Odette Swift

Odette has been passionate about teaching Deaf children since her teenage years. After completing her BPrimEd degree, she was part of the inaugural class for the BEd Honours in Deaf Education at WITS University. Following five years of teaching across two provinces, she transitioned to educational interpreting in higher education and later became a lecturer in South African Sign Language for hearing students. Odette also holds a Master’s Degree in Translation Studies. In January 2014, she took on the role of Director: Deaf Education at the Deaf Federation of South Africa, where she advocates for educational rights and services for the Deaf community. Recently, she became the Principal at Fulton School for the Deaf in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, a province known for its high number of Deaf citizens and schools dedicated to Deaf education. Odette is married and has two sons.