Higher Education Information for Students with Disabilities

Universities

.,

University of Pretoria

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Student Support: Unit for Students with Special Needs

Services Offered

  • Providing study material in workable format
  • Liaising with Departments and Faculties
  • Arranging special placement in wheelchair-friendly residences
  • Organising awareness weeks as part of advocacy
  • Addressing any other problems and needs that students may experience

Disabilities Catered for

Not specified

Telephone Numbers:

012 420 2582

012 420 4281

012 420 4002

 

University of Cape Town

 

Department Name

Contact Details

University of Cape Town Disability Service

Services Offered

General and Administrative enquiries

  • General enquiries & Registering with the Disability Service
  • Designated disabled parking
  • Dayhouse for students with disabilities

Access Solutions

  • Mobility training and specialized campus orientation
  • Accessible residential assistance
  • Access solutions to inaccessible venues
  • Fully accessible transport between Residences and lectures
  • Assistance at Graduation ceremonies

Advocacy

  • Advocacy and counselling on disability issues
  • Prospective Students, Orientation
  • Disability bursary applications
  • Advocacy events & Resource centre: literature relating to disability studies / disability research
  • Liason with SRC and Disabled Students Movement

Teaching and Learning Support

  • Access to study material in alternative formats (braille, audio, electronic text), to Assistive Technology and Assistive Furniture
  • Scribing & notetaker support
  • Student Volunteers Support Team
  • Disability Service Computer lab
  • Test and Exam Accommodations

Learning Disability Support & Extra Time You will first need to make an appointment at Reception for

  • Extra Time Applications
  • Accommodations around tests and exams
  • Counselling

Sign Language Interpreter

  • Sign language interpreting in lectures & at UCT events

Disabilities Catered for

Not specified

Telephone Numbers:

021 650 2427

021 650 5089

021 650 5088

021 650 2737

Email addresses:

Sibu.Zulu@uct.ac.za

Edwina.Konghot@uct.ac.za

Nafisa.Mayat@uct.ac.za

Denise.Oldham@uct.ac.za

Margie.leRoux@uct.ac.za

Trudie.Theunissen@uct.ac.za

Office Location:

Room 4.03, Level 4 Steve Biko Students Union Building, Upper Campus

 

Stellenbosch University

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Office for Students with Special Learning Needs

Services Offered

  • Creating awareness about diverse learning needs and disabilities among all staff and students on campus;
  • Providing and expanding the use of appropriate assistive technology;
  • Facilitating access to the physical environment on campus;
  • Proactive advocacy in order to inspire changed mindsets;
  • Ongoing research and development of our services;
  • Offering organisational support to Dis-Maties;
  • Enabling the effective integration of students with special learning needs through holistic support (academic, adaptation, social and psychological);
  • Facilitating of adapted assessments and curricula for optimal learning to take place; and
  • Through consultative support to staff in order to provide effective learning environments for students with special learning needs

Disabilities Catered for

Not specified

 

Telephone numbers:

021 808 4707

021 808 3675

021 808 2127

021 808 2531

021 808 2235/9037

021 808 3537

Email addresses:

cleophas@sun.ac.za

mwillems@sun.ac.za

meagans@sun.ac.za

phlouw@sun.ac.za

jlo@sun.ac.za

wwb2@sun.ac.za

 

University of Western Cape

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Office for Students with Disabilities, Institute for Counselling

Services Offered

Contact Office for Students with Disabilities, Institute for Counselling for more details

Disabilities Catered for

Not specified

Telephone numbers:

021 959 2299/3586

Email addresses:

eabrahams@uwc.ac.za

 

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Disability Unit

Services Offered

  • Establishing reasonable accommodations and support systems;
  • Increasing awareness about and advocating for persons with disability;
  • Increasing awareness of the abilities of persons with disabilities amongst staff and students, thus providing persons with disability with an equal opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of student/staff life at NMMU.

Disability Support Services

  • Confidential consultation sessions
  • Assistance/advice on Assistive devices
  • Awareness and advocacy workshop and information sessions on all campuses
  • A link to Support Organizations/NGO’s and networks relevant to your disability
  • Training on assistive hardware and software

Facilities available to Students:

  • Co-ordinating the placement into accessible student housing (availability limited)
  • Volunteer Buddies
  • Accessible transport (available in and around campus).Please Note: Limited to those who cannot comfortably access the formal NMMU shuttle service. Bookings are essential and subject to registration with the DSU.
  • Magnification software
  • Reasonable accommodation
  • Portable magnification devices
  • Digital recorders

Adaptive Technology NMMU has computer stations on campus with adaptive technology software installed on them. Such technology includes Zoomtext, HAL and WYNN. Such computer stations are located in:

  • General computer Labs
  • Library computer stations located on the ground floor of each library
  • Disability Services Unit (0009, Ground floor, MB, South campus)

Alternative print format:

  • enlarged print /copies (from the faculty or placed on module sites of NMMU’s website)
  • E-books (selected formats available or can be obtained)

Alternative testing services:

  • Separate testing venues (arranged by faculty during tests and located at the Heinz Bets building during formal examinations)
  • scribes
  • use of computers (arranged by Faculty and or in conjunction with the DSU)
  • additional time concessions

Assistive listening devices (FM Systems)

  • Portable devices available from the DSU

Portable devices available from the DSU such as magnification devices, digital recorders Further support services

  • Classroom relocations (where practical and possible)
  • Early/Priority registration (via Faculty officers)
  • Library and Lab assistants (arranged via the Disability Services Unit)
  • Note-taking (arranged via the Disability Services Unit and or Faculty)
  • Disability Parking (for further information, please see our page on Campus Accessibility)
  • Voluntary Buddies under theIn Our Shoesvolunteer programme, who render services such as scribing, library assistance, acting as sighted guide, scanning, note-taking, digital recording of lectures, mentoring support

Accessible transportation

  • The DSU offers accessible transportation in an adapted kombi which transports students in and around the campuses. Such service is not available to transport students to and from their homes.

Restroom

  • A day rest room is available for students who need a rest break in between classes. This room is located at the DSU, 0009, Ground floor, Main Building.

Disabilities Catered for

Not specified

Telephone numbers:

041 504 2562

041 504 4756

Email addresses: ruth.sauls@nmmu.ac.za

Sheri-Ann.Pietersen@nmmu.ac.za

 

University of Venda

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Office for Univen Disability Unit

Services Offered

  • Provide training in adapted technology for students thus fostering their independence.
  • Provision of technical academic support for the visually impaired students such as brailing and scanning of learning materials, tests and examinations.
  • Building advocacy for purposes of enhancing physical access for students who are physically challenged.
  • Co-ordinate/facilitate training for staff and students in basic Braille and South African sign Language.
  • Ensure academic accommodation for students with documented learning disabilities.
  • Co-ordinate rehabilitative services for students with fine-motor problems with relevant professionals both within and outside the university.
  • Update data for students with documented disabilities.
  • Co-ordinate special library services for visually impaired students.
  • Establish linkages with business, industry, government and educational institutions for purposes of graduate placement and experiential learning.
  • Orientation and Mobility Training
  • Braille printing
  • Sports and Recreation
  • Individual programme planning
  • Conducting research

Disabilities Catered for

  • Visual
  • Hearing
  • Physical
  • Speech impairments
  • Chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes, epilepsy)
  • Painful conditions (e.g. back injuries & carpal tunnel syndrome)
  • Psychological disabilities (e.g. bipolar disorder & severe anxiety/depression)
  • Temporary disabilities (e.g. broken limbs) may request services for the period during which they require them.

Telephone numbers:

041 504 2562

 

University of Johannesburg

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Office for People with Disabilities (PwD)

Services Offered

This Office is concerned with the academic, technological, psycho-social and psychological support of students with disabilities. It is the aim of the Office to provide equal opportunities for students with disabilities.

Services to students with disabilities include:

  • Registration of students withdisabilities in order to liaise with their faculties for various concessions;
  • Provision and maintenance of assistive technologies for students with disabilities;
  • Keeping abreast with changes in assistive technologies and to acquire these for the Office: People with Disabilities for use by students;
  • Psycho-educational assessments of students applying for test and examination concessions;
  • Provision of psycho-therapeutic and counselling support.
  • Facilitation of the DoL bursary
  • Provision of assistance with residence placement

Disabilities Catered for

  • Visual disabilities
  • Physical disabilities
  • Hearing disabilities
  • Emotional/ psychological disabilities

 

 

Telephone numbers:

011 559 3745 / 011 559 2178

Email addresses:

ashmoren@uj.ac.za wmupaku@uj.ac.za

 

University of KwaZulu-Natal

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Assistance for Students with Disabilities

Services Offered

Developing and facilitating a wide range of services for support of disabled students eg. academic support, accommodation, finance, access etc.

For more information contact the University

Disabilities Catered for

Not specified

Telephone numbers:

Howard College

031 260 3070 / 031 260 3140

Pietermaritzburg

033 260 5213 / 033 260 5233

Westville

031 260 7706 /031 260 7888

Edgewood

031 260 3665

 

University of the Witwatersrand

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Disability Unit

Services Offered

DU enjoys the services of the following staff members:

  • A Head who manages the department and is actively involved in many disability groups/forums in South Africa
  • An IT Specialist who maintains the DU network, computer centres and equipment and also provides computer training and support to students using this medium of study
  • A Maths Tutor who assists blind students studying foundation maths, when they do not have the required level of High School math, and makes math or math-content courses accessible in electronic and tactile format
  • A Learning Disability Coordinator who assists students with learning impairments by developing various study and time management programs to assist students academically
  • A South African Sign Language Interpreter who interprets for deaf students during lectures
  • A Secretary and Test & Exams officer who oversees all matters related to tests and exams
  • A Wits Education Campus (WEC)Administrative Officer who oversees matters at WEC
  • A team of editors who are responsible for conversion of course material into an electronic format
  • Campus Health and Wellness Centre - an on-site medical facility providing students with well-being and health-related services. Applications for extra-time are made to this unit
  • Counselling and Careers Development Unit - providing a vast array of services related to personal and career development, such as, personal therapy, graduate recruitment programmes, workplace skills and career assessments. Students are advised to undergo career assessments/counselling before making a career decision
  • Sports Administration encourages students with disabilities to participate in sports, providing them with an enriched university experience
  • The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office assists students in their application for such aid
  • The Office of Residence Life offers students with disabilities a range of accommodation options
  • The Student Development Office focuses on holistic student development
  • The Wits Writing Centre helps students improve their writing skills

Disabilities Catered for

  • Visual impairments
  • Physical impairments
  • Hearing impairments
  • Learning impairments
  • Psychological impairments
  • Speech impairments
  • Chronic illnesses & painful conditions
  • Seizure disorders
  • Students with temporary disabilities (e.g. broken limbs) may request services for the period during which they are disabled.

 

Telephone numbers:

011 717 9153

011 717 9151

011 717 9152

011 717 9157

Email addresses: duncan.yates@wits.ac.za anlia.pretorius@wits.ac.za alfred.tlou@wits.ac.za andrew.sam@wits.ac.za

 

University of Limpopo

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Disabled Student Unit

Services Offered

  • Orientation and Mobility

The DSU offers orientation and mobility training to new students to familiarise them with the new surroundings and to encourage free and independent movement.

  • Computer Training Facilities

All students with disabilities are offered basic computer lessons to develop essential skills for using adaptive technology. Computers with voice interface for blind students are also available for typing out assignments or surfing the internet.

  • Low Vision Reading Room

Partially sighted students have access to print by means of reading equipment that enlarges print to required size.

  • Braille Printing

Braille printers are made available to blind students to transcribe print into Braille at a price determined by the DSU from time to time. The DSU also provides Braille services to individuals, schools and organizations from the surroundings areas at a price determined by the Unit.

  • Braille and Audio Library Services

Braille and Audio books and journals are purchased and loaned out to students.

  • Students have to pay for brailling of their reading materials

Books required by students but not available in the library, are obtained from other libraries through Inter-Library loans.

  • Assistive Devices

Assistive devices such as tape-recorders, type-writers and Perkins Braillers are also loaned out to students. Students who break or lose the assistive devices borrowed from the DSU, will have to replace or pay for them. Failure to comply will lead to amount to the value of the assistive device debited to the student’s account and results withheld until payment or replacement is made.

  • Photocopying facilities

Photocopying is done for students at a price determined by the DSU from time to time. wide range of services for support of disabled students eg. academic support, accommodation, finance, access etc.

Support Services

  • Extra time to complete exams and tests depending on the degree of disability.
  • Format of the reading materials to be provided.
  • Special seating arrangements for tests and examinations.
  • Use of assistive devices for exam purposes.

Disabilities Catered for

  • Visual impairments
  • Physical impairments

 

Telephone numbers:

015 268 2464

015 268 2495

015 268 2533

Email addresses:

konem@ul.ac.za pauschiatm@ul.ac.za ramongenec@ul.ac.za

 

University of South Africa

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Students with Disabilities

Services Offered

Student Support and Administration

  • Registering Students with disabilities
  • Producing study material in alternative formats
  • Providing academic support interventions
  • Transcribing assignments and exam scripts
  • Providing sign language interpretation services

Advocacy and Training

  • Implementing train-the-trainer programmes
  • Commissioning/ Conducting research
  • Implementing Community Outreach programmes

What services can students with disabilities receive from ARCSWiD?

  1. Referrals to career and counseling services
  2. Assistance in completing application forms during registration
  3. Assistance with fee reduction applications
  4. Assistance in motivating for assistive devices and access technology equipment
  5. Study guides and tutorial letters in either Braille, large-print, electronic or audio formats
  6. Electronic versions of prescribed books obtained on request from publishers
  7. Interventions with academic departments
  8. Advice on assistive devices and access technology
  9. Sign Language Interpretation services for deaf students
  10. Orientation and Mobility assistance for blind and partially-sighted students
  11. Advice on low-vision devices for partially-sighted students
  12. Referrals to relevant service providers and civil society organizations
  13. Referrals to the Library Disability Workgroup for recommended textbooks in electronic format

Disabilities Catered for

Not specified

Telephone numbers:

012 429 6923/ 6924/ 6540/ 3829/ 8668/ 6050/ 2607 or 012 441 5470/ 5471

Email addresses: nkunapj@unisa.ac.za motseme@unisa.ac.za

 

University of the Free State

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Unit for Students with Disabilities

Services Offered

  • Coordinates and facilitates in cooperation with other role-players on campus to assist students to gain access to: - Study courses - Inaccessible buildings - Learning material - Residences - Sporting activities - South African Sign Language interpreter or lip-speaking services - Classrooms - Computer facilities - Specialised exam and test venue for alternative test and exam procedures - Possible bursaries & loans
  • Includes in its support service: - the option of writing tests/exams with an Amanuensis. - extra time according to their specific impairment. - arrangement of tutor support for students. - providing an accessible computer lab and text enlargers to study, read and write tests/exams. - assistance with making arrangements to obtain alternative furniture and adapted hardware. - providing transcriptions of academic and/or university related material for UFS students in alternative formats – Braille; large print; e-text and audio.

Disabilities Catered for

Not specified

Telephone numbers:

051 401 9348

051 401 2741

051 401 9472

051 401 2351

051 401 3095

Email addresses:

MirandaMH@ufs.ac.za

Bothal@ufs.ac.za

VorsterA@ufs.ac.za

SisingME@ufs.ac.za

MotsamaiF@ufs.ac.za

Universities not specified in this document could not supply information at the time of the compilation of the document.

Universities of Technology

Cape Peninsula of Technology

Department Name

Contact Details

Disability Unit

Services Offered

The unit performs a number of functions from registering students to assisting them during exams. The supportive environment offers a number of resources like: 1. wheelchair friendly desks 2. special computer software for dyslexia 3. magnifiers for the visually impaired students and Braille embossers for blind students 4. Special large font keyboards– for visually impaired students (in yellow and black, or black and white keyboards) 5. Digital recorders– for students with physical challenges to enable them to record lectures and write notes at a later stage and at their own pace.

Disabilities Catered for

1. Dyslexia 2. Visually impaired 3. Blind students 4. Physically challenged

Telephone Numbers:

021 959 6964

021 460 9071

021 953 8438

Emails addresses:

disabilityunit@cput.ac.za devosd@cput.ac.za fortuinli@cput.ac.za

 

Central University of Technology

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Unit for Students with Special Needs

Services Offered

1. Advice on any issues related to disability

2. Counselling for students with disabilities

3. Assistance for students who need extra time during tests and examination

4. Software for blind/partially sighted students

5. Access to the campus for physically handicapped students

6. Information to lecturing staff regarding the needs of disabled students

Disabilities Catered for

1. Blind/partially sighted students 2. Physically handicapped

Telephone Numbers:

051 507 3978

051 507 3335

051 507 3704

051 507 3444

Emails addresses: ksebolai@cut.ac.za nventer@cut.ac.za jbosch@cut.ac.za bvdmerwe@cut.ac.za

 

Tshwane University of Technology

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Disability Centre

Services Offered

1. Advice on reasonable accommodation with respect to assistance, and extra time for tests and exams.

2. Consulting these students and link them to specific services and resources available at TUT.

3. Access to specialised computer equipment that make it possible forour students with visual impairments to do their assignments and use the Internet.

4. Conversion of study material into electronic or Braille format.

5. Facilitating tests and exams (in collaboration with academic departments and the Exam Department) for students with visual impairment who have to use specialised computer equipment.

6. Support to lecturers and staff on issues relating to the accommodation of disabled students in theiracademic programmes.

7. Assistance to students via advocacy and appropriate liaison with the relevant departments concerning matters of reasonable accommodation (residence accommodation, transport matters, class accessibility, etc.).

Disabilities Catered for

1. Visual impaired 2. Blind students

Telephone Numbers:

012 382 4130

012 382 9863

012 382 0620

013 653 3109

015 287 0753

013 745 3527

Email addresses:

masonjj@tut.ac.za ramokgadidls@tut.ac.za lumadite@tut.ac.za elsem@tut.ac.za mmolana@tut.ac.za BuysC@tut.ac.za

 

Vaal University of Technology

 

Department Name

Contact Details

Student Support Services

Services Offered

1. Disability support

2. Concession applications

3. Assessment of students with learning disabilities

There is a range of support available to students with disabilities. Student Counselling and Support (SCS) provides:

  • Registration of students withdisabilities to assist in liaising with faculties for test and examination concessions
  • Consultative and counselling support for students with disabilities
  • Psycho-educational assessments of students applying for test and examination concessions
  • Facilitation of the Department of Labour (DoL) bursary
  • Asistance with residence placement
  • Keeping abreast of changes in assistive technologies and acquiring these for students with disabilities
  • Advocacy and advice on issues related to disabilities
  • Resource Centre: literature and material relating to disability research and support is available to students with disabilities. Material may be taken out on loan.
  • Physical access: a wheelchair guide map of campus is available
  • Text conversion, including text conversion into electronic format, is available.

Disabilities Catered to

Not specified

Telephone Numbers:

016 950 9829