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09 February 2024
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Story Dr Pamela Makati
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The Centre for Graduate Support invites academic and support staff members to register for the Article Refinement Programme. The programme is an individually paced writing capacity development opportunity to refine articles and substantially increase the publishability of the articles. The programme is not a once-off writing retreat. Only applicants with draft articles or available data will be selected to participate in the programme.
Individual contact or email sessions will guide the participants towards the completion and submission of their articles.
To register, complete the application form below and submit it here.
2024 Article Refinement Programme Form 
Closing date: 16 February 2024
Tactile paving assists visually impaired
2017-10-28
Tactile paving is being installed at pedestrian crossings to assist
visually-impaired persons at the UFS.
Photo: Supplied
Crossing roads and accessing buildings has always been a challenge for people with visual impairments. They had to rely on peripheral sounds, such as car brakes and cues. However, after the installation of tactile paving – paving with special textures assisting the visually impaired to feel the difference between walking around on campus and crossing the road, this will no longer be a problem at the University of the Free State (UFS).
This is one of several developments that University Estates’ Department of Facilities Planning has in the pipeline for 2017 in order to ensure that the university attains its key component in providing a high-quality student experience.
Maureen Khati, Assistant Director of Project Management: Facilities Planning, says, “We saw the need to install these paving blocks in strategic spaces, as identified by the Center for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS).” She says these blocks will make it easier for people with visual impairments.
Special features designed to aid visually-impaired persons
These installations have special features that will assist those students and employees with limited vision or blindness to navigate through pedestrian crossings and the different campus buildings. The university chose a unique design of tactile paving that focuses on warning and directing those with visual impairments.
UFS eager to improve accessibility and mobility
The university, and all the stakeholders involved in this initiative, are delighted to be embarking on this project and are looking forward to its successful execution. To improve accessibility and mobility, more accessible entrances and exits will be built, effective signage will be installed inside and outside buildings, but the most important aspect is that dedicated seating space will be made available in lecture rooms for special-needs students.
Khati says, “More focus has been put on installing ramps in all buildings to make them more accessible for people with disabilities, as well as other needs required to enhance accessibility at the UFS.”
For the UFS, this initiative is one of many to come, as extensive research is being done and priorities are implemented accordingly.