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The University of the Free State commemorates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The South African government aims to promote an understanding of disability issues, the rights of persons with disabilities, and the gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic, and cultural life of their communities as stipulated by the South African government.

CUADS Mission Statement

The University of the Free State Center for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS) continues the mission they established when the department first opened: to become a higher-education institution recognised for its efforts in human reconciliation by creating and providing opportunities for students with disabilities to ultimately achieve academically, and to have an institutional culture of embracing and welcoming persons with disabilities on all three campuses of the UFS.

CUADS a benchmark of success

According to Martie Miranda, Assistant Director of CUADS, her very first impression of the department was that of inspirational and driven students who hailed from a number of disability backgrounds. Miranda was also nominated by the Deaf Federation of South Africa – through the World Federation of the Deaf – to interpret in South African Sign Language at the meeting proceedings for deaf people from South Africa where access was gained to the report via the webcast facilities of the United Nations (UN). CUADS is monumental in its ability to accommodate the specific needs of students with physical, mental, and learning disabilities, and has inspired other South African universities to enhance the qualities of their services by adapting their strategic visions to that of CUADS, which aims to operationalise and cater for the core needs of students through the UFS Integrated Transformation Plan (ITP).