Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support - UFS

24/09/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 💙🪘🇿🇦

Earlier this month, CUADS came together for our 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮, celebrating the 2026 theme, 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘴 𝘖𝘯𝘦 – 𝘙𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.

With 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗯𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘂 at the heart of the day, it was a celebration of coming together, sharing our rhythm and recognising the part each of us plays in creating a more inclusive community.

Today, as we celebrate Heritage Day, those ideas feel just as meaningful. Our heritage is made up of different cultures, languages, traditions and lived experiences — all contributing to the South Africa we share.

Different rhythms. Different stories. One community.

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗨𝗔𝗗𝗦. 💙🇿🇦

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: A video montage of CUADS staff and participants taking part in the Casual Day Rhythm Extravaganza, with photographs capturing the celebrations, group moments and activities from the day.

23/09/2026

𝗖𝗨𝗔𝗗𝗦 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁

CUADS recently hosted a 𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 with colleagues from the University Of Venda and University of KwaZulu-Natal, creating an opportunity to share practices, experiences and approaches to supporting students with disabilities in higher education.

The visiting team included 𝗠𝘀 𝗞𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗼, Student Counsellor; 𝗠𝗿 𝗔𝘇𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮, Acting HOD; and 𝗠𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗶, Adapted Technology Practitioner, from the University of Venda, as well as 𝗠𝗿 𝗠𝘅𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗲 and 𝗠𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗮𝗸𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗼𝗹𝗮, Reformatting Assistants from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

As part of the benchmarking visit, the group also met with the 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗼𝘃𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 to learn more about how UFS supports and assists athletes with disabilities. 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗲𝘁𝘇𝗲𝗲, 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗼𝘃𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, was part of the engagement.

Benchmarking opportunities such as these allow institutions to 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:
Photos from the two-day benchmarking visit show staff from CUADS, the University of Venda and the University of KwaZulu-Natal posing together and engaging during the visit. The photographs also include the Head of CUADS and ParaSport Manager at Kovsie Sport during the group’s engagement with the ParaSport Office.

22/09/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 💙

Join us tomorrow for a practical session on:
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺.

📅 𝟮𝟯 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
⏰ 𝟭𝟯:𝟬𝟬–𝟭𝟰:𝟬𝟬
💻 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀
📧 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣: [email protected]

The session will focus on practical ways of communicating with Deaf students and working effectively with interpreters in the classroom.

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣!

21/09/2026

15/09/2026

𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 💙

On 𝟭𝟰 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, CUADS hosted a 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 in commemoration of and support for 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵.

The session was arranged by 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗲, newly elected South Campus SRC member for Universal Access, and created an opportunity to learn from lived experiences and perspectives on Deafness.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮, Head of CUADS, shared her personal experience as a 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗔𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 (𝗖𝗢𝗗𝗔) and how this shaped her passion for disability inclusion. 𝗠𝘂𝘇𝘂𝘃𝘂𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗸𝗵𝗶𝘇𝗲, a Deaf student and former South Campus SRC Universal Access representative, shared his lived experience as a Deaf person and as a student at UFS.

We appreciate everyone who took part in creating a space for greater awareness, understanding and inclusion. 💙

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
Students are seated in a lecture hall during the Deaf Awareness Session. CUADS representatives Martie Miranda and Muzuvukile Mkhize are pictured engaging with attendees, with some photographs showing participants using a hand gesture representing “love” in sign language.

10/09/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿!

Join the Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies for a practical session on 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺.

Learn simple strategies for communicating with Deaf students and creating a more inclusive and supportive classroom.

📅 𝟮𝟯 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
⏰ 𝟭𝟯:𝟬𝟬–𝟭𝟰:𝟬𝟬
💻 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀
📧 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣: [email protected]

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

04/09/2026

𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 💙

The 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀, where CUADS hosted an information desk and connected with students throughout the day.

Students had the opportunity to learn more about Casual Day and the work of CUADS, while Casual Day stickers were also available for purchase in support of the campaign.

It was great to see students stopping by, engaging with the team and getting involved in the spirit of Beating As One. 🪘

𝑉𝑖𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:
A collection of photographs from the CUADS event, showing students and staff engaging with the CUADS team, posing for photographs and interacting with the event activities and displays.

04/09/2026

𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗲 🪘

CUADS staff on the Bloemfontein Campus joined South Africans across the country in standing in solidarity with the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗡𝗖𝗣𝗗) for 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

This year’s theme, “𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗲 – 𝗥𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀,” reminds us that every person has a part to play in creating a more inclusive and equitable society for persons with disabilities.

Together, we beat as one. 💙

𝑉𝑖𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:
A group of CUADS staff members stand together outside a building, wearing Casual Day 2026 T-shirts.

04/09/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿? 💙

September is 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 — an opportunity to learn more about Deaf people, Deaf culture and communication.

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 (𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗟) is one practical way we can contribute to a more inclusive society. It can help us communicate with Deaf people, create greater accessibility and understanding, and is also a valuable skill to have in our personal, academic and professional lives.

At CUADS, we believe that there is always more to learn. Why not use this Deaf Awareness Month as an opportunity to start learning SASL?

𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗦𝗔 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗟 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀.

NATIONAL MONTH OF DEAF PEOPLE 🇿🇦
FREE SOUTH AFRICAN SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES!

Come, come and join us! 🤟

During September, DeafSA is offering FREE South African Sign Language (SASL) classes.

Every Monday & Wednesday
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Starting Monday, 6 September

Please join us from the very first class, because this is a course that will build from one lesson to the next. If you miss a class, you may miss an important part of the course — so don’t miss out!

The classes will take place online. Please only click on the link between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays. Do not use the link at other times. https://us02web.zoom.us/my/deafsa

COME AND LEARN SASL! 🤟

It’s FREE. It’s fun. It’s for everyone.

Come! Join us! Don’t miss out!

DeafSA – Empowering through South African Sign Language

03/09/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺

As part of 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵, the Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies invites staff to a practical session on 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.

The session will explore simple strategies for creating a more inclusive and supportive classroom environment.

📅 𝟮𝟯 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
⏰ 𝟭𝟯:𝟬𝟬–𝟭𝟰:𝟬𝟬
💻 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀
📧 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣: [email protected]

Everyone interested in learning more about supporting Deaf students is welcome to join.