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01 September 2021 | Story Rulanzen Martin

As in previous years, the Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies (SASL) – a pioneering force within deaf studies – will embark on a broader campaign to create much-needed awareness of the deaf. 

This year’s #UFSDeafAwarenesscampaign aims to inform and contribute to an inclusive society, not only among the UFS community, but also among the public. The department, together with the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support, provides exceptional support to the 16 deaf and hard of hearing students at the UFS. 

Jani de Lange, Lecturer in Deaf Studies at the UFS, says the deaf forms part of the diverse South African community – “however, there are still many misconceptions about the deaf world. Therefore, deaf awareness plays an important role in facilitating a bridge between hearing and deaf people”.  

Awareness, duty, and social responsibility collide 

Many of the staff in the department considers themselves part of the deaf community. “They play a major role in educating others through our academic programmes, as well as continuous workshops and short learning programmes,” says De Lange. She continues, saying that by celebrating Deaf Awareness Month, “we are reminded of our role and responsibility towards the deaf.” 

The department also has a long-standing relationship with Mimosa Mall in Bloemfontein, with conversational students displaying their final group projects in the centre of the shopping mall.  Mimosa is also a partner in school-based projects, such as the Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind in Thaba Nchu. “Every year, the department, together with our student association, Signals, and all interested Sign Language students, visits Bartimea, where we host a variety of activities with the children and also help the school with small maintenance projects. In 2019 – the last time we were able to visit the school – we repainted parts of the Foundation Phase’s playground,” De Lange says.

“We hope that the public will take the time to read about deafness, Sign Language, and the deaf community to understand the exciting traditions of the culture.”  The end goal is to encourage a greater understanding that ‘you do not need hearing to listen’

Getting the community involved 

To get people involved in the campaign, the department invites UFS staff to participate in a competition where they can learn how to introduce themselves in SASL. The department is also planning an informal training session for staff and students on 7 September 2021. 


The Department of SASL and Deaf Studies also presents a FREE Introduction to SASL short learning programme. 

  Click here for more information 


 #UFSDeafAwarenessMonth #DeafAwareness #DeafCommunity


                     


News Archive

Shimlas in front line for Baby Boks
2013-05-07

 

Jacques du Toit and Luan de Bruin
07 May 2013


Our university is very proud of its two Shimla rugby players included in this year’s Junior Springbok team for the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) World Championships in France.

Luan de Bruin (hooker) and Jacques du Toit (prop) will help defend the World Championships, which they won in the Cape last year, from 5 June 2013. The Baby Boks took the prestigious Under-20 title from the New Zealand Baby Blacks in 2012.

Luan matriculated at the Afrikaans Boys’ High School in Pretoria and represented the Blue Bulls at the Craven Week in 2010 and 2011. Jacques, a Grey College alumnus, in 2011 played for the Free State at the Craven Week.

The two Kovsies are also the only players from the Free State in the Baby Boks’ World Championship squad.

They are currently at a training camp in the Cape in preparation for the World Cup tournament.

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