About the colloquium

The Universal Accessibility and Disability Services (UADS) has entered into a collaborative work with the Chair: Critical Studies in Higher Education Transformation (CriSHET) that is supported by the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC): Engagement and Transformation portfolio (ETP). Nelson Mandela University is re-orientating itself as a transformative, responsive university in service of society. This re-orientation includes the important and often neglected transformation imperative of universal accessibility.

The Universal Accessibility and Disability Services (UADS) has been doing significant work in supporting students at the university who have disclosed their disabilities. This colloquium concept aims to showcase UADS transformative work within the university, inviting other stakeholders within and beyond the university space for conversations that will advocate for persons with disabilities and create awareness of significant issues.

This colloquium will develop and strengthen collaborative opportunities with stakeholders that support the advancement and promotion of the university agenda on transformative issues such as universal accessibility and learning. Furthermore, this colloquium concept will allow, promote, and encourage student-led initiatives that will stimulate conversation on the employability of graduated students with disabilities in the working space.

About the Indaba

The Universal Accessibility and Disability Services (UADS), in collaboration with the Chair for Critical Studies in Higher Education Transformation (CriSHET), hosted its inaugural inclusive disability colloquium, on ‘Advancing Universal Access in September 2023. This event aimed to showcase UADS's transformative efforts with students within the university while extending invitations to stakeholders beyond its borders to advocate for persons with disabilities and raise awareness of pertinent issues.

The colloquium underscored Nelson Mandela University's commitment to reorientating itself as a transformative, responsive institution in service of society, including the crucial imperative of universal accessibility. Building upon the momentum of the colloquium, the Disability Indaba sought to delve deeper into the university's Vision 2030, the agenda of the Student Life and Development portfolio, and UADS's mission.

Framed by the transformation agenda of the institution, we proposed that we need to ask ourselves questions like: What does universal access and inclusion mean to Nelson Mandela University? How do we (can we) create access for students with disabilities in our institution? How do we think beyond the current conceptual limitations of universal access towards a more inclusive future?