An evaluation of empowerment opportunities for people with disabilities in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of, and access to, empowerment opportunities for people with disabilities in the Vhembe District. The methods used involved Semi-structured interviews and Document study in which fourteen officials coordinating services to people with disabilities in the fourteen departments were interviewed and documents available in the rendering of services to people with disabilities were requested and studied. The findings of the study indicated that there were enough opportunities for people with disabilities in the district created by relevant departments. But people with disabilities did not make adequate use of the created/ available opportunities. It was also established that people with disabilities had to be made aware of these opportunities and had to be trained on taking advantage of the opportunities. The contribution of this study is in the empowerment of the previously disadvantaged individuals (e.g. people with disabilities) as proposed by the present government. The study wanted to determine how far the district had gone in the empowerment of one section of the previously disadvantaged people.