Stellenbosch University Disability Unit-Eenheid vir Gestremdhede

08/12/2025

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗗𝗔 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥 𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Stellenbosch University PhD candidate, Michelle Nell, draws on her lived experiences with blindness and chronic illness, alongside disability studies research, to highlight voices of marginalized groups in the Global South. Using an autoethnographic lens, she explores identity, higher education, and inclusion, emphasizing agency, challenging normative assumptions, and fostering community.

𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲:
What is “normal” anyway? My lived experience with blindness, chronic illness, and the value of community in broader society.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 13:00 – 14:30 (GMT+2)
𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲: Online (Microsoft Teams)
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: Free
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿: Ms Michelle Nell (PhD Candidate, Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University)

Register by 9 December 2025

𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗞: 9e38f494-0f23-464c-839e-47059452f93c@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9e38f494-0f23-464c-839e-47059452f93c@a6fa3b03-0a3c-4258-8433-a120dffcd348

08/12/2025

Be kind always

A small act of kindness can make a big difference.

Create safe spaces for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors to share their stories and check in with those on their healing journey.

Reach out, support and show care.

Learn how you can help prevent GBV and promote awareness: https://www.su.ac.za/en/students/gender-based-violence

03/12/2025

Today, we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities — a global reminder of the importance of building inclusive, accessible, and equitable spaces for all.

At the Stellenbosch University Disability Unit, we remain committed to empowering students with disabilities through support, advocacy, and partnerships that foster belonging across our campus community.

This day reinforces our shared responsibility to challenge barriers, celebrate diversity, and create environments where every student can thrive academically, socially, and personally.

Let us continue to work together towards a future where accessibility is universal, inclusion is intentional, and every person is valued.

08/10/2025

📣 Save the date!

The Walk with Disability will take place in Stellenbosch on 15 November 2025. Hosted by the Stellenbosch Disability Network, Stellenbosch Municipality and sponsors, this inspiring event brings people together to celebrate inclusion and raise awareness.

Mark your calendars and come walk with us 💙

22/09/2025

Balance & Beyond 🌿
Get an early handle on exam stress with our student-led workshop series!

Final-year Occupational Therapy students at the CSCD invite you to join sessions designed to help you find balance during exam season through:
✨ Self-care
✨ Regulation
✨ Practical study strategies

🗓 Dates: Tuesdays OR Thursdays (23 Sept – 16 Oct)
🕐 Time: 13:10 – 14:00
📍 Venue: CSCD Reception (37 Victoria Street)

🍭 Bonus: Receive a FREE sweet treat at every session!

👉 Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/8cg5MPq574?origin=QRCode

15/09/2025

14/09/2025

Listening to and consulting with disabled students who have the lived experience of being a student with a disability is essential.

10/09/2025

Casual Day 2025 at Stellenbosch University ✨

On 4 September, the Disability Unit and the Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact and Transformation (CASIT) co-hosted a vibrant Casual Day event celebrating inclusivity across campus beyond the label.

🎤 The programme featured inspiring presentations and a lively Q&A session, with highlights including:

🌈 SUNDS introducing its initiatives to support neurodivergent students.

🩺 Campus Health Services unveiling a newly installed accessible lowered desk.

🏗️ Faculty of Engineering showcasing how universal access is integrated into the Civil Engineering curriculum.

💡 Disability Unit (DU) sharing insights into its thriving student volunteer programme.

🎓 AAC explaining how it advocates for students in collaboration with the CSCD and DU.

🌐 Corporate Communications & Marketing previewing SU’s new accessible website

📚 Centre for Learning Technologies highlighting efforts to promote digital accessibility.

🎲 The Guild: SU Tabletop Gaming Society demonstrating how its activities foster inclusive engagement.

📱 O-Investigate presenting innovative approaches to accessible social media advocacy.

The day was a true reflection of collaboration, creativity, and commitment to building a more inclusive campus community.

10/09/2025

September 10th is World Su***de Prevention Day. Let's talk about su***de prevention. It's a difficult topic, but it's crucial to have the right information. Spreading awareness and debunking myths can help create a safer, more supportive community for everyone.

Here are a few myths and the facts you need to know:

10/09/2025

📢 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬
Received an offer? ✅ Accept/decline it and upload your signed contract here: https://bit.ly/3xg1gT7 (excl. current SU students)

ℹ️ Law & Medicine and Health Sciences offers: mid-Sept
ℹ️ Drama, Music & Visual Arts: end-Oct

Waiting on another programme? You can still accept now and change later.

FAQs 👉https://www.sun.ac.za/english/maties/Documents/Grade%2012%20FAQs.pdf

Need help?
📱 WhatsApp “hi” 061 729 8858
☎ 021 808 9111 (Mon–Fri, 8:00–16:30)
📧 info@sun.ac.za

09/09/2025

06/09/2025

𝗦𝗨 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 '𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹' 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

Today on Casual Day and during Disability Awareness Month, we reflect on how SU has advanced in creating a campus that champions universal access. Since its establishment in 2007, the Disability Unit (DU), led by Dr Marcia Lyner-Cleophas, has become a vital “go-to” space for students with disabilities.

From fewer than 100 students disclosing a disability in 2007, SU now supports nearly 1 000 students annually with counselling, coaching, assistive technologies, and access initiatives. The sharpest rise has been in students disclosing mental health and neurological conditions, reflecting greater awareness and reduced stigma.

SU’s journey shows that universal access is more than policy – it is lived experience.
👉
𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.