1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: So March is Intellectual Disability Awareness Month and this year 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: there is a strong focus on right safety and inclusion 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: and CAPE Mental Health is leading the conversation around safeguarding 4 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: people with intellectual disabilities from violence, abuse and neglect. Joining 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: me on the line now is Carol Bush, the Deputy 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,159 Speaker 1: executive officer at CAPE Mental Health. Carol, good morning, and 7 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: thank you for your time today. 8 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 2: Good morning Saskia, and good morning to all you listeners. 9 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 2: Thank you very much for having me on your program. 10 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: I want you to take it just straight back to 11 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: basics for us, Carol, March being Intellectual Disability Awareness month 12 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: for people listening. What is an intellectual disability? Let's start there. 13 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 2: Okay, So in terms of intellectual disability, so this is 14 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 2: a lifelong condition that must be pleasant before the age 15 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 2: of eighteen and so certainly picked up when the child 16 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 2: goes to school or sometimes also in this developmental delays 17 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: in times of the milestones. So it must be the 18 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 2: before the age of eighteen, and it normally it affects 19 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 2: the person's ability to learn. I think I will find 20 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 2: that easier to explain. So it's the you know, the 21 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 2: ability to do certain things of whether it's standing up 22 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 2: whether it's eating, whether it's you know, a fix in 23 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 2: terms of the early milestones, you'll see some delays in 24 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: terms of that, so their ability to learn has been 25 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 2: impacted on. And then obviously when they go to school 26 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 2: then you will see the issues coming to the fall 27 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 2: more often. So they have problems in terms of understanding information, 28 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 2: solving problems, and so often people with intellectual disability. It 29 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 2: presents the challenges in terms of communication, self skiing, socializing, 30 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: and obviously the in terms of learning. 31 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: Now can you explain why this month is so important? 32 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: But we use this man just to educate society about 33 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 2: intellectual disability. So, I mean, the huge problem, one of 34 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 2: the huge problems we have is just that people are 35 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 2: not educated about mental disability, so they don't understand what 36 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: is intellectual disability, what is a psychosocial disability, And so 37 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: we use this mond to educate people specifically about intellectual disability. 38 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 2: We also use the mind to address the stigma attached 39 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: often to an intellectual disability and also the myths that 40 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 2: are associated with people with intellectual disability. We also went 41 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,839 Speaker 2: to highlight issues affecting people with intellectual disability. This would 42 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 2: range from the access to health care to access to education, 43 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: access to employment, the right to life. Some people have 44 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 2: challenges in terms of that, and obviously in terms of 45 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: access to justice, just to name but the fuel issues 46 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 2: that we want to highlight. 47 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: I mean, it seems very very complex if I think 48 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: about South African society and how we are structured and 49 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: just what we see. Because talk now about inclusivity in 50 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 1: a month like this gives us a chance to actually 51 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: pull these things that we don't normally see or maybe 52 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: we look over because it's not in our frame of 53 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: you know, field of reference or in our lives to 54 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: actually spotlight these spaces or issues or concerns of things 55 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: that are normally unseen. When I look at South African society, 56 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: I don't see a lot of spaces where people with 57 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: physical disability is even included. I would imagine it's much 58 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: much harder for people with intellectual disabilities as well. And 59 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: because I'm sure sometimes there is some physical disability, they 60 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: could be attached, you know, with whatever the condition is 61 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: that has caused the intellectual disability. But just talk to 62 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: us a little bit about that, I mean and inclusivity. 63 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: So yeah, I think that's really important. So yes, I 64 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 2: mean I think generally people with disabilities, it's quite difficult. 65 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 2: We don't we don't often see them in society. We 66 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: still sadly it's still didn't you know, been even this 67 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: person with disability to be build them as being different, 68 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 2: and we don't necessarily include so obviously for people with 69 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: intellectual disability. So for some people with intellectual disability, you 70 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 2: cannot even see the disability, so you only pick it 71 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 2: up when they start communicating with you that you know 72 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: something is maybe not okay, And so they are seen 73 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: as you know, the general public. But yet we cannot 74 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 2: include them because the disability is an unseen disability. And 75 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 2: also that also then creates a problem because then because 76 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 2: it's unseen, you can't pick it up immediately. People feel 77 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: but there's nothing wrong with them, you know, And therefore 78 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 2: we do not need to accommodate within our society. 79 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 1: And it really is something that should change. I mean, 80 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: do you see us getting better at this, Carol? Are 81 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: we getting better? 82 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 2: Yes? I think if we do, make you know, there 83 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: has been some improvement, and if you look at all 84 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: of the programs happening, then definitely yes. But I think 85 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: a lot more still needs to be done because we 86 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: still sit with a society that is very discriminate against 87 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 2: people with disabilities, and I think because we sort of 88 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: live in an unequal society, you know that, you know, 89 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 2: everybody feels that they need this uppermost and they need 90 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 2: to be attended to. I think againly people with disabilities 91 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 2: are sort of left behind, and so it's important for 92 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,679 Speaker 2: us that we whatever we do as an organization also 93 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 2: we include people with disabilities. It's important for us that 94 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: they need to be part of our society. 95 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: And I think just for us that's listening. I mean, 96 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: there's many ways that we could incorporate this in our 97 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: own spaces. I mean, we're business owners, we you know, 98 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:03,479 Speaker 1: are part of the peach as we come into community spaces, 99 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: and so I suppose it's also on us as the 100 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: general public to ask the questions and be more aware 101 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: to be looking out for where are the people in 102 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: our community with intellectual disabilities? Maybe this is the month 103 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: to ask those questions. If you don't see them represented 104 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: in your community spaces. 105 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I think, you know, it's important for us to 106 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: create those spaces, but I mean often we don't create those, 107 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: We be not inclusive enough to create that. So it'd 108 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 2: be great to see people with intellectual disability, you know, 109 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: in our in retail, in you know, there are certain 110 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 2: spaces where they can definitely play a role, but I 111 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 2: don't think we allow it. And so for for some 112 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 2: people with intellectual disability, access to employment is a big 113 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 2: issue for them, you know, because they would love to 114 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: work in the open labor market. As an organization, we 115 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 2: do provide the training and the assistance. We've got job 116 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 2: cultures that put a system to work in the open 117 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 2: labor market, but the opportunities are very limited and so 118 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: you do not see, you know, people entering the job 119 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: market as they would like to, and so it's just 120 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: one of those things that we're have to get bitter. 121 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: One hundred percent. I agree because I'm thinking and this 122 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: leads to the next question, because this year your campaign, 123 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: and we're talking to Carol Bosh, the deputy executive officer 124 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: at CAPE Mental Health, about Intellectual Disability Month. This year 125 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: your campaign theme Blow the Whistle to protect and end 126 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: violence against people with intellectual disability. I mean, just leading 127 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: into this, I mean, if we're not creating inclusive spaces, 128 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: it means there's limited safe spaces for people with intellectual 129 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: disability in society. Then, so we're then shutting down access 130 00:07:55,160 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: to safe spaces, which allows this you know violence, then 131 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: an abuse of people with intellectual disability to just happen unchecked. 132 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 2: More absolutely so I mean sadly. Also, I think people 133 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: with disabilities are at risk or in terms of sexual abuse, 134 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: but people with intellectual disability face a higheress of sexual 135 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 2: abuse someta say, it's at times more than the general public, 136 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 2: and so they are often groomed. They are targeted because 137 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 2: they are perceived to be a soft target or a 138 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 2: perfect target. So some people with an intellectual disability might 139 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 2: have difficulty in terms of communication, so they're not able 140 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 2: to tell the story, They're not able to give you 141 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 2: a date because they you know, they don't have with 142 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 2: this Monday or Friday or whatever. And so this perception 143 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 2: exists that they are a soft target and they would 144 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 2: not be able to go to court. And so we 145 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 2: want to use this month to say not only to 146 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 2: highlight the plan of people with intellectual disability in terms 147 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 2: of sexual abuse, but also to say that there are 148 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 2: programs that address this. And within our organization, we've got 149 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 2: the Sexual Abuse Victim Empowerment Program that specifically addresses this issue, 150 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 2: and we've been very successful in taking conses to court 151 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 2: and also getting convictions also, So it's also changing the 152 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 2: narratives that you know that when you do have an 153 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 2: intellectual disability and you are sexually abused, nothing can be 154 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: done about it. 155 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: Just talk to us a little bit more about because 156 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: they're at risk of greater abuse and violence. Just talk 157 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: to us a little bit more about some of those 158 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: challenges that people with intellectual disabilities face when they're trying 159 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: to seek help or report crimes. 160 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 2: So again, it's the stigma of the disability. So often, 161 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 2: you know, we year about when they go to put 162 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 2: the police station to report it, they're told, now, go 163 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,199 Speaker 2: get go home, sorted out within your family. As the 164 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 2: fact the issue, which is not so often they look 165 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:12,199 Speaker 2: at the disability. Because of the disability, the policeman could 166 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 2: say no, but this is not even going to court, 167 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 2: it's not lease judgment to make it. So again, it's 168 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 2: important for people to know that they can report sexual abuse. 169 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 2: For people with intellectual disability, they're also very dependent on 170 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 2: others to care for them, to protect them and even 171 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: to take them to the police station to go and 172 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 2: you know, to to inform the police that this has 173 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 2: happened to them, they might not be able to go 174 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 2: on the answer there are dependent on other people to 175 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 2: do things. Also in terms of the dependence on other people, 176 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 2: so for some people with intellectual disability, especially when they 177 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 2: have a moderate sever year and definitely a profound intellectual disability, 178 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 2: they need people to assist them in terms of clesting 179 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 2: them all of those kinds of things, and so they 180 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 2: become used to people touching them and they are not 181 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 2: able to distinguish between an inappropriate and innappropriate touch. So, 182 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 2: you know, the highrus in terms of not understanding the. 183 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: Abuse taken advantage of you. 184 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 2: And being taken it more absolutely, there's also communication challenge, 185 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 2: so they're not able to tell you maybe in terms 186 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 2: of it happened on a Wednesday, it was the morning, 187 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 2: it was six o'clock or whatever, And often that is 188 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 2: perceived as oh, they will not not be able to 189 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 2: But you know, with with our program and I'll talk 190 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 2: a bit about it later, how we're able to prepare 191 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 2: the court and say to the court, listen to the facts, 192 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 2: Listen to the story that is being told by the 193 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 2: by the complainant. Don't be too upset if she can't 194 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 2: remember if it was a Wednesday or whatever. Look at 195 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 2: the consistency of the story and it's been quite effective. Also, 196 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 2: I think another challenge for us also in terms of 197 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 2: just people with intellectual disability that they they they eager, 198 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 2: they want to please people. They're eager to please people, 199 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 2: and they obey authority figures. So often in the research 200 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 2: that has been done, it comes out that you know, 201 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 2: they are normally in most cases the accused is known 202 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 2: to them, so it's a family member, it's a person 203 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 2: that actually knows that they do have an intellectual disability, 204 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 2: and this is the reason doesn't happened to them. And 205 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 2: they've also the huge, the biggest problem, one of the 206 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 2: biggest problems I feel is the lack of sexual education. Also, 207 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 2: so often paterents feel, but you know, we don't need 208 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 2: to educate our people with intellectual disability about sexual or 209 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 2: any sexual education that they don't know about their rights. 210 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 2: And so sadly we've seen that some of the complainants 211 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: come in and they don't even have the language to 212 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 2: tell us what has happened to them. And then the 213 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 2: big math that exists that people with intellectual disability are 214 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 2: hyper sex which is completely well so and so again, 215 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 2: you know, you there's a whole lot of challenges and 216 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 2: so in terms of the being hyper sex it is, 217 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 2: but they asked for it, they initiated it, and so 218 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 2: you know, it's all of those kinds of things that 219 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 2: come into play which makes it very difficult for people 220 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 2: with intellectual disability being a just in terms of sexual abuse. 221 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: We're talking to Carol Barsho's the deputy executive officer at 222 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: CAPE Mental Health and March is Intellectual Disability Awareness Months 223 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: and CAPE Mental Health is leading that conversation around safeguarding 224 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: people with intellectual disabilities from violence, abuse and neglect. Carol, 225 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: I want you to talk to us a little bit 226 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: about the program that you have in place that supports 227 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: survivors navigating the legal system. Can you tell us how 228 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: the program works, what it's about, and how it ensures 229 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: that people with intellectual disabilities can safely participate in the 230 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: justice process. 231 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 2: So, in terms of our sexual abuse Victim Empowerment program, 232 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 2: so I need to mention it's the internationally award winning program. 233 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 2: So we've been acknowledged in terms of the best practice, 234 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 2: which is fantastic. So this is a psycho legal program 235 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 2: which serves people with intellectual disability as well as people 236 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 2: with psychosocial disabilities. Also in terms of accessing justice in 237 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 2: cases of sexual abuse, and this would be from the 238 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 2: time it's been reported until it's been concluded and even 239 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 2: after that because of sometimes you know, family members or 240 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 2: the complainants will struggle with little bit certain things. So 241 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: what we do. We've got a social work department, so 242 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: they are responsible for providing the support and often the 243 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 2: education that is needed, especially in terms of family members 244 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 2: about possibly the long way, possibly you know, all of 245 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 2: these different things that we have to go to the 246 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 2: withdrawal also temporarily withdrawals all to explain those kinds of 247 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 2: It's very important to keep family abreast of whatever is 248 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 2: happening in terms of the court processes, and while our 249 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 2: social workers also do the ones. It's been decided that 250 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 2: the case will go to court, so once we receive 251 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 2: feedback from the MPa that they will proceed, our social 252 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 2: workers are also responsible in terms of the court preparation, 253 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 2: so with taking the person through the court, making them 254 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 2: use meeting the intermedia're sitting in the room where you're 255 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 2: going to be doing the testimony, so it's just reduce 256 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 2: anxiety on that day. So for people with intellectual possibility, 257 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 2: they physically need to go there to you know, when 258 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 2: we try to do that as much as possible. If 259 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 2: it's not possible, we've also easy to read information. The 260 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 2: social worker will explain so often that easy to read 261 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 2: information is done first and then they go to court 262 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 2: just to even before they testify on that particular day, 263 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 2: the social workers also need to continue to provide the support. 264 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 2: They go with the person on the day they need 265 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 2: to testify, and they continue until the case is concluded. 266 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 2: The other part that we do is the psycho legal 267 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 2: assessments and this is done by our psychologists, and so 268 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 2: our psychologists need to do an assessment that we need 269 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 2: to send the report to court. So the assessment will 270 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 2: be in terms of the functional assessment of the person. 271 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 2: So what is the person's level of disability, what are 272 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 2: they able to do? All of those kinds of things, 273 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 2: the ability to consent to sect, so that I mean 274 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 2: in itself it's a very complicated matter, but the psychologists 275 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 2: are able to give feedback in terms of that the 276 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 2: complainant's ability to understand the court procedures, their ability to testify. 277 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 2: The psychologists will have to give some feedback about that. 278 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 2: But most importantly, the psychologists will also indicate the reasonable 279 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 2: accommodations that must be done in order for this person 280 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 2: to testify. So it would be regarding the man in 281 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 2: which the questions must be off. So, I mean, a 282 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:22,679 Speaker 2: defense attorney will try to you know, I'm sure if 283 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 2: I go to court, I often say I'll probably end 284 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 2: up in jail, even if I'm a witness in something, 285 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 2: because I get so confused. And so this is what 286 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:35,159 Speaker 2: is done, and so the tactics are not exactly and 287 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:39,400 Speaker 2: so yeah, so the psychologists would be able to request, 288 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 2: you know, please make sure that these things are in place. 289 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 2: So what then happens is the psychologist then submits the 290 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:51,680 Speaker 2: report to court, and then if the case then runs, 291 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 2: the psychologists will be the expert witness and the psychologists 292 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 2: testified before the person comes to court. So the psychologist 293 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 2: is there to prepare the court to say, look, Carol 294 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 2: is going to come. This is a level of functioning. 295 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 2: She's got problems in terms of days, so she's not 296 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 2: going to be able to tell you which day it was, 297 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 2: you know, all of those so she picked that The 298 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 2: psychologist prepares the court for the complainant and then also 299 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 2: then also indicate in terms of the reasonable accommodations. Also, 300 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 2: what the psychologist is also able to do is to 301 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 2: look to address some of these myths. So the fact 302 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 2: that so often the defense would say, but the complainant started, 303 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 2: the instigated it all, and the psychologists would be able 304 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 2: to give some feedback in terms of that. So the 305 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 2: notion of O diaci sex whatever, the psychologist would be 306 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,679 Speaker 2: able to address in court. And so it's very important 307 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 2: so that by the time the person then does appear 308 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 2: the court, we have known that this is the person 309 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 2: going to be testifying. They are going to be some challenges, 310 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 2: but these are the things that you need to focus on, 311 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,120 Speaker 2: so that is very important. And then obviously we also 312 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 2: do a lot of work work with SAPPS, with the 313 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,479 Speaker 2: Family Violence, Strength Protection and Sexual Offensive Unit. They are 314 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 2: the people that we work very closely with in terms 315 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 2: of investigation. So they do the investigations and they will 316 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 2: then once they've picked up that the person has an 317 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:30,679 Speaker 2: intellectual disability would refer or psychosocial disability would refer to 318 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 2: our program. And then our psychologists also work very closely 319 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 2: with the NPA. 320 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: Carol bo Sorry, I have to break your word because 321 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: we have to get to news. I want to thank 322 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 1: you so much for sharing it with us today. Kavemntalhealth 323 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: dot Co, DODA,