1. The recently approved Disability Strategy of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) recognises persons with disabilities (PWDs) who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
2. The WCED realizes that many of its employees' disabilities are not registered or known to the Department. Therefore, the Disability Strategy is aimed at making reasonable accommodation for the needs of employees with disabilities in order to promote recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities, and to identify and support those employees who have not been given the opportunity to disclose their disability, should they wish do so. The strategy is also aimed at providing reasonable conditions of employment for persons with disabilities.
3. In order to achieve the above aims, the approved Disability Strategy, together with Disability Disclosure Forms in Afrikaans, English and Xhosa, are attached. Information gathered from a completed Disability Disclosure Form will enable the WCED to address the needs of employees with disabilities. The disclosure form also aims at empowering PWDs to contribute to decision-making within the department and enabling the department to identify the training needs of PWDs so that they may find a career path within the WCED.
4. WCED employees (both educators and public service staff) with a disability are encouraged to complete a disclosure form in the language of their choice.
5. Those PWDs who decide to complete the disclosure form should note the following:

  1. They must provide all the personal details requested on the form.
  2. Employees are to have an individual assessment done by a registered occupational therapist to have the severity of their disability verified.
  3. The completed disclosure form and verification letter(s) must be sent to Head Office, for the attention of the Director: Human Resource Management, Room 304, 3rd floor, Grand Central Towers.
  4. The information will be checked, and then recorded on an internal database and the Persal system. The information provided is completely confidential and will be kept separate from general personnel records.
  5. Copies of the disclosure form will be placed on the WCED website for ease of access.
6. Should there be any further questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact either Ms Nomalungelo Ngema at nngema@pgwc.gov.za or tel. 021 467 2577, or Ms Mymona Jacobs at myjacobs@pgwc.gov.za or tel. 021 467 2437.
7. Kindly bring this circular to the attention of all staff.


SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2011:06:07

Disability Strategy of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED)  (size: 100 KB)

DISABILITY DISCLOSURE CONSENT FORM
English  (size: 49 KB)
Afrikaans  (size: 53 KB)
Xhosa  (size: 57 KB)