QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA)

The QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) is an NPO of quadriplegics and paraplegics with the vision that all quadriplegics and paraplegics live their lives to their full potential. QASA’s mission is to promote inclusion and independence by providing access to accessible products, services, and programs that build capacity among its members and create opportunities for life improvement. Through skills development, assistive technology provision, and advocacy, QASA empowers individuals with spinal cord injuries and mobility disabilities to live with dignity and purpose. QASA is an NPO (NPO 000881) with PBO status (PBO No. 930003176 | Ref. RG/0014/08/04), and a membership of approximately quadriplegics & paraplegics, 78% of whom are black people. The QASA Management Board is made up of 8 people from the 3 affiliated Regional Associations and all of the Board members are quadriplegics and paraplegics.

Outreach Programme

Objective: To connect with quadriplegics and paraplegics in need of our services Our national Outreach Programme, under the slogan “Corner to Corner”, connects quadriplegics and paraplegics to the full range of QASA services and membership benefits, including a free subscription to our Rolling Inspiration digital magazine. Quadriplegics and paraplegics who live in more remote locations face more difficulty in accessing appropriate care, reintegrating into their community and experience isolation more than those living in urban, more affluent areas. The outreach program aims to find quadriplegics and paraplegics regardless of their background, provide them with support and with a strong focus on peer support, the programme empowers individuals with spinal cord injuries to problem-solve, build connections and live more independently.

Accessible Homes

Objective: To remove accessibility barriers in the homes of quadriplegics and paraplegics to ensure access to basic necessities. Our Accessible Homes Project assists members with essential modifications to their homes, such as ramps and pathways, to ensure safe access to front doors, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Many live in semi-rural or township communities where financial constraints make these adaptations impossible without support. QASA helps restore dignity and independence by ensuring members can move freely in their own homes.

Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids

Objective: Assisting members with acquiring the necessary equipment/tools to be as mobile and functional as possible. Our Assistive Devices and Mobility Aid Fund supports members with limited income, including those reliant on disability grants, to acquire essential mobility aids and technology. Members can apply for wheelchairs, pushing gloves, specialised cushions, seating devices, and IT hardware or software to remain functional and connected. By enabling mobility, independence, and digital access, this fund significantly improves members’ quality of life. In 2025, 23 members received assistance from QASA in attaining appropriate assistive devices such as wheelchairs, pressure cushions, wheelchair parts etc.

Driving Ambitions Programme

Objective: To assist persons with mobility impairments obtain a Driver’s Licence using specially adapted vehicles. For many wheelchair users, the lack of accessible public transport is one of the biggest barriers to independence and employment. The Driving Ambitions Programme breaks down this obstacle by offering driver training to our members in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Western Cape with the use of adapted vehicles specially fitted with hand controls.

Education Fund

The QASA Education Fund provides QASA members the opportunity to have their education partly funded by QASA. The fund will assist members in funding the remainder of their high school studies should they require it, skills or vocational training or tertiary education. QASA encourages members to reach their full potential in a field of their choice. In 2024, four students were assisted, with the students studying accounting, teaching, social work and paralegal skills.

Employment Project

Objective: to bridge the gap to mainstream employment for persons with disabilities by focusing on both practical workplace skills and personal growth. QASA offers a 6-week online Work Readiness Programme, followed by a one-week work experience at a host company for all programme participants. The programme is designed to equip youth with mobility impairments with the essential professional and personal development skills needed to become valuable assets to any workplace. QASA has a relationship with a specialist recruiter who has access to our member CV database and assist in placing our members in permanent employment positions, through engagement with prospective employers, CV writing training, job coaching and interview coaching.

Life Coaching Programme

Objective: To build and strengthen self-leadership and resilience among members interested in pursuing careers Our Life Coaching Programme is a six-week online intervention that provides structured one-on-one weekly life coaching for graduates of the QASA Work Readiness Programme. While participants left the programme with key employability skills, many continue to face personal challenges that affect their independence and long-term success. This initiative addresses those needs by strengthening self-leadership, resilience, and clarity of life direction. Through weekly coaching sessions candidates enhance their self-awareness, confidence, and adaptability, ensuring they are better equipped to thrive both professionally and personally.

Sports Fund

Wheelchair sports are sporting activities where participants use wheelchairs, either manual or powered. There are several sports that have been adapted to be played by wheelchair users in South Africa. QASA wants to give their membership a holistic development and feels that sports are a vital way of keeping fit and healthy for wheelchair users.  QASA recognizes the value of sport and hobby and wants to encourage participation by Quadriplegics & Paraplegics. For this reason, QASA has a fund for wheelchair users to participate in sporting activities on a case-by-case basis.

Disability Awareness and Publications

Objective: To inform, educate and promote inclusion QASA has a range of publications to educate newly injured quadriplegics and paraplegics, their friend and family, as well as the greater public on spinal cord injuries, related consequences, and the etiquette within the disability community to ensure that people can engage with ease and make well-informed decisions. By promoting empowerment, real opportunities for people are created. This enhances their own capacities and supports them in setting their own priorities. Empowerment involves investing in people; in jobs, health, nutrition, education, and social protection. When people are empowered, they are better prepared to take advantage of opportunities, they become agents of change and can more readily embrace their civic responsibilities. QASA publishes a digital disability focused magazine, ranked in the top 5 globally, and can be seen here: https://www.rollinginspiration.co.za/ The QASA team is very active in the advocacy and lobbying space, being represented in the Presidential Working Group on Disability, attending workshops with the Department of Youth, Women and Persons with Disabilities, as well as actively lobbying at different government departments for the rights of persons with disabilities. QASA has developed in partnership with the South African Spinal Cord Association the Access to Health project which has formed a clinical advisory panel which advocates for best practice care to be funded through the council of medical schemes. An example of successes has been the recent inclusion of neurogenic bladder ICD10 codes being covered under PMB.