MiX Telematics helps raise disability awareness

To cast a light on Intellectual Disability Awareness Month, MiX Telematics, a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions, recently participated in Little Eden's Wheelchair Challenge.

The campaign was launched at the beginning of March by Little Eden, a local NPO, who challenged CEOs to spend the day in a wheelchair to help highlight the challenges that many disabled persons face within the workplace, and to celebrate them for rising above these daily challenges. Furthermore, CEOs taking part in this challenge are also encouraged to donate R50 000 towards the organisation's resident care.

On Friday, 16 March, MiX Telematics (Africa) joined in on the challenge which saw the company's Divisional Director of Operations, Jeandre Koen, spend his day in a wheelchair at the company's office in Midrand.

"So often, we overlook the challenges that persons with disabilities are faced with, and so I feel very honoured to have been a part of this challenge in raising more awareness about disability," says Jeandre Koen, Divisional Director at MiX Telematics (Africa). "It has also been a great pleasure to work alongside Little Eden in helping them continue the impactful work that they do in the community."

Little Eden was founded 50 years ago by Domitilla and Danny Hyams, with only a R10 donation. Today, they have two care centres in Edenvale and Bapsfontein, where they care for 300 profoundly intellectually and physically disabled children and adults.

The NPO cares for 180 children and adults at its Edenvale facility, who are totally dependent on caregivers for daily support, including bathing, dressing and feeding. The Bapsfontein facility cares for 120 residents that are a little more higher functioning. Although many of the residents are in wheelchairs and need extra care, they are unable to attend a special needs school and as a result, Little Eden provides the best possible stimulation for them, such as music therapy.

"We embarked on this wheelchair campaign to raise awareness around disability and to also help raise funds for the disabled people in our care, given that most CSI funding goes towards other areas such as education. As such, we welcome the support received from corporates such as MiX Telematics, who have done their bit to help us keep our doors open and continue to help persons in need of our care," concludes Zai Miller, Development Officer at Little Eden.