Succeeding at Sport and Reaching for Dreams

Sibusiso Mogale is a 19 year old athlete who overcame all odds to become a member of the IPC World Swimming Championship Team and will most likely participate in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. He is a great example and inspiration to everyone he comes into contact with. Members of the South African Paralympic team will be sharing their stories, ideas, values, expertise and more at this year's Nedbank Disability SA Expo 2007 and the ACSA Disability Conference taking place from the 1st to the 3rd of November at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

Sibusiso was born without any arms, but has excelled in sport throughout his life. He started swimming in 1999, a year after joining the Hope School in Westcliff, Gauteng and has since shown great courage and determination, receiving many awards and achieving several record- breaking accomplishments such as completing the Mid Mar Mile in 2005 where he took third place with a prize for bravery in the disabled category. In the same year he won gold and silver medals in the International Aquatics Championships in Sheffield, UK. Sibusiso has been elected to represent South Africa on many occasions ranging from the Pacific Schools Games in Melbourne, Australia, to possibly representing South Africa at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. He is an outstanding role model who has achieved so much throughout his life and overcome so many difficulties. Even after all his successes, Sibusiso is still a level-headed, down-to-earth young man.

Since opening in 1928, the Hope School in Johannesburg has been providing education, therapy and accommodation to learners with physical, behaviour and learning disabilities. The school caters for children from as young as three years old and goes all the way up to matric. The school's mission is "to assist all learners to reach their personal maximum potential overcoming all obstacles to become valuable contributors and upstanding local and global citizens in a world that is often prejudiced to anyone outside the norm."

The Hope School has produced many stars since its inception, such as, Malcolm Chinian, who was elected as a member of the 2008 South African Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball squad and Hendrik van der Merwe, who has participated in many disabled golf events, whilem .many learners have achieved outstanding results in cultural and academic areas. This school is a remarkable school where children are given hope, courage and opportunities to excel in every area of their lives.

Mr. Viljoen, principal of the Hope school, will be speaking at this year's Disability 2007 ACSA Conference and Nedbank Expo, providing delegates with essential information on the importance of schools, such at this, as well as other necessary information on developments and technologies regarding the development of children.

For more information on the South African Paralympic Team, and to meet these inspirational athletes, please visit the Nedbank Disability SA Expo 2007 and the ACSA Disability Conference at Gallagher Estate this year from the 1st to the 3rd November.

This year's event includes an exciting array of activities, including:

- Wheelchair basketball tournament, which includes the Discovery Eagles Team and the Pumas. These teams will be battling it out on 1 November at 18h00 and Saturday 3 November at 12h00
- Wheelchair tennis
- Wheelchair dancing
- Golf competitions, demonstrations and clinics organised by the SA Disabled Golf Association
- Motivational talks by Oscar Pistorius, our double amputee athlete who won two Paralympic medals in Athens
- Natalie du Toit, our own swimming champion who won gold medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games

This year's exhibition will include over 100 displays such as entertainment and lifestyle choices: adapted vehicles; ADLS (assisted daily living equipment and service); communication aids; computers; easy reaches; emergency medical supplies; hand cycles; hearing aids; hospital furniture; mobility aids; occupational products; patient handling devices; physio equipment; products and aids for the deaf and blind; prosthetic artificial limbs; showering devices / building products; sports equipment; training institutions; walking sticks; wheelchairs; wheelchair clothing and, much more!

For more information on the event, contact the event organisers. Overall management of the expo and conference: Bette McNaughton of Fair Consultants SA. Tel: (021) 713 3360. Fax: (021) 713 3366. E-mail:
Website: www.fairconsultants.com

Expo Information: Kim Krynauw. Cell: 084-710-6496, E-mail:
Website: www.disabilityexpo.co.za

Media and Publicity: Catherine Larkin. Tel: 011 789-7327. Cell: 083 300 0331. E-mail:


READ MORE Disability 2007 (incorporating Nedbank Disability SA Expo 2007 and the ACSA Disability Conference) / Succeeding at Sport and Reaching for Dreams / Medical care vital to helping and improving the lives of People with Disabilities / Employing Deaf People / Strong Growth in Support for Disability 2007 / Disability / Flyfishing for People with Disabilities / Proper Facilities essential for success

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