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SASL Star: Emily Matabane

22 September 2021 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo Supplied

“I love teaching hearing people Sign Language,” Emily immediately mentions when asked about herself, “so that they can communicate with Deaf people and work with them.” Part of her passion, though, was borne from personal hardship. Emily had a difficult experience when she entered the work environment in 2000, since she was the only Deaf person among an all-hearing staff. Can one even begin to imagine the frustration and isolation she must have experienced? It is no wonder, then, that her vision is for Deaf people to have equal access to information, and for the hearing and Deaf to be able to communicate with each other more freely. And the latter she is pursuing with all her energy.

“When I started working as a Teaching Assistant in the UFS Department of South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf Studies,” Emily recalls, “few students were interested in studying Sign Language, because they were not aware of Deaf people and Sign Language.” This has started to change, though, as Emily is noticing a drastic increase in the number of UFS students enrolling for SASL. “I am now familiar with a lot of hearing student who have done Sign Language at our university, and they are very friendly when I meet them. Also, because they are able to greet me in Sign Language!” It is important to note that the department teaches SASL modules to both Deaf and hearing students (and staff) who want to learn the language – which is now also available as an online option.

As a second-year student studying BEd, Emily has formed a close relationship with CUADS (Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support) at the UFS. “CUADS is doing a great job in assisting students with disabilities and catering for their needs. They assist students to have access to education on the same level as other students without disabilities.”

Sign Language is of vital importance to the Deaf community, since it is the language of accessibility for Deaf people. “We are proud and acknowledge Sign Language as a medium of communication,” says Emily. “It allows us to express ourselves, and to teach and transfer our Deaf culture from one generation to the other.”

Ultimately, Emily is hopeful that Sign Language will become embraced, celebrated, and recognised as equal to the other official languages in South Africa.

News Archive

UFS offers first structured Master’s degree in Social Cohesion and Reconciliation in South Africa

2015-06-26

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ) will offer the first structured Master’s degree in Social Cohesion and Reconciliation in South Africa from 2016.

This unique degree – MRecon&SocCoh – will advance scholarship and practice in the fields of Reconciliation, Social Cohesion, and Social Justice. This programme responds to various challenges facing contemporary societies regionally, nationally, and internationally, as expressed in the South African National Development Plan (NDP).

The programme is open to all students with background studies in the Economic, Management, Natural, Social, and Health Sciences, as well as students with qualifications in the Humanities, Law, Education, and Theology. Students and practitioners in the heritage, development, human rights, transitional justice, and peace sectors, as well as candidates from the cultural and creative industries, will also benefit from this degree.

This programme is ideally suited for persons working in public and private institutions, community and non-governmental organisations, social movements, regional and transnational structures, and those pursuing careers across a variety of social-justice-related fields.

For more information on admission requirements, the structure of the degree, costs, and how to apply, please visit http://institute.ufs.ac.za or contact Joe Besigye at besigyejb@ufs.ac.za; Dr Willy Nel at nelwn@ufs.ac.za; or Professor André Keet at keeta@ufs.ac.za.

Closing date for applications: 31 August 2015

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