Superpowers for disability access
- Samantha Herbst
Thanks to the global tech revolution, support for people with disabilities has expanded exponentially in recent years.
Now, more than ever, the potential for a truly equitable society is within reach.
Since its establishment in 1986, the Disability Rights Unit (DRU) at Wits University has committed to creating an equal, accessible, and empowering environment for students and staff with disabilities. This includes access to the latest assistive technologies to support those across the disability spectrum. It also ensures that Wits’ students with disabilities are independent and ready for the workplace after graduation.
The empowerment and employability of students is one of the primary goals of Dr Leila Abdool Gafoor, who’s been leading the unit since March 2024.
“There is nothing more empowering than being able to do something on your own, but if we hold students’ hands too much, and they never learn to be independent, they’ll get used to the help at university but won’t have the same support when they step into the workplace,” she says. “It’s our mission to empower students to do more things on their own, so that they can enter the world of work seamlessly without having to rely on external assistance.”
State-of-the-art tech support
To ensure that it’s able to empower and enable students with state-of-the-art facilities and best-in-tech devices, the Wits DRU is constantly sourcing the latest technological solutions.
Acknowledging that every student has specific and differing needs – even within the same spectrum of disability – adaptive technologist and alumnus Andrew Sam works closely with students, assessing them and making recommendations on which assistive technologies will best support them in their studies.
“My role focuses on digital accessibility, and I also offer one-on-one training to make sure that each student is able to utilise the technology we have on offer,” he says.
雷速体育_雷速体育直播s with disabilities also need to be able to access online sites such as ulwazi, Wits’ learning management portal, as well as other sites crucial for their area of discipline, for which Sam provides training.
Dealing not just with disability, but with equity more broadly, Sam notes that some students approach the DRU having had little to no ICT training at their historically disadvantaged special-needs high schools. This is also something that he helps address with individualised training programmes.
Nothing about us without us
As a person with disabilities who has straddled both academia and the corporate landscape, diversity and inclusion activist and local writer Terry-Ann Adams (author of Those Who Live in Cages and White Chalk) says it was much tougher to navigate the world of work without a dedicated disability unit.
“You have to be your own advocate while worrying that you aren’t seen as lazy, or a burden,” they say, adding that the stakes are higher when there's money involved. “Disabilities are expensive, and you need the salary and medical aid that you get from work to pay for your life.”
Adams is currently pursuing a master’s degree through Wits’ Department of Creative Writing. As someone on the autism spectrum who also lives with albinism, the author advocates for others with disabilities, especially in the field of digital accessibility.
“There are some things that non-disabled people don't know are accessibility gamechangers for us. For me, it's Uber and ChatGPT, for instance. I use Uber because of my visual impairment, while ChatGPT has helped when I have brain fog from my lupus,” says Adams. “I also use a liquid reader that helps me when I pour hot water in a cup. And small things, like vegetables that are already peeled and cut, are amazing. I don't have to risk losing a finger when I cook a meal!”
Their advice to corporates and academic institutions which are keen better to support people with disabilities, is listening as the first, most crucial step to true allyship.
“No two people are the same. My accessibility needs may differ greatly from another person with albinism, or another autistic person. So, listen and consult with people who live this life. Lived experience is the best teacher,” they say.
Recognising collaboration opportunities
Dr Zintle Ntshongwana joined Wits in 2022 as a Lecturer in the Department of Social Work. With an emerging research interest in disability equity in higher education, she immediately recognised the resources and support offered by the Wits DRU. Ntshongwana became a fellow in Wits’ Female Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF) programme, which seeks to develop a pipeline of African female academic leaders in tertiary institutions, and which inspired this research focus in 2023.
“I decided to conduct a research study on disability units at two historically disadvantaged universities, namely the University of Fort Hare and the University of Zululand,” says the Fort Hare alumna, who completed her PhD there.
Acknowledging invisible disabilities
Ntshongwana’s research highlighted Wits as a frontrunner among local universities when it comes to equity and accessibility support, with a wealth of resources that could benefit other universities through collaboration.
“Collaboration means sharing expertise and best practices. Universities like Fort Hare and Zululand would certainly benefit from Wits’ resources and expertise, but Wits could also benefit from a policy or representation perspective. There is always room for growth and gain,” she says.
On establishing workplace equity for people with disabilities, Ntshongwana believes in fostering an organisational culture where every voice is welcomed, respected and recognised equally.
She adds that not all disabilities are physical, and that many individuals feel they will be stigmatised if they disclose their disability. Ntshongwana is therefore passionate about mutual respect among individuals.
“A positive workplace culture is important.?It’s a matter of being a human being and respecting the other person, and supporting diversity and inclusion,’’ she concludes.
The latest in disability tech
While Wits University is still learning how best to tap into the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and implement it in the disability space, the DRU strives to offer students the very best in disability support and existing assistive technologies, including:
Braille Note Takers: Devices that connect to blind learners’ phones or laptops and provide real-time Braille translation of webpages, as well as Word and PDF documents.
ZoomText keyboards: Keyboards that feature large, high-contrast letters, and coloured keys which help visually impaired learners to see the keyboard better, reducing eye strain.
Digital recorders: Advanced digital recorders with text-to-speech capability that enable blind students to navigate the device and their recordings. The recorders are also used by hearing- impaired students to record lectures.
Loop systems: Devices that pair wirelessly with a hearing-impaired person’s hearing aid or cochlear implant, providing clear, enhanced audio. The Phonak Roger pen is another example of a loop system, offering a discreet pen-shaped solution for someone with a hearing disability.
Desktop Magnifiers: The magnifier zooms in on documents with small fonts and/or dense text, enhancing visibility for the visually impaired.
Eye-Pal reading device: An easy-to-use scanner that instantly and accurately converts printed text from books or documents into audio. It also produces an electronic text file or MP3 of the audio for quick accessibility.
Blind students registered with the DRU receive mobility training to help them move freely around campus, while deaf students have access to two full-time South African Sign Language interpreters who can assist them in class.
Moreover, the DRU will liaise with lecturers and provide suggestions on how they can better support students with disabilities in their lectures. This is in addition to the dedicated computer lab for DRU students, and a dedicated extra time test and exam venue for students who use assistive technologies.
- Samantha Herbst is a freelance writer.
- This article first appeared in?Curiosity,?a research magazine produced by?Wits Communications?and the?Research Office.
- Read more in the 18th issue, themed #Work, which delves into the evolving nature of work, shaped by societal shifts, technological advances, and equity challenges.