Hillcrest dairy cows had their ears tested

Posted on December 17, 2021

The first-ever auditory testing of dairy cows in South Africa recently took place at the Hillcrest Experimental Farm. The results of this test hold the potential to further our understanding of noise pollution and the improvement of cow comfort and well-being.

Communication for all: Designing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for persons from minority language backgrounds

Posted on October 31, 2021

October is AAC awareness month. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, strategies, tools, and techniques have assisted countless persons with severe communication disabilities in communicating and connecting with others. However, there has been little consideration for persons...

Employment of persons with severe communication disabilities

Posted on October 31, 2021

Employment rates of persons with disabilities in South Africa are shockingly low. Although unemployment rates are generally high for youth aged 15 to 35 years (currently, 64.4%) https://tradingeconomics.com/south-africa/youth-unemployment-rate, unemployment rates for persons with disabilities are...

Participation in court: How persons with severe communication disabilities can be accommodated

Posted on October 26, 2021

Persons with severe communication disabilities belong to the excluded group mentioned by Flynn. These individuals often face violations of their basic human rights, such as exclusion from the justice system. Yet, access to justice is vital as it could act as protection against the many forms of...

Dementia and AAC

Posted on October 26, 2021

Dementia is a collection of irreversible changes that occur in the brain. The course of dementia is unrelenting and its impact has real-world implications for individuals living with this condition. The most noteworthy is the life-altering consequences with regard to communication and valued...

Tasty, healthy and African: UP plays its part in international project to promote local crops and develop new food products

Posted on February 11, 2021

UP is representing South Africa in a 20-partner African and European consortium to boost food security and nutrition in Africa.

UP project focuses on development of health education materials for persons with severe communication disabilities during Augmentative and Alternative Communication Awareness Month

Posted on October 23, 2020

According to Bob Williams, who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), “the silence of speechlessness is never golden. We all need to communicate with each other – not just in one way, but in as many ways as possible. It is a basic human need, a basic human right. And...

World Alzheimer’s Day: UP academics on how best to support dementia sufferers

Posted on September 21, 2020

The thought of having our memories erased and being unable to recognise the people we cherish would elicit fear in most individuals. For adults with a dementia diagnosis, this fear is magnified ¬– even more so for those closest to them.