More still needs to be done to address the plights of people with disabilities, despite significant strides made in equitable access to assistive devices, safety and justice, as well as employment services.

These sentiments were expressed at the National Disabilities Conference, organised by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. 

Participants at the National Disabilities Conference in Windhoek are of the view that while Namibia has made significant progress in addressing the medical and social needs of persons with disabilities, further progress can be achieved through better coordination, capacity building, review and updating of policies.

"It takes a change in perspective to accept the existence of the other group and to realize that there is a person who is abled differently," said Ndabezinhle Moyo of 
Thembaletu Investment. 

This they say will allow for the inclusion in mainstreaming economic participation, improved access to sexual reproduction and family planning, as well as improved access to higher education, effective monitoring and evaluating of programmes aimed to reduce poverty and dependency.

NamPol Directorate of Training, Deputy Commissioner Gerhard Wimmerth said the understanding is that every police officer should appreciate that when executing government functions, we do cater in a holistic manner in the human rights training that we offer."

The 2006 Inter-censal Demographic Survey, indicates that there are more than 102 000 people with disabilities in Namibia.

Of this, more than 52 000 are women.

According to the National Planning Commission Disability statistics, of 2004, 35% of these people are visually impaired with hearing impairment at 21%.

Speech and communication impairments at 11%, Developmental and intellectual impairments at 5% while Physical impairment stood at 37%.

"According to the World Health Organization we are around 15% which is 400 000 people and our organization can only accomodate 60 disabled people around namibia," said Ellen Jacobs, the Founder of Living Water Namibia. 

Apart from provisions in the Constitution that address disability, Namibia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, after ratifying it in 2007.