AWARDS & PRIZES

ALBIE SACHS OTASA/LIFE AWARD

This prestigious award was inaugurated by OTASA in 2001, under the leadership of Lee Randall (then OTASA Vice president).

It is awarded bi-annually to an OTASA member/s (OT, OTA/OTT or group) who has distinguished himself/herself/themselves through professional excellence and dedication to serving the needs of people with disabilities.

Criteria:

• Assisting persons with disabilities (PWD’s) to live as they choose to live
• Facilitating participation in the life of PWD’s in their communities
• Facilitating PWD’s to return to the life activities they value, regardless of their disability
• Ensuring the implementation of choices and dignity in interaction
• Finding practical solutions to functional problems
• Making a sustainable impact

It is awarded at the OTASA Congress as part of the OTASA AGM and consists of a framed, beaded trophy, a copy of Judge Sachs's autobiography and a cash prize.

Year	Recipient	Comments
2009	Mr. Lesley Vezi
2007	Esther Watson	For her exceptional contribution to creating awareness of disability through her organisation of the Outeniqua Wheelchair challenge, an event that has grown into an internationally supported and recognised wheelchair race, as well as all of the logistics around it, including the creation of wheelchair accessible facilities.
2004	Sylvia Birkhead	For her role as an ambassador of the profession and the disabled community, and her involvement with numerous associations to optimise the abilities of disabled people.
2002	Christa Meyer	For her contribution to promoting sport for the disabled, and for her efforts in establishing primary health care and community based rehabilitation

"Most medical treatment is quite authoritarian. You cannot say today I feel like having my wounds cleaned, tomorrow I don’t. But OT is very democratic and patient- centred. It is all up to you, what you want to do." Albie Sachs’s book "Soft vengeance of a freedom fighter".

Albie Sachs is currently Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. He lost his right arm and the sight in one eye in a car bomb attack in Maputo in 1998. During his rehabilitation in London, he became a strong ally of professions such as Occupational Therapy, and in his Autobiography he captures his own experiences of OT with warmth and humour. Judge Sachs endorses the award and presents the award during the ceremony.

OTASA applauds people like Justice Sachs who truly embody the principle of full integration op people with disabilities in society. OTASA gratefully acknowledges the sponsorship received from Life Rehabilitation which has made it possible to set up, and continue with the award. Their dedication to OTASA, delivering rehabilitation services and acknowledging rehabilitation professionals, is appreciated.

November 2007