Reyneke, J. M.2015-08-212015-08-212015-08-212003-12Reyneke, J. M., & Oosthuizen, H. (2003). Are the rights of the disabled a reality in South Africa? Part One. Journal for Juridical Science, 28(2), 91-108.0258-252X (print)2415-0517 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/1003English: For a long time the rights of disabled persons have been ignored not only in South Africa, but also in the rest of the world. There are many disabled persons who can participate on an equal level with able-bodied persons, but on the other hand, there are many disabled persons who are unable to do so due to the nature and severity of their disabilities. Discrimination against disabled persons leads to exclusion from functioning in a normal way in the community and the denial of the right to function freely in society. Legislation can assist in the prevention of discrimination against such persons and also in their upliftment.Afrikaans: Die regte van gestremde persone word nie alleen net in Suid-Afrika geignoreer nie, maar ook in die res van die wêreld. Daar is baie gestremde persone wat op gelyke vlak met normale mense kan funksioneer, terwyl daar aan die ander kant ook baie gestremde persone is wat weens die aard en ernstigheid van hul gestremdehede nie in staat is om dit te kan doen nie. Diskriminasie teen gestremde persone lei tot die uitsluiting van hulle reg om op'n normale wyse te kan funksioneer en dit lei ook tot die miskenning van hul regte en vryhede.Wetgewing kan gebruik word om diskriminasie teen hierdie persone te voorkom en ook om hul in die gemeenskap op te hef.enArticleFaculty of Law, University of the Free State