{"id":7271,"date":"2024-04-02T10:13:04","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T08:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disabilityconnect.co.za\/?p=7271"},"modified":"2024-04-02T10:13:04","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T08:13:04","slug":"little-eden-societys-7th-annual-ceo-wheelchair-campaign-rolls-into-cell-c-waterfall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/02\/little-eden-societys-7th-annual-ceo-wheelchair-campaign-rolls-into-cell-c-waterfall\/","title":{"rendered":"Little Eden Society\u2019s 7th annual CEO Wheelchair campaign rolls into Cell C Waterfall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a poignant display of solidarity and empathy, the CEO of Cell C Jorge Mendes immersed himself in the seventh annual Little Eden Society CEO Wheelchair Campaign on March 11 in Waterfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Comfort Makhanya – Midrand Reporter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This initiative, aimed at fostering awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with mobility impairments, saw Mendes spending a day navigating life in a wheelchair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set against the theme \u2018Ride a Mile in My Wheels\u2019, the annual campaign coincides with Intellectual Disability Awareness Month, unfolding throughout March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mendes, known for his dedication to diversity and inclusion, shared his motivations for participating in the campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is important to walk in someone else\u2019s shoes, so to speak,\u201d he explained. \u201cTrue diversity and inclusion go beyond tick-box exercises. It is about understanding and experiencing the daily realities faced by others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on his experience, Mendes recounted the eye-opening moments and challenges encountered throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From navigating ramps and doorways to grappling with practical tasks like carrying a cup of coffee, Mendes gained a newfound appreciation for the obstacles faced by wheelchair users in their daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While acknowledging the efforts made to meet accessibility standards, Mendes emphasised the need for practicality and ease of use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMeeting specifications is one thing, but true accessibility means ensuring that individuals living with disabilities can fully function throughout the day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the day, Mendes received support and assistance from his colleagues at Cell C. Despite the initial discomfort and challenges, Mendes remained committed to gaining a deeper understanding of the realities faced by individuals with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In discussing the campaign\u2019s impact, Mendes highlighted the importance of fostering a culture of empathy and inclusivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExperiencing life from a wheelchair offers immersion into someone else\u2019s reality. It is a humbling experience that underscores the need for meaningful change and inclusivity in our society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Mendes concludes his participation in the CEO Wheelchair Campaign, he extends a challenge to fellow CEOs to join him in this endeavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By raising awareness and advocating for practical solutions, Mendes hopes to create a more inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities in the workplace and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In joining the ranks of those who have participated in the campaign, Mendes reaffirms his commitment to driving positive change and fostering a more inclusive society for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CEO of the society Xelda Rohrbeck said they aim to raise R1.5m through the campaign towards the care of Little Eden residents by March 31 this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a poignant display of solidarity and empathy, the CEO of Cell C Jorge Mendes immersed himself in the seventh annual Little Eden Society CEO Wheelchair Campaign on March 11 in Waterfall. By Comfort Makhanya – Midrand Reporter This initiative, aimed at fostering awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with mobility impairments, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7274,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[58,152],"tags":[553,486,39,41,299],"class_list":["post-7271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","category-in-the-workplace","tag-cell-c","tag-ceo-wheelchair-campaign","tag-disability","tag-disability-connect","tag-little-eden"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7271\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}