The Disability Rights Unit (DRU) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) conducted a Disability Support staff induction programme at Walsingham Residence in Durban on Friday, 07 June 7 2024. This session aimed to equip caregivers, tutors, scribes, and buddies with a thorough understanding of the disability support programme, its goals and the crucial role they play in fostering well-being and inclusivity for students with special needs at DUT.
The new support staff gained an insight into the unit’s approach to disability support and learned about the various types of disabilities that the unit supports together with the specific needs associated with each.
The session was facilitated by Nikiwe Magugu, who explained the protocols and procedures for providing effective support and assistance to students with disabilities. Magugu ensured that new members of the unit engaged in interactive discussions and scenario-based exercises to enhance their understanding and skills.
Senior Psychologist under Student Counselling and Health Unit, Mr Sihle Mbanjwa opened the session and welcomed all the attendees and acknowledged the DRU for organising the event.
“People like myself take the podium and we never share necessary appreciation for those behind organising these types of gathering, so I would really like to applaud everyone for making this event a success,” he shared.
Disability Right Unit Officer, Gugu Khuluse was the second in the podium, giving a brief explanation on the purpose of the Day.
“The reason we gathered was to provide a comprehensive training to our tutors, care givers, scribes and buddies who will be ensuring the well-being of our students with disabilities academically and on residences,” she said.
Third-year Journalism student, Minenhle Zikhali who is the secretary for the Students With Disabilities Association (SWDA) shared the message of support with his fellow students and also explained their role as the association.
“I would like to show my appreciation to the Disability Right Unit for organising such a particular event because a lot of people like to assume how to assist students with disabilities and do not know the rightful way of approaching us, as a result, we end up having to explain ourselves which is very uncomfortable for us, especially if you are blind or deaf. The reason we have SWDA is because we want every student to feel included in every activity within the institution,” he shared.
Representatives from different units within the institution provided the training to the new staff according to their respective departments. Dr Mzwandile Khumalo who is seconded to the Siyaphumelela institutional lead post and primarily appointed as the Teaching and Learning Development Practitioner at the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, briefly explained ENVISION2030 Living Values and principles and how they can be incorporated in ensuring academic excellence towards students with disabilities.
Nokwanda Malinga from the Student Housing and Residence life unit, Sphesihle Ngubo from HIV/AIDS centre and Phumzile Monageng from Student Counselling all provided different pieces of training to the support staff, guiding them on what is expected of them, duties and how they should conduct themselves when working with students with disabilities.
Pictured: Secretary for the SWDA, Minenhle Zikhali during the Support Staff Induction.
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile
Thubelihle Dumakude
