THE Durban University of Technology (DUT) Deaf Centre, which resides under the Information Systems Department, in collaboration with the Division of Corporate Affairs at DUT, is excited to launch the South African sign language translations of selected emergency communication and information of high importance.

This initiative addresses the language needs of deaf students and staff and comes just after Deaf Awareness Month, celebrated annually in September. This year’s celebrations highlighted the importance of ‘creating inclusive societies for all’.

Deaf Programme Coordinator Petri du Toit said, “In response to the national theme, DUT made an executive decision to provide South African Sign Language translations of selected emergency communication and information of high importance to staff and students via Pinboard and other social media platforms. Henceforth, selected communiqués will include a video link that provides access to a South African Sign Language translation of the English text.”

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He said this initiative hopes to set the bar for other institutions regarding implementing progressive policy documents such as the South African White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2015) adopted from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). He indicated that it serves as a proactive measure for institutional language policy implementation as South African Sign Language is soon to be declared the 12th official language.

Furthermore, du Toit revealed that the internal communication translation initiative hopes to promote the importance of a bilingual approach to education as it bridges the gap between English, a linear written language, and South African Sign Language, a visual, three-dimensional language without any textual print base. “We want a sense of belonging in all spheres of society. South African Sign Language opens the door to the deaf community to access information in their first language and allows us to contribute equally in a mainstream environment,” said Sthembiso Thabethe, supervisor of the Information Systems Deaf Centre.

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For more information, contact Petri du Toit via email: petrid@dut.ac.za.

Please click on the link to access the English text in South African Sign Language. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIKOW488wFtY7KT5do0czqemIte0vb5M/view?usp=sharing

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