Advocating for the right to health for persons with disabilities—especially in mental health—requires a rights-based, inclusive approach that addresses systemic inequities. Key priorities include transitioning from institutional to community-based care, ensuring equitable resource distribution, raising public awareness, and involving persons with disabilities in policy-making to build a more supportive mental health system. Technology also plays a vital role in advocacy, enabling greater access to information, amplifying marginalized voices, and facilitating inclusive digital platforms for engagement and support.”
Thus the School of Nursing and Disability Rights Unit at the Faculty of Law at the University of Free State, South Africa, organised a roundtable discussion on Advocating for the right to health of persons with disabilities: A focus on mental health. The round table explored ways to ensure that the mental health of persons with disabilities moves from normative protection to practical implementation. This was a one-day hybrid session that took place on the 21st of March 2025. As someone who lives with a hearing disability & a Public Health expert, I was invited as one of the guest speakers for the session & presented the topic: ‘The Role of Technology in Mental Health Advocacy for People with Disabilities’.
