NEW DELHI: When Akshansh Gupta, a 32-year-old research scholar with 95% disability due to cerebral palsy, was awarded PhD on 'Brain Computer Interface' from JNU, his only wish was to work in the university. A week later, his dream may come true. According to the Jawaharlal Nehru University authorities, the university is trying to create a research position for him so that he can stay on campus. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Disabled-scholar-may-realise-JNU-dream/articleshow/49954178.cms Speaking to TOI, Gupta said that his experience at the univeristy has been "amazing, and people here are mature and sensitive to each others' feelings".
"I am on my own at my hostel and no one at the university has ever made me feel like I have a disability. In fact, many of my friends come to me with their problems. The teachers and my friends have been very helpful. The atmosphere here is such that anyone would like to stay here, but that can be possible only if I manage to get a job here," he said. Univeristy officials felt that being a teacher immediately maybe not possible for Akshansh as he has speech issues, but authorities agreed that he can work as a researcher. "We are trying to find him a job as a researcher. He has been a good student. Because of his disability, he cannot speak fluently, but I can understand him as he visits me very often and we interact," said Sudhir Kumar Sopory, vice-chancellor. Meanwhile, taking its inclusive policy and barrier-free environment a step further, the university in its last academic and executive council meeting decided to give a grace of three months to visually-disabled students for submission of thesis. "Visually-disabled students need more time to complete their thesis. Therefore, the university has decided that they should be given some additional time," said Sopory. The university has also completed works like lifts and barrier-free pathways within the campus. "Just the gesture that the university is trying to find a place for me in itself is heartening. The vice-chancellor has always been very helpful," said Gupta. -- Avinash Shahi Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
