Student Overcomes Disability to Graduate with Master’s Degree

BY: .

Mr Lungani Mthethwa has cerebral palsy – a condition which affects muscle tone, movement and motor skills leading to physical disability – but it hasn’t prevented him from reaching great academic heights.

Mthethwa graduated from UKZN with a Masters in Social Science degree.

An inspiration to other disabled students, Mthethwa said: ‘The secret behind my success is praying and working hard. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is not to compare myself to anyone. I encourage students not to let their disability stop them from achieving their goals. Believe in yourself, everything is possible.’

Mthethwa, who uses a motor scooter to get around campus, says most University venues are difficult to access and hopes that venue access will continue to improve.

For his masters study, he focused on the experiences and challenges of adapting to an inclusive education-learning environment concentrating on UKZN students living with disabilities.

‘The main aim of this study is to understand the everyday life experiences and challenges students with disabilities face on the Howard College Campus. I used a qualitative approach and design with in-depth face-to-face semi-structured interviews to collect data from 20 participants. The study explored the challenges faced by male and female students with different types of disabilities,’ said Mthethwa.

His study demonstrates that certain infrastructure and services at the University remain disability unfriendly and thus the notion of an enabling inclusive environment is problematic.

These inhibit students with disabilities from adapting to the inclusive education environment and context. Problems include accessing study material in appropriate formats and lack of awareness and knowledge by lecturers, support staff and non-disabled students on how to assist or socialise students with different types or ranges of disabilities.

His plans include obtaining a PhD and, in time, becoming a lecturer.

Mthethwa thanked his late grandmother, family, friends and his supervisor, Dr Sharmla Rama, for their prayers, motivation and support.

Words by: Nomcebo Mncube

Photograph by Rajesh Jantilal