GCRF_NF362 Socio-economic, wellbeing and human rights related experiences of people with disabilities in Covid-19 times in South Africa

People with disabilities (PWD) are recognised globally as a large but often excluded and disadvantaged minority. The South African White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WPRD) (DSD 2016) estimates 12% of South Africans live with a disability. The South African (SA) government has ratified various international and regional disability treaties, but has no specific legislation for disability rights, these being dealt with in general antidiscrimination legislation. Thus, SA does not have the necessary frameworks to monitor, intervene, enable and provide justice for PWD (Sibanda 2015). This has become more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in SA in March 2020. Much information has been gathered on how South Africans generally are experiencing the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown, but this does not gather the experiences and circumstances of PWD. Some COVID-19 studies relating to this population focus on specific impairments, on selected locations, or on particular challenges such as communication or mobility, but there is no countrywide data. A current international survey has recruited less than 50 PWDs in SA (Global Disability Rights Monitor 2020).
Uniquely, we will do a national survey with people with all types of impairment, aiming to identify experiences and challenges PWD face during COVID-19. We will explore whether the SA National Disaster Management Act is seen to be compliant with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2017) and South Africa's WPRD. We will produce new comprehensive data revealing impacts of COVID-19 on PWDs and thus provide the Ministry of Women, Youth and PWD (MWYPD) with evidence to inform the development of a monitoring framework for the inclusion of PWD in mitigations during and after pandemics, shocks and crises.
This study will investigate the experiences of people with diverse impairments (PWD) during COVID-19 and hear their perspectives on what could be improved, revealing whether they feel their human rights have been upheld or denied during this time of uncertainty. These findings will then be used to mobilise/influence the SA government to address any rights-based concerns and exclusionary oversights across sectors. It will provide evidence and recommendations to inform the development of a framework (already recognised and documented as needed by MWYPD) to ensure the realisation of the rights of people with disabilities during future national disasters, shocks and crises such as pandemics and similar.
After initially reviewing relevant literature, we will refine our survey tool and conduct the first national disability survey asking PWD for their views, with a sample size of approximately 4000 PWDs in South Africa. Mobile phone and online platforms (ICT) will be used to administer remotely, an electronic quantitative and qualitative survey, adhering to COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
IDS and HSRC will work in partnership with member organisations, affiliates and partners of the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) to design the survey and recruit participants. We will ensure that a wide cross-section of this subpopulation is reached (balancing disability type, race, class, gender, age), respondents being adults with disabilities (or parents and caregivers) who volunteer to participate. Personal information will be protected as per the Protection of Personal Information Act (2013).
The 9-month study is unique in focussing specifically on the perceptions of South African PWDs and their concerns during COVID-19 and related events and then lobbying for their recommendations to inform a new framework to guide improved disability inclusive practices generally and in future crises. Findings will be shared nationally, regionally and globally to a range of formats (verbal and written), for various including disability interested audiences, activists, academics, service planners and policymakers