Great efforts Ashutosh! Regards, Sourabh Singh Yadav
On Sun, 7 Dec 2025, 18:26 AAKASH SINGLA, < [email protected]> wrote: > Great work > > > > *Best Regards* > > *Aakash Singla* > > *Our Accessible World* > > *Contact: +91-7404347074* > > *Folo us:* > > *Youtube <https://youtube.com/@ouraccessibleworld> | Facebook > <https://www.facebook.com/share/177aUcSBGW/> | WhatsApp > <https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDZBbf0Qeah6I8uSH1R> | Telegram > <https://t.me/accessibleworld>* > > > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On > Behalf Of *Ashutosh Singhal > *Sent:* Sunday, December 7, 2025 10:33 AM > *To:* [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected] > *Subject:* [AI] Official Department of Empowerment of Persons with > Disabilities consultation on new scribe guidelines > > > > Glad to share that after many efforts, I finally got the opportunity to > represent the perspective of Students with Disabilities in the official > Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) consultation > meeting on the new Scribe Guidelines in front of the Honourable Joint > Secretary, held on 18 November 2025. > Since I am the first student in the entire Delhi University to take exams > on a computer—both in graduation and post-graduation—typing in Hindi on a > computer, I have firsthand experience of the challenges, gaps, and > solutions related to computer-based exams. I also conducted India’s > first-ever webinar with Ashoka University on 3 and 9 March to help students > understand the challenges, solutions, and steps required to apply for > computer-based exams. (This was before DEPwD released the new Scribe > Guidelines on 1 August.) > I also organised a consultation on the 1 August Scribe Guidelines so that > more students with disabilities could share their feedback on improving the > guidelines. > You can access the first webinar recording here (English + Hindi). Other > videos will upload on the same YouTube channel: > https://youtu.be/lX-RFipWD2o?si=XEsAzS-VQolXDDoq > > Since you may be interested in what happened during the consultation, I am > not mentioning other speakers’ points due to privacy, but here are my > points, so you get a clear idea. > (The consultation lasted 3–4 hours, so I did not repeat points already > covered by others.) > > My Feedback Shared During the Scribe Guidelines Consultation > > 1. Need for Scribes and Trained Scribes: I highlighted that some > disabilities—like Cerebral Palsy—must have scribes, as writing or speech > clarity is affected. > In Western countries, trained scribes are provided who understand the > needs of persons with Cerebral Palsy. India should adopt similar practices. > > 2. Qualification Issues of Provided Scribes: Some students with visual > impairments receive scribes who are either overqualified or underqualified, > violating the exam authority’s own scribe rules. > > 3. Permission for Assistive Devices: Exam bodies often deny permission to > bring essential assistive devices like Taylor Frames, even though they are > allowed under existing and old guidelines. > > 4. Need for Mock Computer-Based Exams: I requested official mock exams so > students—especially those hesitant or inexperienced—can practise before > choosing the computer-based mode. > > 5. Backup Computer Requirement: There should be an extra computer > available in case of technical failure. > (In my graduation, Microsoft Office crashed and the system stopped > working.) > > 6. Students with Disabilities Are Stakeholders: Only NGOs were invited, no > student, and that too after great effort I got permission in the > consultation. > Scribe guidelines directly impact students, so they must be included > atleast who have experience on giving exam on computer. > > 7. Printout Timing Must Be Clarified: Like UPSC and other pen-pencil based > exams, the printout should be taken after the entire duration allotted to > students with disabilities, not during the so-called “extra time,” which is > actually compensatory time. > > 8. Computer Access at Least 2 Days Before Exam: Students should receive > permission to check the exam computer at least two days earlier to set > preferences, accessibility settings, etc. > > 9. Comparison With Western Countries: If we compare India with Western > countries in many areas, why not compare our scribe and computer-based exam > systems too? > > 10. MathML for Accessible Maths: MathML can make mathematical content > accessible. > I also mentioned that Microsoft Narrator will support accessible maths > reading in future updates. > > 11. Ensuring Equal & Level Playing Field: Guidelines should be designed so > no one can accuse students with disabilities of misusing scribes, while > ensuring fairness. > > 12. Existing Computer-Based Exams in India: Exams like CLAT and AIBE are > already happened on computer. This is not something new for India. > > 13. Windows vs. Linux Issue: Most competitive exams use Linux, where the > screen reader is Orca, which has a learning curve. > But work after selection happens mostly on Windows. > Therefore, students with disabilities should have the option to take exams > on Windows too. > > Ashutosh Singhal > > -- > 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.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAFL6VgJ_nO76jHp90n%2B5BWeUVoiTTuDwvkmF3vfVX039fkgJ1Q%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAFL6VgJ_nO76jHp90n%2B5BWeUVoiTTuDwvkmF3vfVX039fkgJ1Q%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. 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