"In order to help people, we need to understand them."

Learn how Bongani Mapumulo is transforming accessibility and innovation for students living with disabilities in low-income communities in the Global South on this podcast conversation featuring disability rights, inclusive innovation, and assistive technology trends.

🎙️ About This Episode

In this episode, we talk to Bongani Mapumulo, a leading disability rights advocate and champion of inclusive innovation in South Africa. Bongani shares a personal and professional journey shaped by systemic challenges, transformative learning, and a passion for social and redistributive justice.

With a robust background in Political Science, Sociology, Social Anthropology, and advanced diplomas in Disability & Rehabilitation and Intercultural Communication from Stellenbosch University, Bongani is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Inclusive Innovation at the UCT Graduate School of Business. 

His pioneering research focuses on advancing assistive technologies and inclusive design within low- and middle-income contexts, promoting universal access as a foundation for equity and human dignity.

👉 In this episode, we cover:

• (00:00 ) - Introduction
  


• (00:20 ) - Personal Story
  


• (01:47 ) - Challenges and Activism in Student Life
  


• (05:17 ) - Institutional Preparedness and Accessibility
  


• (07:06 ) - Assistive Technology and Support
  


• (12:25 ) - Reasonable Accommodation and Equity
  


• (22:36 ) - Intersectionality and Lived Experiences
  


• (27:48 ) - Personal Story and Impact
  


• (28:50 ) - Navigating Identity and Spaces
  


• (30:25 ) - Challenges and Opportunities in Education
  


• (38:54 ) - Representation and Inclusion
  


• (41:24 ) - Influence of Supportive Figures
  


• (42:33 ) - The Importance of Early Belief
  


• (43:49 ) - Grassroots Representation
  


• (44:00 ) - Unheard Voices and Broader Solutions
  


• (45:55 ) - Final Thoughts

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Referenced works

This episode mentions material from Physical Disability and Sexuality: Stories from South Africa (2021), edited by Xanthe Hunt, Stine Hellum Braathen, Mussa Chiwaula, Mark T. Carew, Poul Rohleder, and Leslie Swartz, published by Springer Nature under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). 

Explore Bongani Mapumulo's contributions in Chapter 6 (Physical Disability and Masculinity: Hegemony and Exclusion) and Chapter 7 (Bongani’s Story), whose personal experiences and insights on disability and transformation feature in this discussion.

Available: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-55567-2

Notable Thanks 

- Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation

- Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship

- UCT's Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching One Button Studios 

 Connect with Bongani

- LinkedIn

- Facebook

- Instagram

📧 For Speaking & Partnerships

Host Bandile Mndebele is available for speaking, collaborations, features, workshops, and partnership opportunities. To connect, reach out on LinkedIn or via info@bandilem.com.

Creators & Guests

• Bandile Mndebele - Host


• Bongani Mapumulo - Guest