Abstract
It is often difficult to ascertain how many people are living with a disability
in South Africa, primarily due to a lack of awareness about certain types
of disabilities (particularly learning disabilities); stigma that is sometimes
associated with disability, and the fine line that exists between chronic illness
and disability, particularly in relation to the disability grant in South Africa. In
addition, as Schneider, Dasappa, Khan and Khan, (2009: 246) point out, “large
differences in disability statistics are currently observed internationally due
to a lack of consistency in what is being measured as ‘disability’.” Nevertheless
estimates suggest that globally between 10% and 12% of the population is
currently living with a disability.