Patricia de Lille’s speech at the Mouth Painter’s Exhibition in Cape Town
03-08- 2007, 18H00, ID President Patricia de Lille will deliver this speech at the Annual Quadpara Association of South Africa (Qasa) Mouth Painters Exhibition at Kirstenbosch this evening. The Exhibition, which runs from today, Friday 3 August through to next Thursday, will be opened by President De Lille at 18.30 today.
This is her speech…
‘Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the QuadPara Association for inviting me to address the opening of the annual Mouth Painters Art Exhibition.
In the few moments that I have been here, I have been able to have a quick browse through some of the pieces that are on display, and the thing that strikes me is the incredible amount of tenacity and talent it has taken to produce these works of art.
Although I am not physically challenged as many of these fine artists here today are, I have been able to see many similarities to an incident that I experience a number of years ago.
I was involved in a motor vehicle accident and the period of recuperation and life after the accident taught me many valuable lessons. It taught me to be patient and never give up hope!
Although I did not experience the same catastrophic and permanent injuries that many of the artists here have experienced - this display has reminded me about the hope and the ability to recover and recuperate and become meaningful participants in life again despite an adverse situation.
This Exhibition and these incredibly talented artists who produced these wonderful works of art, have shown me is that one should look at the ability of a person, rather than their disability.
One should look at what a person can do, rather than what they cannot do.
I must also thank all the sponsors for tonight’s exhibition. In particular, Mervyn Joseph and Andre Calitz for their dedicated and continuous support without whom I’m sure this event would not have taken place.
The QuadPara Association has a proud record within South Africa. Traditionally organisations in this field have been characterised by the charity approach.
The QuadPara Association has, in my view, been able to transcend that stereotypical and very derogatory perception.
It promotes and protects the rights of its members as well as providing essential services to its vast membership.
These services are not confined to mere survival and existence, such as supplying of devices, but goes into far more important issues, such as training, accommodation and business opportunities.
The QuadPara Association should be extremely proud of the fact that it has been able to develop a very strong voice within the Parliamentary arena in which I work.
The views expressed by and the presentations given by the Association are always welcomed in the Parliamentary committees and have had much impact on policy and legislation alike.
It is this form of engagement and participation that will further enhance and strengthen our young democracy.
Another aspect of strengthening our democracy is the requirement that all citizens of our country are treated equally and are not unfairly discriminated against.
This country has made great advancements in the eradication of racial and gender discrimination.
However, South Africa lags far behind in dealing with issues pertaining to disability discrimination.
Although our country can be extremely proud over how we’ve integrated previously marginalised groups, much still needs to be done about the inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream South African society.
We have our Constitution, which guarantees many freedoms, rights and responsibilities.
However, the figures speak for themselves when it comes to people with disabilities.
More than 98% of people with disabilities in this country remain unemployed and are not included in the open job market, more than a million children with disabilities are not receiving any form of education, and most forms of public transport are not accessible for people with disabilities.
The only way that these great inequalities can be overcome is by raising the awareness about the situation.
An art exhibition like this removes the stigma of disability and makes people more sensitive to the fact that disability is not a disease and people with disabilities do not expect to be treated differently or as special needs, but rather as equal and contributing members of our society.
To all the artists here - may your talents grow from strength to strength and thank you for showing South Africa that you are no different from any other citizens.
God bless you.
Patricia de Lille
President of the Independent Democrats - 084 777 2065
‘Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the QuadPara Association for inviting me to address the opening of the annual Mouth Painters Art Exhibition.
In the few moments that I have been here, I have been able to have a quick browse through some of the pieces that are on display, and the thing that strikes me is the incredible amount of tenacity and talent it has taken to produce these works of art.
Although I am not physically challenged as many of these fine artists here today are, I have been able to see many similarities to an incident that I experience a number of years ago.
I was involved in a motor vehicle accident and the period of recuperation and life after the accident taught me many valuable lessons. It taught me to be patient and never give up hope!
Although I did not experience the same catastrophic and permanent injuries that many of the artists here have experienced - this display has reminded me about the hope and the ability to recover and recuperate and become meaningful participants in life again despite an adverse situation.
This Exhibition and these incredibly talented artists who produced these wonderful works of art, have shown me is that one should look at the ability of a person, rather than their disability.
One should look at what a person can do, rather than what they cannot do.
I must also thank all the sponsors for tonight’s exhibition. In particular, Mervyn Joseph and Andre Calitz for their dedicated and continuous support without whom I’m sure this event would not have taken place.
The QuadPara Association has a proud record within South Africa. Traditionally organisations in this field have been characterised by the charity approach.
The QuadPara Association has, in my view, been able to transcend that stereotypical and very derogatory perception.
It promotes and protects the rights of its members as well as providing essential services to its vast membership.
These services are not confined to mere survival and existence, such as supplying of devices, but goes into far more important issues, such as training, accommodation and business opportunities.
The QuadPara Association should be extremely proud of the fact that it has been able to develop a very strong voice within the Parliamentary arena in which I work.
The views expressed by and the presentations given by the Association are always welcomed in the Parliamentary committees and have had much impact on policy and legislation alike.
It is this form of engagement and participation that will further enhance and strengthen our young democracy.
Another aspect of strengthening our democracy is the requirement that all citizens of our country are treated equally and are not unfairly discriminated against.
This country has made great advancements in the eradication of racial and gender discrimination.
However, South Africa lags far behind in dealing with issues pertaining to disability discrimination.
Although our country can be extremely proud over how we’ve integrated previously marginalised groups, much still needs to be done about the inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream South African society.
We have our Constitution, which guarantees many freedoms, rights and responsibilities.
However, the figures speak for themselves when it comes to people with disabilities.
More than 98% of people with disabilities in this country remain unemployed and are not included in the open job market, more than a million children with disabilities are not receiving any form of education, and most forms of public transport are not accessible for people with disabilities.
The only way that these great inequalities can be overcome is by raising the awareness about the situation.
An art exhibition like this removes the stigma of disability and makes people more sensitive to the fact that disability is not a disease and people with disabilities do not expect to be treated differently or as special needs, but rather as equal and contributing members of our society.
To all the artists here - may your talents grow from strength to strength and thank you for showing South Africa that you are no different from any other citizens.
God bless you.
Patricia de Lille
President of the Independent Democrats - 084 777 2065
