By the SayPro Royal Committee Secretary
Date: 16 May 2025
Location: SayPro Midrand Headquarters
Honourable guests, SayPro stakeholders, members of the Royal Committee, colleagues, allies, and friends,
Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening to you all.
It is with great pride and deep purpose that I stand before you today, representing the SayPro Royal Committee, on the occasion of Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025.
GAAD is more than a date on the calendar—it is a call to conscience. A day where we pause to reflect, recognize, and reaffirm our collective responsibility to build a more accessible, more equitable world for all.
At SayPro, we are proud to champion accessibility as a human right, not a feature. It is a fundamental part of our mission to empower youth, transform communities, and ensure no one is left behind.
The 2025 GAAD theme—“Designing for Dignity”—reminds us that accessibility is not just about ramps and screen readers. It is about respecting the full humanity of every person. It is about creating systems, spaces, and solutions that recognize the dignity, agency, and contribution of people with disabilities.
As the Secretary of the SayPro Royal Committee, I have the privilege of working behind the scenes to ensure that policies, resources, and partnerships reflect our unwavering commitment to inclusion.
We are directing our efforts toward:
- Expanding inclusive education and vocational training;
- Supporting the development of accessible technologies;
- Promoting digital inclusion across rural and urban communities;
- And collaborating with governments and civil society to advocate for inclusive legislation and infrastructure.
But more importantly, we are listening—to the voices and experiences of people with disabilities themselves, who continue to lead, inspire, and inform this movement.
Let me be clear: accessibility is not about charity. It’s about justice.
It is not a one-time project. It is a sustained promise.
To those who face barriers every day—whether physical, technological, or attitudinal—we say this: We see you. We value you. And we will not stop working until your rights are fully realized.
To our partners—across sectors and across borders—we call on you to take action, not only today but every day. Design with accessibility in mind. Budget with inclusion in view. Plan with every person at the table.
Because accessibility benefits everyone. When we design for the margins, we strengthen the centre. We build better—for all.
As we observe GAAD today, let it not end with speeches and slogans. Let it lead to strategies, commitments, and real-world impact.
Let us move forward, together, with courage, compassion, and clarity of purpose.
Because true accessibility means nothing about us, without us.
Thank you, and may this day inspire each of us to continue building a world where every person can participate, contribute, and thrive with dignity.
Happy Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025.
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