Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the South African National Deaf Association (SANDA), an independent non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the deaf community with equal opportunities and recognition in society. This collaboration underscores ACSA's commitment to supporting the disability sector in providing skills development and is one of the key focus areas underpinning our Socio-Economic Development (SED) strategy.
ACSA as an organ of the state and SOC under the Department of Transport should honor the declaration and agreement of the Ministers of Transport, and Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities which was taken at the Transport Summit on Universal Accessibility in Gauteng, 25-26 April 2024. One of the key priorities is providing an enabling environment that includes capacity development, awareness, education, and training programmes that include people with disabilities as educators and trainers. This will increase understanding and knowledge of universal design and universal access for government officials, role players, and stakeholders.
Furthermore, in line with ICAO regulation standard Annex 9: Facilitation of Passengers with Impaired Mobility, ACSA and SANDA have embarked on an important initiative to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of our airports. As part of this partnership, SANDA will provide sign language training to 130 front-line staff across ACSA's network of airports.
The training kicked off with staff at O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) from Monday, July 8th, to Friday, July 12th. Today marked the certification handover ceremony, celebrating the successful completion of this initial basic sign language training phase.
This training is crucial for our employees, who interact daily with passengers of varying abilities, including those with hearing impairments, hence our partnership with SANDA. By equipping our staff with sign language skills, we aim to improve the travel experience for our passengers with impaired mobility, ensuring that they receive the same level of service and support as all our other travellers.
Most significantly, this initiative aligns with the recent recognition by the National Assembly on May 3, 2023, that declared Sign Language as the 12th official language of South Africa. ACSA is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all passengers feel acknowledged and supported.
"We are delighted to partner with SANDA in this ground-breaking project," said Ele Tshikovhi, Group Manager Transformation at ACSA.
"Providing front-line and/or customer-facing staff with sign language training not only enhances their skills but also reinforces our dedication to inclusivity and equal opportunities for all. Part of our medium- and long-term plan is to collaborate with all stakeholders within the airport eco-system and ensure staff who are customer-facing receive training on sign language. This initiative will make a significant difference in the lives of our passengers with hearing impairments, ensuring they have a seamless and supportive travel experience."
ACSA's collaboration with SANDA is a testament to our ongoing efforts to adhere to international standards while championing diversity, equity, and inclusivity initiatives. We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on our staff and the broader society.
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