The ability to see past disability with Hercie Blaauw
The Linden resident, who has cerebral palsy, tells us why she never let her disability define her.
Casual Day is an annual fundraising campaign held by the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD). Already launched, the campaign runs until September 1, which is Casual Day. The theme of Casual Day 2023 is #ShareASmile with Persons with Disabilities.
To share this smile, the paper headed to Linden-based, Ry Ma In where we met the centre’s manager, Hercie Blaauw, who shared her life as someone living with cerebral palsy.
She was only eight months old when she was diagnosed with a motor disability. In her case, doctors were not quite sure what caused it. Cerebral Palsy (CP) is described as the most common motor disability in childhood. It’s caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles.
Blaauw’s disability did little in the way of stopping her from achieving anything she put her mind to. When she was two years old her family moved from Namibia to Cape Town, where she attended a school for children with her specific disability. They moved again, this time to Kimberly, where Blaauw attended high school and there she was exposed to children with varying disabilities. After school, she achieved several qualifications: BA Law, LLB, Afrikaans Honours and a Masters in Education. “At first my father encouraged me to do a law degree, but it ended up not tying with my conscious. It’s not always what you see on TV where you help only the innocent. Though there are many different things within the law profession I could have done, there was also not much opportunity for people with disabilities.” Because of her disability, she has visual perceptual problems which makes filling forms hard. In a time before computers, this was the sort of thing she just couldn’t manage.
Though she had hoped that with her teaching qualification, she would be able to teach within schools with children living with disabilities and become a role model for them. It wasn’t to be as all 36 schools she applied to, opted not to employ her. Yet, even with all she had come to terms with not being able to do- she says she is living a fulfilled life, one that has not left her disappointed.
Blaauw credits this view of her life to her steadfast belief in God, who she credits for seeing her through many of life’s challenges. “Living up to the purpose that God has for you is very fulfilling and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She has lived at Ry Ma In for the past 29 years and like many of the other disabled people she lives with, the centre has managed to give them the opportunity to take part in life.
At 65, Blaauw’s 92-year-old mother still makes sure to see her weekly, “Her whole life has revolved around me, and she still drives to come see me.”
“This theme aims to promote kindness, goodwill, and positivity in support of persons with disabilities in South Africa,” says NCPD national director Therina Wentzel. “A smile can trigger a positive chain reaction of wonderfully, uncontrollable proportions.
“In support of Casual Day, individuals and organisations are encouraged to purchase Casual Day stickers (R20 each) and specially branded merchandise before September 1, and to wear them with pride on the day.
Visit www.casualday.co.za to find out where purchases can be made, or to order personalised stickers.
“Casual Day has raised over R404m since 1995, thanks to the wonderful support of members of the public who purchase their stickers from participating retail stores, participating companies, our 600+ beneficiary NPOs and schools that renew their participation every year. The proceeds go to persons with disabilities at schools, homes and workshops represented by the participating beneficiary organisations,” said Wentzel.
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