Promoting Access and Developing Solutions for disabled students and staff at the University of Cape Town
The University is committed to working towards the creation of a discrimination free and inclusive environment which encourages disabled students’ full, independent and effective participation in the mainstream of UCT life. The Disability Service works together with students and staff to facilitate the removal of barriers facing disabled students and staff.
Contacts:
Manager: Reinette Popplestone.
(Tel. 650-5090) Email: [email protected]
Administrative Assistant: Sibu Zulu.
(Tel. 021-650-2427) Email: [email protected]
Barrier Free Access Co-ordinator: Edwina Konghot
(Tel: 021-650-5089) Email: [email protected]
Disability Advocacy Co-ordinator: Nafisa Mayat
(Tel: 021-650 5088) Email: [email protected]
Direct Services Co-ordinator: Denise Oldham
(Tel: 021-650 2737) Email: [email protected]
The Disability Service at the University of Cape Town seeks to promote the equal participation of people with disabilities in all activities engaged in by our society. Our philosophy is that an equal opportunity for disabled people to participate in work, recreation and cultural activities should be implicit in the way such activities are planned and designed, and flows automatically from a culture of respect for human dignity and basic human rights. It goes without saying that this level of inclusiveness should also be implicit in the way in which supporting infra-structure (such as buildings, transport, communications and other technology) is planned and designed.
With projects focusing on research and development, as well as service provision, it is the Disability Service's mission to ensure that participation by disabled people appears on every agenda directed at planning and shaping the different facets of our society in every forum, at every level. Further, it is our mission to sponsor, conduct and assist with research directed at the promotion of access and the development of solutions which will inform decision-makers and light the way to full participation.
We are encouraged by the success of efforts to allow for equal opportunities and participation in leading western countries. We are encouraged too by the moves towards inclusion of people with disabilities in South Africa, although these initiatives are severely limited by the low fiscal priority under which they suffer. A more active stance by those who represent disability issues to government structures at all levels is vital.
For all men and women, the equal opportunity to earn and receive an education, or to earn and receive training and development, the equal opportunity to embark on and succeed in a career, - indeed the equal opportunity to participate in all social and economic activities - provides nourishment to a sense of self-worth. It is in violation of the rights of equality and dignity that there are men and women who have earned these opportunities, and yet are denied the chance to take them up purely because our society has planned and developed social and physical infrastructure in a way which excludes them, indeed, seems oblivious to their existence.
Our mission, in short, is to expose the areas where people with disabilities are wronged, and to facilitate society in righting these wrongs through pro-active effort.
•Advocacy on disability issues
•Support in transforming attitudinal barriers that may be encountered
•Access to inaccessible venues
•Designated disabled parking
•Access to lecture and study material in alternative format for people with sensory impairments
•Facilitation of extra time applications or other accommodations around exams
•Fully accessible transport between Residences and lectures
•Accessible residential accommodation
•Resource centre: literature and material related to disability studies and disability research
•Advice on applications for Disability bursaries
•Liason with UCT academic departments
•Referrals to UCT service departments
•Links with external Disability Organisations
