Communication is everyone’s human right

LMadam,

,magine this 2ne morning you wake up, open your eyes and as you attempt to stretch out, you realise that you can¶t move.

This is the reality that faces many daily, who are part of people with sig nificant communication disabilities. )or some of them, the loss of speech was almost immediate; after a motor vehicle accident or a stroke. )or some it happened gradually follow ing the diagnosis of a degenerative

ETTERS to this column should be neatly handwritten or typed and should have the name and address of the author. We prefer them short, to the point and to address topical issues. Letters published do not reflect the views of the editor, management or staff, but strictly readers. The editor reserves the right to cut, correct and improve the quality of letters, with regard to grammar and presentation, within reasonable limits. The editor may also remove remarks considered legally offensive or in bad taste and the names of the people and establishments concerned. He may also give factual advice when considered justified. disease such as motor neuron disease, 3arkinson¶s, or $l]heimer¶s disease. 6ome never developed speech, such as children with cerebral palsy and some with autism. There are individ uals who can speak a few words, but who cannot rely on speech to meet all their communication needs.

These are the people who cannot use speech to choose what they want to eat, or not to eat. They have no say in what they want to wear or how they want their hair to be fixed. Their preferences of what they want to do and in what activities they want to be involved are not considered. They are often the invisible and silent members in our communities; the ones who are overlooked. They are the ones who belong to the µother¶ group and are not part of µour¶ group ± not part of µus¶. :e tend to dehumanise others who look different, and who talk differ ently. :e treat them like obMects. 1o

6eemingly this lawyer is arro gant. +e violated kids and now he is making silly demands. +e must be sentenced and not be given an option of a fine.

GCEEI MNDVOTI

:hat is so special about this alleged rapist"

NDUMISO MVUSELELO NTANDO VILAKAZI

:hy is the name of this lawyer being hidden" %ecause he has been charged and appeared in court, he

SPEECH

:hy is he being protected" MBALI MABUZA

human being deserves that.

$s we continue with our lives, let¶s remember that communication is also a human right. 3erhaps it is one of our most fundamental rights, as commu nication unlocks a whole bouTuet of other rights. :e need language and communication to learn, and we need education to find employment. :e need communication to access basic healthcare and ensure social Mustice.

:e need communication to show that we are contributing members of society, who should be treated with dignity and respect.

Communication makes us human; it ensures belonging. ,t helps oth ers to discover our personalities. ,t showcases our sense of humour. ,t is how we express our fears and feelings. Therefore, communication is not only central to how we enMoy many of our human rights ± it is also the medium through which we claim or assert our rights. 1ot being able to speak does not mean that a person has

:ho is this special lawyer guys" LEKO NDZINISA KINGMASH

The reason why he is not being named , believe it is to protect the identity of his children.

PHILA LINDOKUHLE MATSENJWA

This guy mara, manje lokutsi

-udge 6abelo 0asuku is a son of the '30 kungenaphi kule

case"

ANDILE SUKU

PERSONALITIES

nothing to say. $s part of the speaking group, the group who can rely on spoken language to meet our basic needs, we need to afford others the exact same human rights. +ow" /ook for any and all signs of interaction, no matter how subtle or slight. /ook for facial expressions that might indicate happiness, surprise, anger, sadness, fear and disgust. 6crutinise body language and observe head nodding or shaking, pointing with the hands or with the eyes. Treat everyone as a potential communicator and show that you are actively listening and expecting a reaction. ,t is not impor tant how a person communicates, but rather that he or she communicates.

3erhaps this is what 'aniel :eb ster, one of the most prominent 86 statesmen of the s, meant when he so famously said ³,f all my pos sessions were taken from me with one exception, , would choose to keep the power of communication, for by it , would soon regain all the rest.´

Professor Juan Bornman

This guy must Must face his crimes.

FIKILE MASUKU

$s a lawyer he should have been helping in the fight against abuse and not be a part of it.

VUVU MTIMANDZE

The lawyer deserves a heavy punishment.

MAZET HLOPHE

The lawyer is a horrible man. MOSAI MABELENKOSI

/awyer or not he must be sen tenced for life because he trauma tised his kids. , am sure they regret having him as a father.

NKOSI VILAKATI

0en are ruining a lot of lives shem.

VUNDLA MAVUNDLA

:hat the lawyer is doing will