The Disability Unit, headed by Dr Nina Du Toit, is working in partnership with Business for Good, a non-profit training consultancy, to bring the first-of-its-kind short course aimed at addressing issues relating to the disabled.

The course, which was piloted in July, primarily looks at training human resource practitioners in the practices around recruiting and retaining people with disabilities.

Although the course is not restricted to recruiters, it has a strong focus on training and development, with six full-time participants ranging from private Corporates to other non-profit organisations and government departments; from recruitment officer to middle managers.

Thus far, the pilot is run over 13 weeks, with classes taking place on Thursday evenings for three hours with participants needing to complete 30 hours and submit a substantial portfolio of evidence in order to receive a CPUT-endorsed course certificate.

The course administration is done through the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), headed by Mike Du Plessis and currently holds a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) 5 rating with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Course co-ordinator and Business for Good’sHuman Resource Director, BeatriceKoopman,says that the course is accessible to anyone who has an interest in issues of people with disabilities.

“For the pilot course offering, we identified participants in industry and government who we felt could benefit from the information we gathered and hope to develop confident ‘job coaches’ who can assist people with disabilities in finding suitable, fulfilling employment”, says Koopman.

“We offer knowledge and information to the potential or current employer about reasonable accommodation and legislation adherence, and some key benefits include creating sustainability, diversity and tolerance for the disabled members of our society to find their place in industry or public service”.

According to Dr Du Toit, who is also a moderator and one of the four course lecturers, potential students need to have either a grade 12 certificate or have grade 10 with at least five years experience in disability work placements. The course, although offered primarily in English, can be translated into Afrikaans, where needed.

She says: “So far the programme been well-received and we hope to run it again next year in February, so anyone who’s interested can contact the Disability Unit (via the CPUT website) for more information”.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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“People with disabilities shouldn't be defined solely by them – once we have knowledge and awareness regarding a particular disability, we don't see the disability anymore, we see the person.” As Disability Awareness Week continues at CPUT this week, Dr Nina Du Toit, Head of the Disability Unit, is calling on staff and students to get involved in the Unit's activities, which include a series of demonstrations, exhibitions and courses about disability.

Dr Du Toit says the message they want to convey to the CPUT community is simple. “A person with a disability shouldn't be treated differently within our society. The aim of our awareness campaign this week will help able-bodied people to become better informed on issues facing disabled people, which helps promote equity and acceptance. People with disabilities also have many talents that they can put on show and make them feel good about themselves”, she emphasised.

Those talents will be evident at the Evening of Stars tonight, a free concert being held in the Major Sports Hall on the Bellville campus in which CPUT's own Wheelchair Ballroom Dancing champion, Mukhtar Lee will perform.

As for the awareness campaign this week, the unit is running a sign language course at the library during lunch time in Conference Room One, while an exhibition explaining various disabilities begins today and runs until Friday 6 May. This will allow students and staff to increase their knowledge on how to interact with co-workers and classmates with disabilities. A series of informative DVD’s will also be screened in the IT Centre.

Du Toit is calling on the CPUT community to make a special effort to attend Thursday's 'Evening of Stars' concert. In addition to featuring the breathtaking skills of CPUT's own Wheelchair Ballroom Dancing champions, learners with disabilities from five different Cape schools will be performing as well.

By Mariette Adams

Written by CPUT News
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Accessibility at CPUT will come under the spotlight, with the establishment of the Universal Access Task Team.

The team, which is currently being put together by Dr Nina du Toit, Head of the Disability Unit, will be tasked with improving and monitoring accessibility at CPUT campuses.

The move to create the task team comes after the Disability Unit roped in the help of outside consultants to conduct an accessibility audit of the CPUT campuses.

The audit, which took place in November and December 2009, examined facilities at CPUT campuses in a bid to determine what infrastructure changes need to take place to ensure that all students, including students and staff members with disabilities have access to all facilities.

The consultants looked at various aspects, including accessibility of buildings, restroom facilities, parking and signage.

“We are still waiting for the consultants’ final report. This will assist us in mapping out the way forward,” said Dr du Toit.

The task team, which will include representatives from several CPUT departments, will also be required to raise awareness on Universal accessibility issues amongst staff members and students.

Dr du Toit stressed the importance of buy-in of the entire CPUT community into the new Universal Access paradigm.

She said ensuring accessibility at all campuses is a huge task and one that cannot be completed within a short period.

In the meantime, the Disability Unit is extending its support services to students with disabilities at all campuses.

There are units at Bellville and Cape Town campuses and support services are provided at all the satellite campuses.

The units feature state-of-the-art assistive technology equipment, which is designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

This ranges from a Braille printer to computers with large text and software programmes.

The support services on the satellite campuses are housed in the libraries.

According to Dr du Toit there has been an increase in the number of students that make use of their facilities and services.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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The Disability Unit is investing in the latest assistive technology.

The unit has acquired a state-of-the-art portable Loop System and FM System, which will be of huge benefit to hearing-impaired individuals who are attending conferences, meetings and other events at CPUT.

The portable Loop System transmits audio signals directly to individuals’ hearing aids. These audio signals are then converted by the hearing aid into a sound suited to an individual’s specific hearing requirements.

Head of the Disability Unit, Dr Nina du Toit says the portable system is packaged in a suitcase, allowing for it to be set up at any venue at CPUT.

While the portable Loop System is aimed at large groups, the FM system caters for individual use.

Student Support Assistant, Lillian Fortuin, says the unit is also currently setting up a resource centre for CPUT students who are living with disabilities.

Fortuin says students will have access to a variety of resources such as digital recorders, audio recordings of class material and laptops.

For more information on the available resources, contact the Disability Unit at 021 953 8447 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Disability Awareness Week at CPUT is in full swing with a number of activities taking place on the Bellville Campus.

The week kicks off with a motivational lecture by Nicky Abdinor, who will share her life story as a person living with a disability.

The event takes place today during lunchtime at the Old Lecture Theatre in the Mechanical Engineering Building.

On Wednesday staff and students are urged to attend a presentation titled “Universal Design for Learning.”

Head of the Disability Unit, Dr Nina du Toit says the presentation will explore flexible learning environments that can accommodate individual learning differences.

“This is an ideal opportunity for lecturers to hear about the classroom environment and learning techniques,” says Dr du Toit.

On Friday, several special needs schools will be treated to a fun day at CPUT, which will form part of the nationwide Casual Day celebrations.

Staff members who would like to participate in Casual Day can purchase a sticker for only R10.

Dr du Toit says the funds will be used to support CPUT students with disabilities as well as various other organisations working in the sector.

For more information on where to purchase your Casual Day sticker, see the CPUT events calendar.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT hosted an array of activities during Disability Awareness Week.

Events included a motivational lecture, a presentation titled “Universal Design for Learning” and Casual Day celebrations.    

The week culminated in celebrating an all-inclusive learning environment and saw CPUT host to a group of learners from schools that cater for persons with disabilities. The day proved to be a great success and provided the learners an opportunity to find out more about courses and the services that the university offers to persons with special needs.  

“Society needs to understand that people with disabilities are normal people who have a disability and that they are more than just their disability. It is therefore important that people educate themselves about those with disabilities so that they can be included in society,” says the head of the Disability Department, Dr Nina du Toit.

Understanding the needs and challenges of persons with disabilities, CPUT’s staff organised a range of activities and games for the learners.

Vincent Lilane, a Grade 11 learner from Tafelberg High School says he, along with the rest of his classmates enjoyed their visit to CPUT.

He says it was not only a fun event, but informative.

By Nuhran Ryklief

Written by CPUT News
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Norms and standards relating to disabilities could soon be implemented at all South African universities.

During a visit to CPUT, Deputy Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disability, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, informed a delegation from the Department of Student Affairs of the government’s intentions.

Currently, Bogopane-Zulu is visiting higher education institutions and exploring their approaches towards students and staff members with disabilities.

During the meeting, a range of issues were discussed, from curriculum adaptation to application forms.

Head of the CPUT Disability Unit, Dr Nina du Toit, says the meeting gave the university an opportunity to share their best practices with the Deputy Minister.

During the past few years, CPUT has rolled out a number of strategies to support students and staff with disabilities. This includes Disability Units at the various campuses and specialised technical support.

Du Toit, who has been instrumental in setting up the CPUT Disability Unit, informed the Deputy Minister that all stakeholders at universities must take responsibility for students with disabilities.

“The Disability Unit must be seen as an advisory unit,” says Du Toit.

Dean of Students, Cora Motale says the meeting gave CPUT stakeholders insight into several good strategies that have been implemented at other universities.

“The meeting was very informative,” she says.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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In a historic collaboration between CPUT and PetroSA, fifteen academically deserving students with a range of disabilities have been offered full bursaries and guaranteed work contracts on the successful completion of their studies.

Darrin Arendse, Vice President of Human Capital at the national oil and gas company, is confident that this will promote a more diverse and inclusive university. Speaking at the launch of the Bursary Partnership last week, Arendse dubbed the initiative “a landmark agreement” which would help build an institution, workplace and country where everyone has a place in the sun.

His sentiments were echoed by Vice Chancellor Mazwi-Tanga, who emphasized that the partnership gives true meaning to equal opportunity. “No potential should be left undeveloped, and the fact that students from the engineering, IT and other scarce skills disciplines were selected makes this doubly important. “

The Vice-Chancellor also acknowledged Dr Nina du Toit’s role, not only in this partnership but for her ground-breaking work in leading CPUT’s fledgling Disability Unit.

“I suspect we are the envy of our partner universities. Through the unit’s sterling work, we can boast that we truly strive to give our students, both able-bodied and disabled, real access to education”

Dr du Toit’s seminal role and influence was further acknowledged by the students’ themselves. Calling du Toit “a mother, mentor and angel all in one”, they also agree that the unit is like a second home to many of them. Students with a range of disabilities – from dyslexia, stuttering, epilepsy , visual and hearing impairment, to impaired mobility, quad and paraplegics are all catered for here.

In conjunction with these critical services offered by the unit, Arendse reiterated PetroSA’s commitment to the Bursary Partnership.

“In our fast-paced society characterised by the pursuit of convenience, it’s easy to ignore the challenges and difficulties faced by disabled people. But our own mindsets can be the biggest disability, by closing ourselves off to the possibilities that a diverse world offers. This collaboration is another example of how we are proudly shattering that tired paradigm, and making real inroads to a more inclusive society for all.”

By: Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
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A highlight of the Installation Ceremony of the first Chancellor of the University will be a performance from the merged CPUT Choir. The Choir, which consists of male and female voices from multiple campuses will be performing two pieces. They will be accompanied by Choir Manager Thobeka September and by Dr Nina du Toit, Co-ordinator of the Disability Unit.

Despite the fact that the University has existed as a merged institution since 2005, the choirs of the Bellville and Cape Town Campuses have, for the past three years, practiced and performed separately. On 12 June 2008 the choirs merged and are now known as the CPUT Choir.

During the June vacation, the merged choir represented CPUT at the South African Tertiary Institution Choral Association (SATICA) competition in Limpopo at the University of Venda . The other universities that participated in the competition included Walter Sisulu University (WSU), Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and Durban University of technology (DUT).

Chorister Unathi Xulubana said it was a good experience and exposure for the choir. She added that this is a choir that will be representing CPUT during future competitions and many other special occasions. “We as the CPUT choir, we will represent and continue to be ambassadors of CPUT in arts and culture” said Xulubana.

Last year, the Bellville and Cape Town Choirs entered separately in the Old Mutual/Telkom National Choir Festival and were both awarded accolades. Cape Town Choir was placed third and Bellville Choir was crowned national champion. The merged choir continues to be of interest to Old Mutual and has been hand-picked by the company for use in Old Mutual’s new marketing initiatives.

Among the other Arts and Culture contributions scheduled for the Installation are Djembe drumming from the CPUT student dance group Distorted Movement and praise singing from Lonwabo Mdunyelwa of the Arts and Culture Leadership Programme. The CPUT Choir will perform the song “Plea for Africa ” and the male voice piece “Soldiers’ Chorus.”

September is proud of what the CPUT Choir has achieved. “They are extremely talented,” she said, “We can expect great things from them in the future.”

By Ruth Chisesa and Ilana Abratt, Marketing and Communication Department

Written by CPUT News
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Higher education institutions must provide students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in competitive sports, said Wentzel Barnard, Manager of the Stellenbosch University Disabled sports team.

Barnard delivered a presentation at CPUT that detailed how universities can start up sports teams for students with disabilities as part of a Disability Unit awareness campaign.

The campaign, spearheaded by the Head of the Disability Unit, Dr Nina du Toit, is aimed at raising awareness amongst students and staff on disability at CPUT. The campaign is running at all campuses throughout this year.

Addressing staff members and students who attended the presentation, held at the Bellville Campus in April, Barnard said: “Sports is part of your wellbeing. It’s important for people with disabilities to take part in sport.”

Barnard, who became disabled 25 years ago during a rugby match, said sporting activities for the disabled must not be taken lightly.

Currently there are 16 sporting codes in South Africa for people with disabilities. These sporting codes include team activities, such as soccer, hockey and adaptive rowing to individual sport activities such as blind judo.

Barnard, who has been managing the Stellenbosch University Disabled sports team for several years now, said it is difficult to start up a team as funding is always an issue. However, he said it is necessary for institutions to provide students with this opportunity.

He suggested that when starting up a team, institutions must rope in the help of someone who has knowledge of sport for the disabled and who has previously been involved in such activities’. He also suggested that athletics would be an ideal sport to start off with.

Barnard said that they started their team with 35 students and now accommodates 75 students.

“Slowly but surely we are spreading the word about disabled sport,” he said.

Written by CPUT News

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Students with disabilities don’t need to struggle alone.

CPUT is home to one of the most innovative Disability Units at any university in the country.

Each year hundreds of students with a range of disabilities are assisted in achieving their very best academically.

The unit performs a number of functions from registering students to assisting them during exams. The unit also forms a vital link between the student, their lecturers and student counselling.

The supportive environment offers a number of resources like wheelchair-friendly desks, special computer software for dyslexia, magnifiers for the visually impaired students, Braille embossers for blind students and even a stenographer who assists with note taking to name just a few.

The head of the unit Dr Nina Du Toit urges all students who have a known disability or suspect they may have one to make contact with her unit to be assessed and start accessing the services.

The Disability Unit is based on all campuses- in the IT centre in Bellville, in the Administration Building in Cape Town and in Mowbray.

The unit also has a presence at all the other CPUT service points like Athlone, Wellington and George.

It is open from 8am to 4pm during the week although the lab in the E-Learning centre in Cape Town is open 24 hours a day.

All CPUT campuses are also equipped to handle the special needs of students and staff with disabilities. This includes wheelchair friendly parking, lifts as well as a specially adapted vehicle for transporting these students.

Call the unit at 021 953 8438 or visit their webpage for more information.

Written by Lauren Kansley
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

CPUT’s progress in meeting the physical and academic needs of staff and students with disabilities was celebrated last week, as students, design gurus, disability experts and donors gathered to showcase the university’s innovations in empowering persons with disabilities.

Dr Nina du Toit, Disability Unit coordinator, gave warm thanks to the units’ many supporters and donors, and reiterated that CPUT’s bold blueprint to provide universal access to those with disabilities across CPUT’s five campuses is forging ahead. Guest speakers included Mrs Wendy Ackerman, a staunch supporter of research and development in the field of disability through The Ackerman Family Educational Trust. CEO of the Carl and Emily Fuchs Foundation, Dr Riaan Els also gave a keynote address. This foundation has been extremely supportive of the Disability Unit since its inception in 2008, giving annually to boost the unit’s coffers. In his address, Dr Els emphasised that only 5% of those with severe disabilities attain a higher education qualification, with females at more of a disadvantage than males.

In recent years CPUT has unveiled a few ground-breaking technologies and projects to combat this dire statistic. These include the country’s first prototype car adapted for driving by people with disabilities. This is the first ever locally-engineered prototype to feature joystick engineering, and has opened a world of driving opportunities for persons with disabilities in South Africa.

CPUT’s Sport Management Department is also involved in training and research with the London makers of the Ekso Bionic Suit, which enables people with spinal cord injuries to walk.

The Ekso Bionic suit which gives those immobilised by spinal cord injuries the ability to walk

Yet another innovation is being overseen by CPUT’s Universal Design guru, Prof Mugendi M’Rithaa. His students are developing a unique range of kitchenware for those with special needs, in collaboration with Hekkie Brink. Brink, a person with one arm was introduced to the Industrial Design department by Mrs Ackerman. Through the funding graciously approved by The Ackerman Family Educational Trust, Hekkie’s products are now being developed into a commercially viable range.

One of the innovative kitchen utensils developed by Hekkie Brink and Industrial Design students

Other attendees included stalwart supporters of the Disability Unit such as national oil and gas company, PetroSA, who offer students with a range of disabilities full bursaries and guaranteed work contracts on successful completion of their studies. The HCI Foundation, the corporate social investment arm of HCI, were also gratefully acknowledged for their contributions to bursaries, and providing 54 assistive devices to students with learning difficulties.

Written by Janyce Weintrob
Tel: +27 21 460 3514
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