The.Sponge Project: SMS information service for disabled people in South Africa

The.Sponge project has recently launched its SMS service for disabled people  in South Africa, with the aims of empowering disabled people by offering them crucial information on services. The team working from Port-Elizabeth and serving all provinces of South Africa, receives sms and queries and tries to respond in 12 hours or less refering them to local NGOs or governement services.

Disabled people, especially those living in rural parts of South Africa, often find it difficult to get information about the rehabilitation services that are available to them from government departments and NGOs in their area. This initiative was created for this purpose.

The service can offer advice on disability grants, rehab therapy, obtaining a wheelchair, care giving, mobility trainings, blind skill-typing, sign language tuition, sign language interpreters, special schools for CP children, jobs, mental health support groups, etc.

Do you need rehabilitation or other disability services? To find out what is available in your area, sms your name, town, disability and the info you need to

The.Sponge will reply by SMS and help you contact local organisations who may be able to help you.