Bloemfontein - The University of the Free State is launching a project to ensure its entire academic environment is accessible for students with disabilities, in line with international standards.
Hetsie Veitch, head of the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support, and her team have dedicated the past four years to an overhaul of the centre, and the result of their work will be officially launched at the Bloemfontein Campus on Friday.
“The approach to support for students with disabilities at South African universities has remained largely one-dimensional, focusing on the support and accommodation of individual students,” said Veitch.
The focus had now moved from the person with the disability - someone who "needs to be helped" - to creating an environment in which the student can function independently, according to Veitch.