WATCH: Persons with disabilities march through Umbilo

Persons with disabilities, from multiple organisations, marched through the streets of Umbilo and Glenwood to celebrate International Day of Disabled Persons, Berea Mail reports.

The peaceful march, which included about 50 people, was held to raise awareness on the daily personal and institutional struggles that persons with disabilities face.

The march was organised by the KwaZulu-Natal Society for the Blind and joined by other organisations which include people who are deaf, physically disabled and those with Albinism.

The march started on Umbilo Road, through Davenport and back to the KZN Blind offices on Umbilo Road.

Edwin Singo, Orientation and Mobility practitioner at KZN Blind, said the community needs to know that persons with disabilities exist and are part of society.

“The struggles that able-bodied people face are not divorced from our own; we are also discriminated against, suffer with HIV and having our constitutional rights contravened. We are asking to just be treated equally,” said Singo.

Singo said persons with disabilities have not been accommodated in the new digital age.

“No one, even the government, ever invests in teaching how people with disabilities can access these technologies,” he said.

“With this march, we are saying to the community of Berea, Glenwood and others that here we are; watch us, look to us, assist us wherever the need is, like anyone else.”