To bring greater awareness to their community, a support group hosted a Disability Awareness Day
The Garden Route Stroke Support Group hosted a Disability Awareness and Wellness Day at the Groenkloof Retirement Village in George in September.
Occupational therapists Christi Gresse and Semona Diener are the founders of AdaptAbility.Organised by occupational therapists and founding members of the support group, Christi Gresse and Semona Diener, the event coincided with the 2023 Occupational Therapy Week hosted by the Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa.
Several other members of the group spoke at the event. Speech therapists Lindie Stander and Dilys Jones presented a talk on Aphasia and communication difficulties.
Wiehahn de Wet, a stroke survivor with Aphasia, shared the identification cards for clients with speech difficulties to carry in their purses or vehicles; as well as communication booklets that he finds meaningful in his own life.
Georgina Els, the group’s physiotherapist demonstrated the importance of functional exercises, while narrative therapist, Rachelle Wilson, talked about the importance of mental health when facing challenges after injury or disease. Gustav Putter and JC Brits, both stroke survivors, shared their journeys on stage.
Ari Seirlis former CEO of the QuadPara Association of South Africa and disability activist was also among the speakers. He shared some insights from his autobiography Wheels of Fire. Patrick Botto, a George-based artist from the Foot and Mouth Painters painted on stage and displayed some of his beautiful artwork.
Delanie de Bruin shared some insight into her daughter’s journey with Transverse Myelitis. In October 2022, this family’s life was drastically affected, when their 13-year- old daughter suddenly complained of back pain and was paralysed minutes later.
The mom-and-daughter team works hard in therapy and handles hurdles with a great sense of humour.
Other professionals who participated were De Jager & van Zyl Audiologists with Anel de Jager discussing the hearing difficulties resulting in a hidden disability. During the event, hearing screenings were offered to attendees. Torga Optical did vision screenings.
Johan le Grange, medical orthotist and prosthetist, exhibited different prosthetics, while Dr Van der Watt, an orthopaedic surgeon, gave a very interesting talk on new technology regarding knee and hip surgeries.
TJ Witteveen exhibited mobility devices from CE Mobility and AdaptAbility, a businesses founded by Christi and Semona, demonstrated assistive devices developed to help people with various abilities participate in functional tasks.
Elmine Voster from George Library shared resources available from the library for people with visual impairments. CAW Biokineticists evaluated people’s balance and advised them on exercises needed.
Diapercare exhibited Clements’ incontinence products and Lancet Pathologists monitored blood pressure and glucose tests.
While George and the Garden Route comprises of a variety of people with various abilities and hosts the annual Outeniqua Chair Challenge, there are still some ways to go with regards to knowledge around accessibility.
There is still a long road ahead in terms of disability awareness and accessibility in the area.
Fortunately, there are organisations like Garden Route Stroke Support Group, which is run by a group of passionate therapists, including two speech therapists, occupational therapists, a dietitian, a physiotherapist, and a narrative therapist.
The need for awareness around disabilities and accessibility in the environment is close to all of these therapists’ hearts.
The Group now challenges their community to become more inclusive, to make businesses accessible, and to learn more about different abilities and hidden and obvious disabilities:
“Let us have difficult conversations with people taking up wheelchair parking spaces. Let us take hands and work together to make sure that we give space to each other, even with different abilities. Let us collaborate and multiply our resources and reach.”
The therapists are the BEST in George and most passionate about the group that they spend their time with in helping stroke survivor