Students Gain More Understanding About Disability at the Anti-Discrimination and Social Justice Week

Posted on October 02, 2019

Students took the lead and shared practical knowledge on day 3 of the Anti-Discrimination and Social Justice Week. Second-year Physiotherapy students conducted wheelchair mobility training as well as the Occupational Therapy disability awareness training. Fellow Health Sciences students learnt valuable skills pertaining to wheelchair use such as managing ledges and getting up a step. This was then followed by a racing session, which students thoroughly enjoyed.

Every member of a multi-disciplinary team plays an equally important role in caring for patients with disabilities.

Occupational Therapy students set up obstacle courses and games that helped participants step in the shoes of someone suffering from different forms of disability such as blindness, dyslexia and post-stroke hemiplegia. The activities were admittedly very challenging and really helped one appreciate the severity and level of impairment in daily functioning that is part-and-parcel of any disability. The activities on day 3 also reminded students about something significant that Khang Kijarro Nguyen once said “Abled does not mean enabled. Disabled does not mean less abled.”

- Author Mmane Boikanyo

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