WSU'S INAUGURAL DISABILITY IMBIZO PROMOTES INCLUSIVITY

following the establishment of WSU's Disability Support Services Unit (DSSU), which became fully operational in August 2023, WSU recently hosted its first-ever Institutional Disability Imbizo, held at the Mthatha Health Resource Centre.

The event, themed: Repositioning Students and Staff with Disabilities in Universities brought together a wide range of stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities surrounding the inclusion of people with disabilities within academic institutions.

Disability Support Services Unit Acting Manager, Zanele Nomatshila, said: “ In today’s educational landscape, promoting inclusivity is of paramount importance, especially within higher education institutions. In its pursuit of excellence, WSU is dedicated to strengthening access, inclusivity and embracing diversity.”

Nomatshila added that hosting the Imbizo was a crucial initiative aimed at fostering an inclusive environment where the voices of individuals with disabilities are not only heard but also valued and acted upon.

The Imbizo provided a platform for collaboration and action, featuring contributions from university leaders, students, legislators from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and disability activists from across the Eastern Cape region.

Guest Speaker and Head of Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support, University of Free State, Miranda Martie, said: “Diversity is an open invitation recognising everybody’s presence. Inclusion celebrates and values that presence, ensuring that everyone is actively participating. So we have to understand our current landscape to appreciate the mission scope to be inclusive fully.”

Martie added that despite the strides made towards facilities, individuals with disabilities, particularly in the education sector continue to face extreme systemic barriers.

“It is not special treatment when providing an equal playing field. When a student with disability comes and says I need an extra 15 minutes because I am partially sighted, you do not give them special treatment. The point is they are not equal to their peers in terms of reading speed, so to give them an equal playing field, you give them extra time,” alluded Martie.

The discussions during the event addressed these challenges head-on, with participants emphasising the need for better support systems, accessible infrastructure, and comprehensive policies that foster inclusion at all levels of the university.

Eastern Cape Office of the Premier Special Programmes Unit Manager, Sithembele Africa Lunguza, said: “I am challenging the universities to develop a strategy on how best we assist each other. We need research papers that will influence policies in government, and those papers will come from you.”

The Imbizo concluded with action plans focused on policy reform, improving accessibility, and enhancing support structures for students and staff with disabilities. As WSU moves forward with these initiatives, the university aims to be a leader in fostering inclusivity and equity in higher education.

By Anita Roji