Pictured above: Tamelyn Bock (Instagram)
Tourvest Group partnered with Universal Accessibility Hub to sponsor Tamelyn G. Bock to the world stage to proudly represent South Africa at the Miss Wheelchair World 2022 gala event that was held in Tijuana, Mexico on 29 October.
Shama Nathoo, Managing Director and Founder of Universal Accessibility Hub who organized the first Miss Wheelchair South Africa held at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town on 2 December 2021 attests to the significance of this landmark partnership:
“This is a momentous occasion to ensure the call of “Leaving No One Behind” stays alive for years leading to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) commitment and ensure that people with disabilities are integrated in all life experiences”.
Bock, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic condition that affects the nerves and weakens the muscles, has been using a wheelchair since age eight.
For her, the opportunity to compete in the Miss Wheelchair World 2022 competition was a dream come true. “This chance to showcase beauty without barriers and change the perception, narrative and image of women with disabilitiesin South Africa and globally makes all the years I’ve felt unseen and unheard worthwhile”.
Judi Nwokedi, COO of Tourvest said: “Accelerating the needs and services required for persons with disability is an urgent priority for the tourism industry. There is a massive shortage of wheelchair accessible accommodation and facilities in the tourism industry. The logistics required for Tamelyn Bock and an aide to travel from her hometown of Springbok in the Northern Cape to Cape Town en route to and from Mexico are complicated, expensive and unnecessarily daunting and that the industry faces the pressing responsibility to address these glaring inadequacies.”
Ms Nathoo posits that Miss Wheelchair SA’s representation at Miss Wheelchair World provides South Africa an opportunity to bid for Miss Wheelchair World in 2024 and showcase and drive integration, inclusivity and accessibility.
Ms Bock returns on 1 November at 6h45 AM at Cape Town International Airport.
Source: Submitted by Universal Accessibility Hub
