FOFA Communication Empowerment Programme “Making Connections”

Posted on August 24, 2017

The only real disability is having no relationships.

Relationships – human connection – make the world go round. For people with severe communication
difficulties, making these connections is not always easy. Discrimination, stigma, and false perceptions by
society often make it difficult for them to be seen, to be heard, and to have a chance to ‘just say hi.’

The annual FOFA programme held at the Centre for AAC aims to empower young adults who use
augmentative and alternative communication to make their voice heard – to make connections and to
break through stereotypes that marginalize and sideline them. In the week of 28 August to 1 September
they will join the UP campus community and add their voices to those speaking up against discrimination
during the Anti-Discrimination Week. Activities will include an awareness campaign on campus (with an
info booth and engagement opportunities planned for Friday, 1 September), making connections with
students on campus, and attending the rector’s concert!

The Fofa Programme, the first of its kind in Africa, commenced in September 2005, and is loosely based
on a similar programme, Augmentative Communication and Empowerment Supports (ACES), developed
by Prof Diane Bryen, at Temple University, in Philadelphia, USA. After the training week held at the
University of Pretoria, participants are supported by their personal assistants who attend the week with
them, to put their newly acquired insights, knowledge and skills into practice.

Please join us for the awareness event on Friday, 1 September, from 10h00 – 12h00 at the Piazza on
Hatfield campus.

For further information, please contact:
Kerstin Tönsing (Programme co-ordinator)
Tel: (012) 420 2001
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.caac.up.ac.za

Press release

- Author Centre for Augmentative and Alternative

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