Policy Briefs: The Right of People with Intellectual Disabilities to Education and to Employment

The right to basic education is a rudimentary entitlement extending to everyone, as set forth in section 29 of the Constitution. People with intellectual disabilities have long since been denied this right and it is vital that this change. Inclusive education is an area that has been chronically neglected and this is an affront to the rights of learners so-situated. Similarly, the right to employment is an entitlement in international law. Like education, the rights of people with intellectual disabilities have been neglected in this regard, with very capable individuals being unable to enter into the labour market. Poor education is directly linked to unemployment and is massively problematic in our society. People with intellectual disabilities have also suffered from a lack of support in communities and proper community-based care. With a human rights approach required by government in the White Paper on the Rights of People with Disabilities, this picture should be completely different. To this effect the South African Federation for Mental Health has drafted 3 policy briefs setting our how such individuals are situated and possible ways forward. Click on the links to read them.

https://www.polity.org.za/print-version/safmh-intellectual-disability-awareness-month-2019-and-policy-brief-2019-02-27