Symposium sparks dialogue on national inclusive employment

The Inclusive Practices Africa (IPA) Symposium, held on 28 and 29 November, brought together thought leaders, academics, policymakers, and disability advocates. Themed “Let’s Talk Work: Towards Inclusive Economies through Intersectoral Collaboration”, this inaugural symposium included discourses on dismantling barriers and encouraging inclusive employment systems for persons with disabilities (PWD).

The symposium’s urgency stemmed from stark realities: in South Africa, while disability prevalence is estimated at 16%, only 1.2% of the national workforce comprises persons with disabilities, according to the national Department of Labour. It was hosted at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB).

Notable attendees included Dr Marlene le Roux, the chief executive of Artscape, who is a person living with a disability; Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Phumzile Mgcina; and Shanaaz Majiet, UCT alumnus and former national advocacy manager for Disabled People South Africa. The deputy minister has committed to partner with IPA to monitor and implement inclusive employment.

Against this backdrop, IPA – a UCT research unit advocating for inclusive practices – organised the event to address these systemic disparities through collaboration and dialogue.

Understanding IPA’s mission

IPA is a dynamic research and implementation practice research unit based at UCT within the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), and is dedicated to addressing barriers that hinder the inclusion of PWD.

Africa is home to 300 million persons with disabilities, many of whom face challenges of poverty, systemic inequities, and limited access to essential services.

IPA seeks to promote quality education, dignified work, and active social participation for all. Through research-informed methodologies, IPA collaborates with marginalised communities, organisations, and service providers to challenge societal mindsets and develop inclusive practices that reduce the social inequities caused by disability.

Transforming systems, not individuals

Opening the symposium, Professor Harsha Kathard, IPA’s founder, highlighted its mission to challenge existing norms. “Our work deliberately moves away from focusing on deficits or impairments,” Professor Kathard said. “Instead, we explore how to change systems to become inherently inclusive, ensuring everyone can thrive – be it in workplaces, education, or communities.”

Dr Adele Ebrahim, an occupational therapist by profession and key IPA researcher, elaborated on the significance of work in individual lives. She went on to highlight the economic opportunities being overlooked.

“Everything we do leads to work. Yet, while society prioritises employment for able-bodied individuals, persons with disabilities face exclusion from the economy despite sharing the same ambitions, needs, and potential,” she said. “Imagine if restaurants or cinemas were fully accessible … wouldn’t they attract more patrons or employ persons with disabilities? We are missing out on a market share that could significantly impact our economy.”

A platform for collective solutions

The programme included interactive sessions, roundtable discussions, and dialogues with representatives from government, corporations, higher education, and persons with disabilities. Dr Ebrahim highlighted the deliberate diversity of the audience: “This symposium was about bringing all voices into the room. Whether stakeholders from corporates or individuals with lived experiences, this is a space to co-create practical strategies and identify gaps preventing inclusion.”

One key takeaway was the need for a paradigm shift. Professor Kathard noted: “Our systems were designed for able-bodied people. Often, daily discriminations go unnoticed, but we aim to dismantle such structures and rebuild them with inclusivity as a cornerstone.”

The African context

The symposium also highlighted the unique challenges posed by Africa’s socioeconomic landscape, which is shaped by its colonial history, economic inequalities, and the pervasive impact of poverty and disease. Ebrahim emphasised that Africa cannot rely on cut-and-paste solutions from the Global North.

“Our diversity in language, culture, and context requires tailored approaches. Inclusive employment must reflect the realities of our continent – from the effects of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis to chronic lifestyle conditions that contribute to increasing disability,” Ebrahim said.

This sentiment was echoed by Kathard: “We need to create African solutions for African contexts, as global frameworks often fail to address the unique challenges posed by South Africa’s diversity in language, culture, and socioeconomic dynamics.”

“Imagine if restaurants or cinemas were fully accessible … wouldn’t they attract more patrons? We are missing out on a market share that could significantly impact our economy.”

This perspective aligns with IPA’s ethos of crafting African solutions to African problems, ensuring that all interventions resonate deeply with the lived experiences of the continent’s 300 million persons with disabilities.

Collaboration across sectors

One of the symposium’s innovative elements was the inclusion of voices from across sectors. Participants ranged from corporate leaders and higher education stakeholders to policy makers and individuals with disabilities, creating a robust platform for cross-sectoral dialogue.

Ebrahim explained, “This is not just about education or employment alone – it’s about creating a unified voice across sectors. When businesses, government, and communities collaborate, we can dismantle existing silos and develop more impactful strategies for inclusion.”

Beyond conversations to action

While the symposium encouraged and created the opportunity for critical dialogue, Ebrahim acknowledged that there’s a long road ahead. “Despite years of research and isolated initiatives, implementation has been slow. The question remains: Why? What are the barriers to systemic change? I hope the symposium will serve as a launchpad for consistent collaboration among sectors to overcome these hurdles.”