How ready is South Africa to accommodate people with disabilities before, during and after the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup? This subject will fall under the spotlight at this year’s ACSA Disability Conference and Expo, taking place from September 17 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

According to Justin Maree of Fair Consultants, organisers of the event, estimates are that between 450 000 and 500 000 foreign visitors will arrive in South Africa for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.

“Roughly 50 000 (10%) of these visitors will be people with disabilities. They represent a significant and important target market that cannot be ignored.” 

Maree adds that people with disabilities face barriers such as transport difficulties, inadequate services, inaccessible destinations and a shortage of people willing to help. Other challenges they will encounter include boarding airplanes, finding buses, taxis, hotel rooms and restaurants.

“With the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup just 294 days away, these barriers need to be addressed so that people with disabilities have equal accessibility to the World Cup,” says Maree, “hence the hosting of our conference.”

The conference theme is “2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup – how people with disabilities will be accommodated”.  The programme includes speakers from a number of organisations that are involved in arrangements for 2010. These include: Nina Otto from Gautrain; senior executive manager at MATCH Event Services, Adam Brown; operations manager at the Tourism Grading Council, Nivashnee Govender; and Phillip Thompson from IDC Consultants.

In addition, there will be a special address by Benny Palime of the new Ministry for Women, Youths and People with Disabilities.

Endorsed by the SA Disability Alliance (SADA) the two-day conference will also focus on people with disabilities in the workplace on the second day.