Following the Disability Rights Policy Workshop convened by the Gauteng Office of the Premier on 12 November 2022, several strategic challenges affecting the disability sector were identified. These included:

• Limited coordination and collaboration among disability organisations.
• The need for a more united and representative disability sector capable of speaking with one voice on matters affecting Persons with Disabilities.
• Insufficient participation and leadership opportunities for young Persons with Disabilities to ensure succession planning and sustainability.
• Limited empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to actively participate in advocacy, policy development, and socio-economic initiatives.
• The need to strengthen innovation, accountability, and transformational leadership within disability organisations.

To address these challenges, stakeholders resolved to establish a representative leadership structure that would coordinate the disability sector, facilitate communication between government and civil society, mobilise organisations around common priorities, and advocate for the rights and interests of Persons with Disabilities.

The United Disability Sector (UDS) was therefore established as the recognised coordinating platform for the disability sector in Gauteng. Sector leaders were elected during the meeting held on 12 November 2022 to provide strategic leadership, promote collaboration across disability constituencies, coordinate sector engagements, and represent the collective interests of Persons with Disabilities in consultations with government and other stakeholders.

UDS will serve as a body for strengthening partnerships, promoting accountability and good governance, monitoring sector priorities, encouraging inclusive participation, and ensuring that the voices of Persons with Disabilities and Disability Organisations in Gauteng remain central to policy development, service delivery, and socio-economic transformation in Gauteng.