SERVICES AND PROGRAMMES

IPDM hosts Capacity Building Meetings every second month where members are updated by leaders in their fields.
IPDM distributes quarterly newsletters with information about events and relevant topics relating to the disability sector
IPDM maintains a database of resources which is available to members
IPDM facilitates training programmes as the need arises

NEWSLETTERS

IPDM disseminates information on disability and employment related issues with emphasis on success stories through quarterly newsletters translated into 3 languages: Xhosa, Afrikaans & English.

All job opportunities and learnerships are circula100pxted through the IPDM database.

KEY DELIVERABLES

IPDM hosts Capacity Building Meetings every second month where members are updated by leaders in their fields.
IPDM distributes quarterly newsletters with information about events and relevant topics relating to the disability sector
IPDM maintains a database of resources which is available to members
IPDM facilitates training programmes as the need arises

CAPACITY BUILDING MEETINGS

IPDM hosts bi-monthly meetings where like-minded people in the disability sector, government and the open labour market come together to share ideas and resources, discuss, plan and work towards the common goal of enabling people with disabilities to develop their work potential and obtain suitable and sustainable employment.

At these meetings information is presented by leaders in their fields (e.g. Recruitment Specialist, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, students, business owners, etc)

At each meeting topical issues are addressed which the sector faces and as far as possible, speakers are invited who can address these issues. Presentations are followed by a general discussion to promote increased understanding and application to local and individual circumstances and situations. Recent topics included ‘Sensitization and awareness in the workplace’ and ‘How employing people with disabilities can effectively benefit businesses’ among others.

Major features such as the successes of people with disabilities are shared and how to learn from these.

DISABILITY ADVICE DESKS (DAD)

The disability advice desk service is a project that exists for persons with disabilities to improve access to information.

In 2009 IPDM embarked on a pilot project which aimed to provide access to information to people with disabilities in marginalised communities. The outcome proved the need for a community based ‘walk-in’ information desk where enquiries and matters related to work and skills development opportunities for persons with disabilities and guidance on available resources could be exchanged for appropriate information.

The process followed is to determine via surveys, the needs addressed of persons who approach the DADs at the various SASSA outlets as well as community clinics.

The DADs strives to empower people with disabilities with knowledge about resources, skills development and employment opportunities and other livelihood options. The project started out in Athlone with one desk and has since been rolled out in four other areas in the Cape Metropole namely Mitchell’s Plain, Lotus River, Retreat, Gugulethu and Delft.

The main purpose of the programme is to strengthen the capacity of civil society, to improve access to information and link recipients to helpful resources. The disability advice desk service is a twin-track approach in that it not only provides a service to people with disabilities and community members but it also recruits people who are themselves people with disabilities from their respective communities to be trained to provide this service.