Our dream of model accessible universities for persons with disabilities

Our dream of Model Accessible University for persons with disabilities:

 It is general observation that none of Indian universities or colleges provide barrier free access to building infrastructure, course curriculum, information and communication technology systems etc for persons with disabilities which is the reason of their low enrollment in higher education institutions.

persons with disabilities have to struggle a lot for higher schooling during course selection, admission, classroom learning, exam preparation, writing exams, project and internship, research work, placement and recreational activities.

We are dreaming to have model accessible universities across the country to implement and promote inclusive education. The model accessible university shall have barrier free environment for all kinds of persons with disabilities. its program, services and activities will be accessible. Such universities shall have accessible built infrastructure, accessible course content, accessible teaching and learning and accessible web services.

• Building infrastructure will be fully accessible with ramps and accessible toilets. No hurdles of parked vehicles on road side, dustbins, chairs and tables, tree pots, trimming branches of trees in passage way and building corridors, bips, Braille signs and other signal for identification of certain places. classroom, laboratories, seminar halls, library, cafeteria, gymnasium, playgrounds garden and landscape, internal roads and foot paths etc. will be accessible with ramps, tactile paths, color contrast of doors and walls, floors and staircases, accessible toilets and accessible electric switches for wheelchair users.

• Information technology services like university website, online admission, examination, transcript request, e-learning portals, discussion forums, notices and circulars, employee portal, web mail services etc will be accessibility compliant to national and international accessibility standards for web accessibility.

• Course material like text books, reference books, notes, including graphs, charts and tables etc will be readily available in alternative formats like audio, digital, large prints, Braille and sign languages.

• All the faculties, academic administrators, non teaching staff, abled body students are sensitized about special needs of individuals with disabilities. Faculties will have proper training of accessible teaching to inclusive class and dealing with students and researchers with disabilities.

• A center for disability services will be available in the model accessible university which will be headed by a director and supported with the team of experts in assistive technology and accessibility . The center will address all the matters of students, researchers, staff, faculties, and visitors with disabilities in the university. The center shall have assistive technology training lab, accessibility research lab and accessible digital library. The center will conduct accessibility research, monitor and ensure accessibility services to the persons with disabilities in university schools and departments and affiliated colleges.

Hope our HRD minister will take decision to transform at least some universities in to model accessible universities in next few years instead of setting up special universities for persons with disabilities.