitutional recognition, self-representation, legislated advances and institutionalisation (or 'mainstreaming') of disability issues countrywide. Yet these advances have lost momentum, well short of full equity, and disabled South Africans continue to be systematically disadvantaged in all spheres of society. In short, a stubborn gap persists between aspiration and implementation. We document this gap, and offer five propositions as explanations for its persistence.