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Empowering inclusive education: The role of ARCSWiD at Unisa
The Advocacy Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (2) at Unisa stands as a vital pillar in promoting inclusive education and providing comprehensive support for students with disabilities. Established with the core mission of ensuring equal access to education, ARCSWiD offers a range of specialised services tailored to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities.
Regional staff and the ARCSWiD Team
Workshop equips staff with essential support skills
In a recent workshop held at the Western Cape Region's Cape Town Campus, aimed at equipping staff members with the knowledge and skills necessary to support students with disabilities, Michelle Frauendorf, Acting Regional Director, warmly welcomed participants. She emphasised the importance of such workshops in fostering a deeper understanding of ARCSWiD's services and ensuring that staff can provide adequate support to all students.
Bheki Nxumalo, Acting Deputy Director: ARCSWiD
Bheki Nxumalo, Acting Deputy Director of ARCSWiD, highlighted that the centre operates on principles of equality and inclusion. He stated that "ARCSWiD is guided by principles of equality and inclusion whereby we do not discriminate but make sure that all students with disabilities are reasonably accommodated and provided with individualised support to all the 22 disability codes we have at Unisa. We customise our responses to students' needs and advocate for independence as well as empowerment."
Key presentations: Knowledge sharing and skill building
The programme was enriched by a series of presentations from various speakers, each contributing valuable insights and training on specific aspects of disability support.
Gugu Mngadi, Acting Advocacy and Liaison Coordinator, presented an enlightening session on disability etiquette. She underscored the importance of ‘seeing the person before the disability’, encouraging staff to ask if assistance is needed rather than making assumptions. Her practical training included techniques on how to effectively guide a blind person.
Sophy Mabaso, a sign language interpreter, delivered a presentation on South African Sign Language (SASL). She highlighted SASL as the 12th official South African language, emphasising its importance and the need for inclusiveness. She urged staff to learn basic sign language to better communicate and assist deaf students.
Helen Moraka, Acting Student Academic Support Officer, spoke about the crucial aspect of disability disclosure. She explained that students should submit letters confirming their disabilities to access the support services provided by ARCSWiD. She detailed the range of academic support available to students with disabilities.
Vukati Ndlovu, a student advisor, discussed the admission processes for students with disabilities. She provided comprehensive information on registration procedures and the financial aid options available to support these students.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr Shahieda Jansen, Deputy Director: Academic Support and ICT, who expressed gratitude to colleagues for their attendance and active participation. She reiterated the importance of continuous learning and collaboration to enhance the support provided to students with disabilities.
ARCSWiD's initiatives, including workshops like this, play a critical role in fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment at Unisa. By equipping staff with the necessary skills and knowledge, ARCSWiD ensures that students with disabilities receive the individualised support they need to succeed academically and thrive independently.
* By Nwabisa Veli, ARCSWiD Lab Administrator, and Vicky-Lee Lee Shew, Acting Communication and Marketing Manager, Unisa Western Cape
Publish date: 2024/07/02
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