Part of creating an inclusive environment for those with disabilities at Stellenbosch University (SU) involves reflection on the physical environment and the learning material in this space.
This was according to Dr Marcia Lyner-Cleophas, the head of the Disability Unit (DU) at SU.
“The vision of our unit is really to create an enabling environment that will holistically empower our students in both curricular and co-curricular spaces,” said Lyner-Cleophas.
Lyner-Cleophas spoke on these issues at the first online Disability Indaba at SU, which was the result of collaboration between the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the DU.
The indaba took place on 1 September and was centred around awareness, according to Luigia Nicholas, special needs manager of the SU SRC.
Changing the SU space
The first presentation at the Disability Indaba was about disability at SU. Lyner-Cleophas spoke on the support available at the university, and how these services are intended to create an environment that is engaging for students, according to the schedule for the event.
“[SU] needs to ensure that our environments – physical, attitudinal, support services, curricula, technologies, to name a few – are accessible,” said Lyner-Cleophas in written correspondence with MatieMedia.
Stellenbosch University (SU) has managed to work around the National Heritage Resources Act in order to put lifts and ramps in a few older buildings on campus, such as the Krotoa Building, the Old Main Building, the Van der Sterr Building and the G.G. Cillie Education Building, according to Dr Marcia Lyner-Cleophas, the head of the Disability Unit at SU. These additions are intended to make the buildings more accessible for disabled individuals. The G.G. Cillie Education Building has a ramp and a lift at two of its entrances. The ramp is at the front entrance and the lift is on the side entrance, facing Crozier Street. PHOTO: Kyra Rensburg
Mia Burgess, an SU student, spoke about her own experience as a visually impaired person at the indaba. For Burgess, spending hours in front of a screen is straining her eyes. However, it is better than learning in a lecture hall, as the slides are often too far away, she said at the event.
Creating a universally accessible campus is a long process, as the Disability Unit has to “engage with many stakeholders such as facilities management, faculty, administration, communications and the [Division for Student Affairs]”, according to Lyner-Cleophas.
It is a challenge to change infrastructure at SU, as many of the buildings over 60 years of age are protected by the National Heritage Resources Act, said Lyner-Cleophas.
Disability in a greater context
The aim of the indaba was “to give an idea that disability is not just a SU issue”, according to Nicholas.
Guest speakers discussed the experiences of disabled students at different universities across South Africa, including the University of Johannesburg and the University of South Africa, said Nicholas. International speakers focused on disability research representation in Africa, and universal design for learning, she added.
The Student Representative Council (SRC) and the Disability Unit at Stellenbosch University (SU) held an online Disability Indaba on 1 September. The indaba focused on “the different areas of disability, services provided for disability, disability-related concepts such as universal design and accessibility, and [getting] feedback from students with experiences across South Africa, and global issues relating to disability”. This is according to Luigia Nicholas, special needs manager of the Stellenbosch University Student Representative Council.
“[T]he main reason [for the Indaba] was to actually try and get a bigger voice about disability,” said Nicholas.