Cape Mental Health celebrated the achievements of people living with intellectual disability, and one of these was its annual sports and fun day, which was held on Friday March 24.
March is Intellectual Disability Awareness Month (IDAM). The theme for IDAM this year, Destigmatising Intellectual Disability through Shifting Attitudes, was chosen by the South African Federation of Mental Health. This theme is to remove the stigma, shame and condemnation surrounding intellectual disability – by changing the way society thinks about people living with an intellectual disability and what they can or cannot achieve during their lifetime.
According to Barbara Meyer from Cape Mental Health, the organisation hopes to achieve this by promoting positive and uplifting stories of people living with an intellectual disability, who have succeeded against many odds to achieve justice, independence, employment, relationships, athletic accolades, dignity and respect.
Training Workshops Unlimited (TWU), a programme of Cape Mental Health, offers life skills and work skills training for over 600 adults with intellectual disability. The TWU annual sports day event, also known as the Trolley Race, is the flagship event of IDAM 2023. Athletes of the Special Olympics were among the guests. They showcased their athleticism to inspire the TWU athletes.
Said Ms Meyer: “We hope that this year’s IDAM campaign will inspire and uplift many people, not only those with disabilities, but people who have always been told that they will not be able to achieve their dreams, but who persevere in spite of everything.
“It is important to understand that while people with an intellectual disability cannot always do all the things that other people can, but with support they can do many things. The biggest challenge however, that people living with an intellectual disability face, is the negative stereotypes society imposes onto them. Their lives are often plagued by stigma as well as discrimination, and one of the greatest barriers they experience to living complete and satisfying lives, is how others judge them.”
The coach of the Special Olympics South Africa team, Thulani Mphahlwa, said this event was beyond more than just a fun sports day.
“Let us allow sport to transcend past and present prejudice. Let sport help us to work together as proud South Africans to improve the lives of people living with intellectual disabilities. Let our athletes proudly shout: ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt’,” he said.