Fanie Dreams, 24 Bower Road, Cape Town (2026)

Fanie Dreams Movement is a trusted resource, providing:
- Information on impairment and disability
- Training and support
We do not sell products or promote specific suppliers or assistive devices.

21/10/2026

Why Does Disability Sensitisation Not Always Lead to Real Change?

A Fanie Dreams Movement Perspective

We conduct disability awareness campaigns and sensitisation training. Yet an important question remains:

What happens after the awareness session ends?

Awareness does not automatically lead to understanding, and understanding does not automatically lead to change.

Knowing that someone has an impairment does not necessarily mean we understand its functional impact in different circumstances.

For example, a person who has hearing loss may follow a conversation in a quiet room but struggle to participate in a meeting without appropriate communication support.

The same principle applies across disability groups. People have different circumstances, experiences and support needs.

Inclusion requires us to look beyond the impairment and identify the barriers that restrict participation.

Universal design is important, but it does not eliminate the need for individual reasonable accommodation. Equal treatment does not always provide equal opportunities.

The success of sensitisation should therefore be measured not only by attendance at workshops, but also by what changes afterwards.

Are communication barriers being addressed? Are reasonable accommodation requests being considered? Are persons with disabilities involved in decision-making? Are organisational practices changing?

At Fanie Dreams Movement, we believe that sensitisation must go beyond awareness. It must promote understanding, identify barriers and encourage practical action.

Because the real value of sensitisation lies not only in what we know about disability, but in how we respond to human diversity.

What changes in your organisation after disability sensitisation training?

Fanie Dreams Movement
Dreaming of an inclusive world where everyone belongs.

www.faniedreams.co.za
[email protected]

Read article:
https://lnkd.in/djM3rUjm

20/10/2026

Should I Tell My Employer That I Have an Impairment?

Disclosure, dignity and reasonable accommodation

Disclosing an impairment at work can be a difficult decision. Employees may worry about discrimination, confidentiality or being judged by their impairment rather than their knowledge, skills and experience.

South Africa's Technical Assistance Guidelines on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities (TAG) provide guidance on disclosure, confidentiality and reasonable accommodation.

But disclosure is only part of the conversation. We must also consider how functional needs are identified and understood.

The importance of a functional report

A functional report prepared by an appropriately qualified technical expert can help clarify how an impairment affects an employee's participation and work activities.

For example, a person who has hearing loss may experience barriers during meetings, telephone conversations or online discussions. A clinical diagnosis alone may not explain these practical difficulties or identify appropriate workplace adjustments.

A functional report can help break down these needs, identify barriers and inform discussions about reasonable accommodation.

It is important to understand that a functional report is not necessarily a medical evaluation. Its purpose is to clarify functional impact and possible accommodation within the expert's area of competence. It should complement, not replace, consultation with the employee.

From a Social Model of Disability perspective, we must look beyond the impairment itself and examine the barriers that restrict participation.

At Fanie Dreams Movement, we believe employees should be recognised for their abilities and contributions, while their privacy, dignity and individual accommodation needs are respected.

The question is not only whether an employee is prepared to disclose an impairment. It is also whether the workplace is prepared to listen, understand and accommodate.

Fanie Dreams Movement — Dreaming of an inclusive world where everyone belongs.

Peer support
www.faniedreams.co.za
[email protected]

19/10/2026

www.faniedreams.co.za
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18/10/2026

Things to remember when communicating with persons who are deaf or hearing impaired

Effective communication requires awareness, patience, respect and a willingness to adapt.

Persons who are deaf or hearing impaired have different communication preferences. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

12 Tips for Better Communication

1. Get their attention before you start speaking.
2. Face the person and keep your face visible.
3. Ensure good lighting and avoid backlighting.
4. Introduce the topic before giving detailed information.
5. Speak clearly and naturally. Do not mumble, shout or exaggerate your mouth movements.
6. Be patient. Repeat or rephrase when necessary.
7. Check understanding respectfully. Never assume that a nod means everything was understood.
8. Ask about communication preferences. Never assume everyone uses sign language or hearing technology.
9. Reduce background noise and encourage one person to speak at a time.
10. Keep your mouth visible and avoid covering it while speaking.
11. Arrange appropriate communication support when needed, such as live captions, lipspeakers, SASL interpreters or assistive listening systems.
12. Never give up or show frustration. Find another way to communicate.

A Workplace Perspective

Accessible communication is part of meaningful inclusion and, where applicable, reasonable accommodation.

Employers, service providers and organisations must recognise individual communication needs and take appropriate steps to remove communication barriers.

A Message from Fanie Dreams Movement

Communication is a shared responsibility. Persons who are deaf or have hearing loss should not be expected to overcome every barrier on their own.

Small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.

Better communication. Greater understanding. Meaningful inclusion.

Fanie Dreams Movement
Dreaming of an inclusive world where everyone belongs.

Peer support
www.faniedreams.co.za
[email protected]

Read article:
https://lnkd.in/d9-Bg73d

InclusiveWorkplaces

17/10/2026

You do not have to prove your worth to deserve belonging

By Fanie du Toit | Fanie Dreams Movement

Our worth as human beings should never depend on someone else's approval, expectations or perception of us.

Persons who have impairments should not have to hide their needs, deny their vulnerabilities or constantly prove their abilities to earn acceptance.

Needing support does not diminish our worth. Having an impairment does not make us less deserving of dignity.

Inclusion is more than allowing someone to be present. It means removing barriers, providing reasonable accommodation and creating opportunities for meaningful participation.

The social model of disability reminds us that it is not only impairments that affect participation, but also inaccessible environments, negative attitudes and discriminatory practices.

At Fanie Dreams Movement, we believe that belonging should never be conditional on how independent, capable or convenient someone is to others.

You do not have to prove your worth to deserve dignity. You do not have to hide your needs to deserve inclusion. And you should not have to become someone else to belong.

Fanie Dreams Movement — Dreaming of an inclusive world where everyone belongs.

Peer support: www.faniedreams.co.za

[email protected]

Read article:
https://lnkd.in/dzfKyc-n

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Cape Town

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http://www.faniedreams.co.za/

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