Intellectual Impairments Organisations

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This Intellectual Impairments Organisations page deals with organisations that assist persons with Intellectual Impairments and/or disabilities.

The page unpacks the services and/or products that these organisations provide, both to individuals and companies seeking to accommodate persons with disabilities.

The list on the right hand side of the page provides quick links to the more essential services featured below. It is not a comprehensive list. Should you not find what you are looking for on the list, do not despair. Additional products and services are included in the information below.

So, what are Intellectual impairments?
Intellectual Impairments are developmental conditions that limit a person’s cognitive and adaptive functioning, and include but are not limited to persons with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy* and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Please Note: Some of these impairments, namely those with a “*” fall under more than one impairment category.

Visit our Intellectual Impairments section to find out more

What Are You Looking For?

  1. Disability Sensitisation, Awareness or Conscious Training?
    Provided by NCPD and DiSA..
  2. Job Recruitment, Learnerships, Internships, Work Readiness Programs?
    Provided by NCPD.
  3. Residential Facilities and Homes of Safety?
    Provided by Forest Farm.
  4. Universal Design and Access + Reporting?
    Provided by NCPD and DiSA.
  5. Donation of Equipment (including nappies)?
    Provided by NCPD
  6. Educational Assistance and Funding
    Provided by NCPD
  7. Assistance, Emotional Support and Therapy Dog Training
    Honeys Garden Medic Alert Dogs SA

    If what you are looking for is NOT in the above shortlist, you will find it in the information featured below. Please keep reading.

Since 1981, persons with disabilities have organised themselves into their own organisations all over the world, including in South Africa.
These organisations not only provide various products and services to assist persons with disabilities, but also provide a voice of their own. Identifying needs, expressing views, evaluating services and advocating for change and public awareness, these organisations believe that persons with disabilities are their own best spokespersons.

Nothing About Us, Without Us!

“Nothing about us without us” – conveys the idea that people affected by a policy or law should be involved in its development and implementation.
It’s a call to overcome oppression, empower people with disabilities, and demand equal inclusion.

  • Link to the National Council of Persons with Disabilities
  • Honey's Garden For Medical Alert Dogs and task trained service dogs for persons with disabilities
  • Logo of Disability Info South Africa, your one stop access solution

Types of organisations in South Africa that cater for persons with Intellectual Impairments

These organisations are divided into 4 main types, which determines who they cater for:

1. Cross Disability Organisations

Represents the interests of all persons with disabilities in South Africa, and include the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) and Disability info South Africa (DiSA). Learn More about NCPD and DiSA and the services they provide.

Double arrow indicating a click action is required should the reader wish to learn more about Cross Disability Organisations

2. Diagnostic-Focused Organisations

Represents persons in specific medical diagnostic groups in South Africa, such as Down Syndrome SA which represents persons with Down Syndrome in South Africa. Learn More about Down Syndrome SA and the services they provide

Double chevron arrow indicating a click action is required should the reader wish to learn more about Cross Disability Organisations

3. Population Specific Organisations

Represent a population group, such as Woman or Children with disabilities, such as The Sunshine Association. Learn More about The Sunshine Association and the services they provide.

Double chevron arrow indicating a click action is required should the reader wish to learn more about Cross Disability Organisations

4. Service Specific Organisations

Offers specific products or services suited for persons with Intellectual Impairments, such as Honeys Garden Medic Alert Dogs SA, which train Assistance Dogs, Forest Farm which offers a specialist care centre for adults with cerebral palsy conditions, and special needs, or Sports organisations such as Special Olympics South Africa. Learn More about Honeys Garden Medical Alert Dogs and Forest Farm and the services they provide.

Double arrow indicating a click action is required should the reader wish to learn more about Cross Disability Organisations

1. Cross Disability Organisations

Cross Disability Organisations represents the interests of all persons with disabilities in South Africa.

1. The National Council Of And For Persons With Disabilities (NCPD)

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) is an NGO with a footprint throughout South Africa. It plays a lobbying and advocacy role when it comes to the rights of persons with disabilities. Delivering services targeted at the needs of Persons with Disabilities, and the creation of an equitable and inclusive society.

NCPD is “an umbrella body coordinating the advancement of the rights of persons with physical disabilities in accordance with the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and more.”

NCPD have nine provincial Associations for Persons with Disabilities with numerous projects and branches that focus on rural development, and social development.

NCPD offers a variety of services including:

Logo for the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, an organisation which provides specialised services for persons with disabilities in South Africa

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities have programs in place that aid persons with disabilities, to find jobs & acquire skills that they my need in the workplace. “We offer BBBEE advice and services related to persons with disabilities, including: Job placement, Skills development, Preferential procurement, Ownership and supply chain development.”

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities offers Disability Equality Training courses to address the need for information about the reality of disability. Training is tailor made for every sector, including: Tourism, Tertiary Education, Banking, Mining and more. Through training they will find ways to challenge the organisational behaviour which reinforces negative myths and values and which prevents disabled people from gaining equality and achieving full participation in society. Training is done by an expert well trained team of persons with disabilities

The NCPD is proud to be in a position to offer various SETA accredited training courses ( short course, learnerships and internships) together with corporate partners whom then get their BBBEE POINTS for the DTI scorecard. We also do short training of Professionals in the Services and Health profession , for which these professionals get CPD points. The courses for architects, and other professionals is not accredited for CPD points. Other training includes Caregiver training for carers of children or adults; Governance training; Fundraising training; Disability Equity training; Reasonable accommodation; Inclusive design; Various impairments and the implications; Drivers of persons with disabilities; Human Rights and advocacy; Assistive device repairs & Transport and driving training. The majority of training sessions can be tailor-made to suit your needs.

Many persons with disabilities require the use of an assistive device for independence, but these devices are usually extremely expensive and therefore unaffordable for the majority. The public health system does what it can to provide devices, but the demand is huge and it cannot entirely fulfil the need. NCPD is not in a position to fund assistive devices, but from time to time, we are approached by donors wishing to fund assistive devices, which we can then pass on to individuals requiring devices.

Persons with disabilities are often excluded from many Events, Services, Information, Communication, Products and Venues, due to all users not considered during the planning phases. The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities can assist to prevent this from happening by applying Universal Design Principals during the design phase.

We go to certain areas to ascertain if the information we have on-hand is correct and/or to be up-to-date with the current situation in those areas.

The same goes for projects but with projects we also need to see how sustainable these projects are and if they need assistance to either stay the course or change the project toward better outcomes for the participants and beneficiaries of these projects.

Read More about the Economic Empowerment Services that NCPD provide:

Vava iYouth is a project of the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD). As a youth wing of the NCPD, Vava iYouth is aimed at ensuring inclusion and equity for children and young persons with disabilities in South Africa in every facet of their lives and livelihoods. We serve all youth with disabilities irrespective of impairment, race, language, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or nationality.

Living in an age where information is for the most part a click away to a large part of society, should mean that persons with disabilities enjoy all their non-disabled counterparts do, but despite democracy and the information age, persons with disabilities often still find themselves on the side-line when it comes to securing employment or even just having access to enjoy a sports match or theatre production. The need for raising awareness of impairment, disability and related matters, we aim to raise the level of awareness about disability related issues through various initiatives.

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities in partnership with the Department of Environmental Services, offers persons with severe physical Mobility Impairments the opportunity to gain access to certain beaches, by obtaining a permit from DEAT.

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities can assist you to apply for a Rebate on a new vehicle that has been imported and has been or will be adapted to suite you and your disability. The SA government (through the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), the Department of Trade, Industry and Competitions (DTI) and the SA Revenue Services) provides a rebate on the customs duty of the importation of adapted vehicles, either for use by persons with disabilities who drive themselves (self-drive), or by an organisation or individual that transports persons with disabilities (assisted transport). The rebate is also available for imported second-hand vehicles that have already been adapted.

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities can also supply information and assist with registering and applying for a Disabled Parking Disk, so that you will be able to park in a Disabled Parking space if you qualify.

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities can also supply information and assist with a variety of other Services, including: Universal Design; Access Audits; and Disability Equity Training.

Workplace services such as Job Placement, reasonable accommodation and Policy Review, Internships and training.

As well as Entrepreneurs with disabilities; Disability information and children’s programmes; Fund Raising and Referrals of persons with disabilities needing our services.

Contact us for more information on:
Tel: +27 11 452 2774 or Email: therina@ncpd.org.za or read the article below about the Fund-Raising Partnerships that the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities are involved in.

NCPD Fund Raising Partnerships

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities organise and run a number of fundraising projects to help raise funds including “Casual Day” and the “Nappy Run”

Casual Day: is South Africa’s leading fundraising and awareness campaign for persons with disabilities and is the flagship project of the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).

Launched in 1994, Casual Day is an awareness and fundraising campaign benefiting persons with disabilities. Each year, South Africans are encouraged to wear the official Casual Day sticker and merchandise to show their support for persons with disabilities.

The campaign encourages the public to contribute financially through a small donation of R20 for a sticker, and at the same time lobbies for the full inclusion and equity of persons with disabilities. So, not only does Casual Day raise funds, but it also raises awareness in a fun way!

Read More about Casual Day:

National Council of and for Persons With Disabilities Casual Day Fund Raising Initiative
National Council of and for Persons With Disabilities Casual Day Fund Raising Initiative

Nappy Run: is a 5km Fun Run which takes place at the Joburg Zoo every year coinciding with National Children’s Day.
The purpose of the Nappy Run™ campaign is to educate the public on the violation of rights of our country’s most marginalized and vulnerable group of people – children with disabilities and to appeal to the public for online donations which go towards the purchase of nappies for children with disabilities.

The event is organised by the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) and forms part of the NCPD’s observation of South Africa’s Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) in November. The Nappy Run campaign runs until 3 December to coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), while DRAM also culminates on that same day. For more information about the Nappy Run™ fun run, or to make a donation.

Read More about the Nappy Run on the NCPD Website:

Contact the National Council of and for Persons With Disabilities: Email: therina@ncpd.org.za | Tel: +27 11 452 2774

2. Disability Info South Africa (DiSA)

DiSA is an NPC (NPO – 256-154) which provides a One-Stop Access Solution to assist persons with disabilities. This includes Easy Access to information and Access to the environment.

Through the services that DiSA provide, we strive to create equality for all persons with disabilities in Southern Africa.

DiSA was started in 2015 as a free information service but has since evolved to include 4 Pillar services including:

Logo of Disability Info South Africa, your one stop access solution

1. Information Desk: – Informs People of their rights and who or what is available to assist them through our Free Information Website and Contact Centre.

2. Yes To Access: – Identifies Discrimination, Barriers to Access and Inequalities through our Reporting and Complaints Platform.

3. Accessible Cities South Africa: –Addresses lack of equal rights for persons with disabilities by creating awareness and providing professional services through our Accessible Cities Project Management platform, which includes Universal Access Consulting, Auditing Services, Disability Consciousness Training and more. Thus, working together with society, industry and DiSA “Access Warriors” to help break down barriers to equality.

4. DNN Platform: – Empowers and Inspires persons with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest potential through Interviews, Cartoons and Educational and Awareness Videos.

DiSA Services include:

Disability Info South Africa (DiSA) offers a dedicated information website that serves as a one-stop resource for disability-related support and solutions. The platform connects individuals with relevant services, products, and organisations across South Africa. DiSA also facilitates Advertising and Product or Service Referrals, helping businesses and service providers reach their target audience while ensuring people with disabilities access high-quality, tailored solutions for their needs. This service promotes inclusion and accessibility while bridging gaps in information and resources.
Read More about the DiSA Information Desk and the Services that we supply

Disability Info South Africa (DiSA) offers a Complaints and Reporting Platform to empower individuals with disabilities and their families by addressing accessibility issues, discrimination, or service gaps. This platform allows users to report challenges they encounter in accessing public or private services, facilities, or products. DiSA collaborates with relevant stakeholders to resolve these issues, advocating for greater inclusivity, compliance with disability rights, and improved accessibility standards across South Africa.
Read More about the DiSA Yes to Access Complaints and Reporting Platform

Alan Downey, co-founder of Disability Info South Africa (DiSA), delivers Motivational Speaking engagements that inspire and empower audiences. Drawing from his personal journey as a quadriplegic of over 30 years and his work in disability advocacy, Alan shares insights on overcoming challenges, embracing resilience, and focusing on possibilities. His talks aim to shift mindsets, foster inclusion, and motivate individuals, companies and organisations to break barriers and create positive change.
Read More about Alan Downey and the Motivational Speaking services that he provides

Alan Downey, Executive Director of DiSA provides a variety of services to share his knowledge and experience gained over 30 years in a wheelchair and 10 years running the top disability information service in Southern Africa.

This includes but is not limited to:
– Interviews around disability related issues.
– Consultations regarding living with a physical disability and adapting to your circumstances. 
– Peer Support to individuals, organisations, companies and communities that include or interact with persons with physical disabilities.

As a passionate disability advocate, with a wealth of knowledge gained from researching and running a disability information service,he continues to fight for disability rights.

As a member of the Global Peer Support Network and administrator of DiSA, he provides unique insights, practical guidance, and empathetic support to persons with disabilities, as well as companies wishing to accommodate them.

His services aim to empower people with disabilities, raise awareness, and foster inclusion by addressing challenges, sharing expertise, and encouraging positive change.

Visit our DiSA News Network to view our various Interviews that Alan Downey from DiSA have produced

Igor Rix, a qualified access consultant and co-founder of Disability Info South Africa (DiSA), specialises in conducting Accessibility Audits and providing detailed reports on barriers within physical spaces and services. He develops practical Implementation Plans to address these challenges, ensuring compliance with both national accessibility standards and international best practices, fostering inclusivity for all individuals, but more specifically for those with diverse needs and preferences to fully participate and contribute to society in a meaningful way.
Read More about Igor Rix and the Accessibility Audits, Reporting and Implementation plans that he can provide

The Disability Conscious Training (Awareness/Sensitisation Training) offered by Disability Info South Africa (DiSA) is a comprehensive program designed to raise awareness and foster understanding of disability-related issues. Tailored to your company needs this training is delivered in collaboration with Access Warriors and disability specialists and equips organisations, businesses, and communities with the knowledge and tools to create inclusive environments.
The training draws on the 30 years of lived experience of DiSA’s Executive Director, Alan Downey, a quadriplegic and disability advocate, as well as the extensive access consultancy expertise of co-founding director Igor Rix, a qualified access consultant.
Additionally, it leverages the vast resources of the DiSA website, a trusted platform for disability-related information in South Africa. This unique combination ensures practical insights, expert guidance, and actionable strategies to help participants promote accessibility, inclusion, and disability rights within their company.
Read More about the Disability Conscious Training (Awareness/Sensitisation Training) offered by Disability Info South Africa (DiSA)

DiSA spearheads their Accessible Cities Project Management, working alongside Access Warriors and other specialists to transform organisations, companies, educational facilities, communities’ and urban environments into inclusive, accessible spaces.

This initiative focuses on changing attitudes, creating awareness, developing policies and identifying and addressing barriers in infrastructure, services, and public spaces, to ensure compliance with accessibility standards..

By leveraging expertise in access consultancy, disability advocacy and a variety of other specialists, DiSA facilitates sustainable, practical solutions to remove barriers and change cities one step at a time, to create environments where everyone, including people with disabilities, can thrive.

Read More about DiSA’s Accessible Cities Platform and Projects

Alan Downey, from Disability Info South Africa (DiSA), produces Educational and Awareness Videos, Interviews, and Awareness Cartoons to promote understanding and inclusivity. These creative and engaging resources address key topics related to disability, accessibility, assistive devices, sport, advocacy and other important disability related topics to foster awareness and empower individuals and organisations to face barriers head on and act toward a more inclusive society.
Visit our DiSA News Network (DNN) to view our various Educational and Awareness Videos, Interviews, and Cartoons that DiSA have produced

Contact Us to find out more: Please feel free to contact Alan Downey on: Email info@DiSA.org.za or info@disabilityinfosa.co.za, or
Contact Number: Office: 021 761 4831 or Mobile/WhatsApp: 084 504 9176, to find out more about the services that DiSA provide, or to receive a quote.

2. Diagnostic Focused Organisations

Diagnostics Focused Organisations represents persons in specific medical diagnostic groups in South Africa

1. Down Syndrome Association of South Africa (DSSA)

Down Syndrome South Africa (DSSA) is the National Umbrella Body of all Down Syndrome associations across South Africa and currently have eight branches, one support group and four outreaches in most of the major centres of the country. DSSA is a non-profit organisation which is made up of people with Down syndrome, their families and interested persons working to improve the quality of life for those with Down Syndrome by providing various services.

– Advocacy and lobbying to parliament, government etc on the rights of persons with Down Syndrome and other intellectual disabilities
– Developing and dissemination of updated information through various forms of media
– Raising Awareness
– Promoting World and National Down Syndrome Day annually
– Capacity building of our members

Training on:
– New Parent Support and Basic Counselling
– Early Intervention – What you need to know
– Inclusive Education
– Self-Advocacy
– Job Coaching.

Learn More About Down Syndrome South Africa

2. Down Syndrome South Africa Provincial Organisations

Within Down Syndrome South Africa are provincial organisations to assist its members in a particular province, such as the Down Syndrome Association Western Cape (DSAWC), which is a non-profit organisation that provide support to people with Down syndrome and their families in the Western Cape.

“Our aim is to improve quality of life and to develop and refine skills so that people with Down Syndrome can contribute to their communities. We support our members through counselling, education, early intervention and sharing of information regarding medical aspects, employment and civil rights.”

Learn More About Down Syndrome South Africa Provinical Organisations

3. Population Specific Organizations

Population-specific organisations, represent a population group such as children or woman.

1. The Sunshine Association

The Sunshine Association is a dynamic, progressive and innovative non-profit organisation in the field of intellectual disability, offering diverse services at many levels.

All developments and services offered by the organisation are a direct response to the needs identified in the communities. The Sunshine Centre Association is committed to the development and inclusion of children with disabilities and delays in intellectual, developmental, and physical in partnership with families and communities.

Read More about the Sunshine Association and how they assist children with disabilities

4. Service Specific Organisations

Service Specific Organisations offers specific products or services to assist persons with Impairments or disabilities.

1. Honeys Garden Medic Alert Dogs SA

Honeys Garden is a non-profit, 2016/387235/08 organisation whose mission is to place quality Assistance or Service Dogs with people within South Africa who are under privileged, fighting with disabilities or diseases, and veterans who have lost use of limbs or hearing.

We also help with animal rescue and educate the public regarding use of Assistance Dogs in public places.
We enrich the lives of children and adults with medical disabilities and diseases by matching them with task trained Assistance Dogs.

Honey’s Garden Medical Alert Dogs supply and utilize specifically trained TheraPets for working professionals and individuals.
All our Assistance Dogs and Therapets undergo stringent testing, including the KUSA Canine Good Citizen Award.

Honey's Garden For Medical Alert Dogs and task trained service dogs for persons with disabilities
Learn More about Honey’s Garden Medic Alert Dogs [LINK*]

2. Forest Farm

Forest Farm was founded in 1968 in Bryanston and is a specialist care centre for adults with cerebral palsy conditions, and special needs. “The wellbeing of our residents is at the heart of everything we do. We strive to provide for their special needs in a manner that enables them to live rich, fulfilling lives.
Our centre brings together the very best in clinical treatment to deliver outstanding overall care. Using a process of thorough assessment, we create a bespoke, holistic care pathway for everyone in our care.”.

Visit Forest Farm website to find out more about their Care Centres and the Service they provide

To find other organisations that may be able to assist you which is not featured on this page, visit our “Organisation” Search Facility [LINK *]

Disability Sports Organisations

There are also a variety of Sports Organisations which assist and cater for persons with disabilities. Sports organisations are organisations which govern and promote Disability Sports and promote opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sports.

They can include national governing bodies, international federations, professional leagues, amateur leagues, and grassroots organisations.

Should you require more information about these organisations, and how they can assist you, please visit our Intellectual Impairments Sports page [LINK*]
or click here to search listed Sports Organisations.

1. International Disability Sports Organisations

For example the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Virtus (brand name for the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability) and Special Olympics World Games, work to: Develop sports; Organise competitions; Promote rights; Support athletes; Exchange resources; Prepare standards; Plan events, etc. Read More about these International Sports Organisations on the DiSA Sports Page [LINK*]

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2. National Disability Sports Organisations

A good example of this is the Special Olympics South Africa, who govern special Olympics sports in South Africa. The Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) is an organisation that offers year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Read More about the Special Olympics South Africa and the services that they provide

Double chevron arrow indicating a click action is required should the reader wish to learn more about Cross Disability Organisations

3. Provincial Sports Associations & Sports Clubs

Offer either a single or a variety of sports in a particular province or city in South Africa, this includes clubs such as the Differently Abled Cricket Club and “Handicapped Scuba Crew”. Read More about “The Differently Abled Cricket” and “Handicapped Scuba Crew” on our Sports Page [LINK*]

Double chevron arrow indicating a click action is required should the reader wish to learn more about Cross Disability Organisations

Please visit our Intellectual Impairments Sports page to find out more about these organisations and how they can assist you,
or search for Sports organisations via our ” Sports Organisation” Search Facility.

Terminology: Why We Use The Words We Do

While the terms “Disability” and “Impairment” are often used interchangeably, they do in-fact have very different meanings.

An “Impairment” is something that has happened to the body which cannot be changed, such as a condition, disease or injury, while a “Disability” happens to the person with an impairment when society puts barriers in their way, fails to uphold their rights or does not provide reasonable accommodations.

Barriers that can create disability can be categorized into Environmental, Information, Communication and Attitudinal Barriers.

Visit our Information Desk to find out more about Disability and Impairment.

1. Disability-owned organisations (NPOs or NGO’s): are at least 50% owned by persons with disabilities and render disability services, including advocacy.

2. Representative organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs): Constitute the collective voice of persons with disabilities, are at least 50% owned by persons with disabilities, have membership and primarily advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities and provide services to their members.

3. Disability Service Organisations (DSOs): Focus on service delivery (rehabilitation, habitation, counselling, training, employment support etc.) to persons with disabilities, and are not necessarily owned by persons with disabilities, or membership-based organisations.