DISABILITY Policy
8.1 PREAMBLE
Recognizing the talents, abilities and potentials of people with disabilities, the Perez University College is committed to creating an enabling learning and work environment along with an organizational culture where full and equitable participation and progression become a reality for all its students and employees. Disability integration forms an integral part of the University College transformational agenda.
8.2 The University College strives to create an enabling learning environment for its students with disabilities where their learning experience is commensurate with their aspirations and abilities and where their talents are nurtured and developed.
8.3. The University College further subscribes to a workplace where its employees with disabilities have equal and equitable access to opportunities and where diversity is valued.
8.4. Differences and diverse needs will be reasonably accommodated within the University College physical environment, structure, available resources and institutional processes.
8.5 SCOPE
8.5.1 The term ‘People with Disabilities’ within the Perez University College refers to students, employees, and visitors.
8.5.2 All employees and registered students of the University College are subject to this policy.
8.6 POLICY PRINCIPLES
8.6.1 The University College strives to develop and follow a consultative and participative approach and will involve students and employees with disabilities in the development and the implementation of its disability initiatives.
8.6.2 This policy is based on the premises of human rights and the pursuit of knowledge. It is acknowledged that all people with all types of disabilities enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms and that the University College can benefit from their participation.
8.6.3 The University College recognizes the roles and responsibilities of different internal role players to ensure the successful implementation of this policy and will strive for a holistic and multi-faceted approach. Students and employees with disability as beneficiaries are also obligated to support the University College in achieving its vision and must accept their responsibility in realizing the mutual benefits of this policy.
8.6.4 The University College strives in a non-discriminatory manner to establish and create equal opportunities for employees and students with disabilities.
8.6.5 Perez – UC University College strives to comply with the essence and content of, amongst others:
- i) The Employment Act of 2006, ACT 715 on the Employment of People with disabilities (issued in terms of section 9-15)
- ii) Education Act of 2006, ACT 715 on the Education, and building an inclusive education and training system of people with disability (issued in terms of section 16-22), date of Gazette notification of 11th August, 2006).
8.6.6 The University College aims to keep abreast of all relevant legislation, policies and directives that affect the position of people with disabilities and is fully committed to the execution thereof.
8.6.7 The University College aims to keep abreast of international instruments, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and to take note of best practice developments in international higher education.
8.6.8 With regard to physical facilities, the University College intention in the planning and re- planning of existing facilities and future design is that all the areas will be made accessible for students, employees, and visitors with disabilities. The University College will provide an accessible environment in compliance with all legal and other regulatory requirements that allows equal freedom of movement and access to services on campus. The University College will assess its built environment continuously and will address barriers in a strategic and incremental manner that allows students, employees and visitors with diverse needs to function optimally within the campus environment.
8.6.9 The University College realizes that universal access relates to more than the currently built environment and will strive for inclusion of students in the broader learning experience and in the workplace for its employees with disabilities.
8.6.10 Universal design also includes an educational approach for instructing all students through developing adaptable classroom materials, using various technology tools, and varying the delivery of information or instruction thus creating an instructionally accessible environment.
8.6.11 The University College will facilitate access to information and assistive technology/devices. People with disabilities may function differently and relevant accommodations will be put in place as far as reasonably and practically possible.
8.6.12 The University will strive for a culture of acceptance of disability as part of the broader diversity experience.
8.6.13 The University College is also committed to making its own contribution to the broader higher education sector specific in relation to disability impartiality and integration.
8.6.14 As the custodian of knowledge and education, the University College will promote further learning in the subject matter of disability contributing to expertise and excellence in the field.
8.6.15 All policies and rules of the University College are also applicable to students and employees with disabilities. In its procedural and substantive application due consideration will be given to the accommodation needs of people with disabilities to ensure equitable and fair application.
8.6.16 This policy as a whole is conditional in that the University College will provide and put in place measures for its achievement and implementation within its discretion that are reasonable, practical, achievable and financially viable.
8.6.17 The University College reserves its right to verify a person’s disability status based on medical evidence, should it deem it necessary.
Disability Policy
9. STUDENTS
9.1 The University College recognizes that students with a disability may access the learning experience differently from their non-disabled counterparts. The admission of students with disabilities is subject to the admission requirements of the University.
9.2 The University College subscribes to a social model of dealing with disability and recognizes it as a function of an impairment, the environment and societal attitudes. Deficiencies in environmental design and a lack of awareness constitute societal barriers for the full integration of people with disabilities.
9.3 The University College endeavors to continually improve all aspects of accessibility for its students – physically, technologically and socially. Universal access facilitates the whole learning cycle including aspects such as an understanding of the learning content, campus experiences that lead to the full development of the student, and integration within the broader student community.
9.4 For purposes of this policy, a student with a disability is defined as: i) A student with an impairment who experiences disability based on specific contextual barriers. ii) Disability, as a consequence of an impairment as well as environmental and attitudinal barriers, which substantially limits a student from equal participation in the learning environment. The University College accepts its responsibility to incrementally remove or limit the barriers to participation, as far as is reasonably practicable and financially sustainable.
Note: An Impairment is caused by an injury, illness, trauma and/or congenital factors resulting in a physical, sensory, mental, emotional or cognitive condition that is permanent, long term or recurring and which causes or is likely to cause a loss or difference of physiological or psychological functioning. The impairment can be visible or invisible.
9.5 The support and integration of students with disabilities will be facilitated by a Special Office:
9.6 The Special Office: People with Disabilities concerns itself with the position of students with disabilities and serves as the central point of contact for any student or prospective student with a disability.
9.7 Students with disabilities are welcome to report concerns and request assistance and support to enable them to be included in all aspects of University College life on equal terms with other students.
9.8 At the beginning of every year, the Special Office: People with Disabilities will conduct a survey of all the registered students with and assists them as far as reasonably possible and within available resources.
9.9 The University College undertakes to apply resourceful and customized solutions to meet individual needs. All types of disabilities will be catered for as far as reasonably possible.
9.10 The confidential nature of information regarding the disability status of a student is honored and the information released to appropriate Perez -UC stakeholders only with the written consent of the student (or, where applicable, the student’s parent or guardian) if considered necessary in order to promote a student’s academic and academic-related interests.
10. employees
10.1 The University College recognizes that people with disabilities are people with abilities capable of and eligible for a wide range of positions and occupations just as their abled colleagues. Persons with disabilities are considered for employment provided they are suitably qualified to perform the essential functions of the job and meet the inherent job requirements.
10.2 Substantially limiting means if in its nature, duration or effects, the person’s impairment substantially limits their ability to perform the essential functions of the job for which they are being considered. This does not equate to an incapacity or inability to perform.
10.3 When determining disability status, the University College focuses not only on the medical symptoms of an impairment or disease. A social model, is followed where the contribution of societal, attitudinal and physical infra-structure barriers in creating the limitations are acknowledged.
10.4 Within the workplace reasonable accommodation refers to ‘any measure that can ensure the entry and/or advancement of people with disabilities in the workplace’. The purpose is to enhance opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities to be, or to remain, employed at the University College. Accommodations vary according to the disability and are determined on a case-by-case basis and must be ‘reasonable’ within the particular circumstances.
10.5 The University College will not unfairly discriminate against people with disabilities in any employment policy or practice, including those relating to recruitment, selection, appointments, remunerations, benefits, work promotion, conditions of employment and disciplinary procedures.
10.6 The University College attempts to adapt the working conditions of employees with disabilities, in order to ensure efficient functioning.
10.7 The University College may request relevant information about prospective or current employees with disabilities. This medical or psychological information will only be requested if it is deemed necessary to assess the ability to perform, to adjust the employee’s working conditions/environment to ensure efficient functioning, as well as for legal compliance purposes.
10.8 The confidential nature of information regarding the disability status of an employee is honored and such information is released to the appropriate University College stakeholders only with the written consent of the employee.
10.9 The University College will put appropriate disaster management, including evacuation procedures, in place to ensure the safety of employees with disabilities at the workplace.
11. VISITOR
11.1 As far as visitors, including parents, community members, other lecturing staff, and service providers are concerned, the University College strives to create a disability friendly and non-discriminatory environment where people with disabilities have freedom of movement, they are treated with respect and internal role players are sensitive to their accommodation needs.
11.2 The Special Office: People with Disabilities serves as point of contact, if required, from where the necessary referrals can be made.
13. RESPONSIBILITIES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
People with disabilities are encouraged to come forward personally and to notify the University College of any concerns, obstacles and needs associated with their disability, which requires the attention of the relevant decision makers within the University College to attempt and find reasonable accommodations wherever possible.
15. REPORTING
The Committee will report regularly to the Rector on its activities.
12. ACCESS TO INFORMATION
12.1 The University College undertakes to facilitate access to information for people with print disabilities and will strive to make, amongst other, the Library services accessible.
12.2 The University College communications, including its website, will recognize the need for information in accessible format.
People with disabilities are encouraged to come forward personally and to notify the University College of any concerns, obstacles and needs associated with their disability, which requires the attention of the relevant decision makers within the University College to attempt and find reasonable accommodations wherever possible.
14. GOVERNANCE
14.1 With regard to people with disabilities, the Perez – UC help office amongst others will:
- i) Provide guidance and counselling services.
- ii) Identify and determine specific support needs in consultation with the student.
iii) Attempt to find practical solutions to their needs.
- iv) Help the students to familiarize themselves with the campus, depending on their special needs.
- vi) Bring the situation of every student with a disability to the attention of the respective Deans in each School.
In addition, the Perez – UC help office:
- i) Advises on support for employees with disabilities, when required.
- ii) Provides service support to visitors with disabilities, when required.
- iv) Acts as change agent on campus to facilitate disability equity and integration
14.2 Human Resources Division
The Human Resources Division is responsible for the development and implementation of best practice and legally compliant policies and procedures throughout the employment cycle to ensure the attraction, integration, progression and upward mobility of employees with disabilities.
14.3. The governance in respect of support for people with disabilities is undertaken by the Committee for People with Disabilities.
14.4 The composition of this committee is as follows:
- The Registrar/ Head, HR
- Deans
- SRC Representative
- One Member with disability
14.5 The functions of the Committee for People with Disabilities are the following:
- Development of a Strategy for People with Disabilities (employees, students and visitors) including equity targets for people with disabilities;
- Policy formulation, monitoring and revision
- To facilitate the exercise of the rights of people with disabilities
- To provide advocacy and facilitate the establishment of support groups for students/employees with disabilities
- To determine through consultation, the types of disabilities that can be fully accommodated and appropriately resourced in the academic programmes of Perez – UC
- Analyze national and international trends to ensure a “best fit” for social, physical, working and learning environment for the disabled.