'Extreme discomfort': Inside look at disabled woman's experience of Cape Town heat

Summer is a time to enjoy outdoor activities, like going to the beach or hiking up a mountain. It is also a time when flowers and trees are in full bloom. Everything feels energised and ready for what life has to offer. 

For Jane*, though, the summer months mean nothing more than extreme discomfort. She hates the warmer months and dreads each day when she is forced to endure the heat in her disabled body, making daily activities challenging. Jane has cerebral palsy, which is a neurological condition affecting her walking. 

Because she uses so much energy to move around, her body temperature is high all year round, and therefore, the heat that comes with the summer months and heatwaves in between only adds to her already warm body.