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New Delhi:
From ramps, lifts and specially-designed washrooms to installation
of specialised software, Delhi University is making an effort to
equip itself with facilities for its differently-abled students.
"With more specially-abled students coming to the university every
year, the provision for ramps, lifts, special washrooms,
wheelchair-friendly paths and special software have been made
available in many colleges in the north and south campuses," Nisha
Singh, officer on special duty (OSD) at the varsity's Equal
Opportunity Cell (EOC), told IANS.
A total of 535 disabled students have registered for admission
this year so far in Delhi University, which has 77 colleges and
over 54,000 students. The new academic year starts July 21.
According to Singh, the majority of disabled students are visually
impaired or have orthopaedic problems.
"There are some students with hearing problems and a few are
dyslexic. These students mainly opt for courses like Hindi
(Honours), political science (Honours), History (Honours), BA
Programme and BCom," she said.
"Special computers with software like 'Job Access With Speech'
(JAWS), special washrooms and ramps are provided to make the
college campus disabled-friendly," said Manasvini Yogi from the
Indraprastha College for Women.
"EOC volunteers are present all the time for any kind of help, but
even other students are so helpful."
Rakshana Shroff, advisor (students welfare) at Lady Shri Ram
College, said: "Scholarships are provided to these students and
those from financially backward families are taken care of."
According to the EOC, SGBT Khalsa College and Mata Sundri College
have provision of lifts for the disabled. At the Shri Ram College
of Commerce (SRCC), the first floor canteen is being shifted to
the ground floor to make it accessible to such students.
EOC has also appointed special coordinators in each college for
helping the disabled students and workshops are being conducted by
the coordinators. The fees for the physically handicapped students
too is kept low.
"EOC has arranged five short term courses for the students, which
will begin in August. The subjects are sign language,
communicative English, Information Communication Technology (ICT),
disabled human rights and classes for news reading, anchoring and
cinematography," Singh said.
"The fees for these courses vary from Rs.500 to Rs.5,000 for the
physically challenged students. Capacity building classes are also
conducted for the disabled students to prepare them for
competitive exams," she added.
V.S. Khan, administrative officer at Gargi College, said: "Apart
from other facilities, the auditorium here is disabled friendly
and writers are provided for visually impaired students during
exams. This year, three students have taken admission in the
physically handicapped category, and we will make sure they face
no difficulties in studies or commuting."
Singh, however, adds that much more needed to be done and the EOC
is writing to all colleges for providing facilities like lifts and
ramps.
"Things are changing for the good. Earlier, parents did not
encourage the special children for higher studies and treated them
as good for nothing, but today, after many years of struggle,
people's attitude has changed. Many of these students have proved
themselves by being successful in their areas of interest," she
added.
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