Association For Persons With Disabilities - Free State, South Africa

Information, Advocacy & Resource Centre

This part of APD Free State provides essential disability-related services to clients and the public, in part via information and communication technology. The Centre has three foci: advocacy and awareness; accessibility, mobility and rehabilitation as well as therapy and care. To achieve these focus areas, the following four closely allied projects work together.

Rehabilitation

Here the focus is on working with the whole person within their particular context. A rehabilitation officer's first visit to a client will determine the needs of the client and how the Information, Advocacy & Resources Centre may be of service. Following the visit, a multi-disciplinary team supports the client into taking charge of their life in every area.

Advocacy

Lobbying and advocacy play a crucial role in the creation of policy and its analysis. APD - Free State's advocacy efforts ensure that disability issues are on the agenda of key government departments and their budgets and also remain high within the realm of public awareness. This is critical for Persons with Disabilities to receive their 'fair share', and for the creation of a disability-friendly environment within mainstream society.