Panel seeks aids for disabled at DU - The Times of India source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Panel-seeks-aids-for-disabled-at-DU/articleshow/20267104.cms NEW DELHI: The Empowered Committee constituted by the vice chancellor to examine the curricula and structure of courses under the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) - to be introduced in Delhi University this year - to ensure they are accessible for the disabled has filed its report. Sambhavana Organization, which had filed a PIL against the university had submitted its own suggestions on May 22. The final report will be tabled before DU's Academic Council which will meet on Monday, May 27. The four-part list of suggestions covers assistive devices, suggestions on teaching mathematics and the sciences to the visually-impaired and a batch of "broader suggestions." Sambhavana had argued that generally, "the areas of science and mathematics have been inaccessible to the students with visual impairments," that many of them would not have studied either beyond Class VIII and, therefore, the introduction of compulsory maths and science foundation courses in FYUP will discourage these students from joining college. The recommendations take into account facilities and methods of teaching employed in foreign universities such as Purdue University's VISIONS (Visually Impaired Students Initiative on Science) Lab. "The approach to solve specific academic problems encountered by visually-impaired students in these subjects, can be divided into two distinct halves: educational needs and technological needs," says the report. It proceeds to list a number of tools that could be used - parchment paper, geometry kits with tactile markings, tactile net boards, Velcro boards and a variety of software, special books and three-dimensional models. The report also covers "adaptive science lab equipment" and goes into detail on the teaching of organic chemistry. But experts consulted by the committee say, those preparing the report have digressed from their brief. "What the report talks about is a hardcore science curriculum but the foundation course doesn't even involve a practical exam," says Anil Aneja a member of the All India Confederation of the Blind (AICB) and also a teacher, "These are good suggestions but many of them are not relevant here. The foundation courses are more basic", he added. Apart from regular use of teaching aids, for maths teaching, the report recommends flexibility in the number of problems and assignments given to these students and allowing these students to give class tests in Braille "with partial oral administration along with extra time." There are suggestions related to lighting and difficulties faced during field work and directions to teachers such as "describe the contents of any visual material (table, graph, map) displayed on screen or boards" and "pace the presentation so that visually impaired students can keep with Braille or PC note-taking." -- With best regards, Sanchit Katiyar. E-Mail: [email protected] Skype ID: sanchit.katiyar11 Mobile: +919013816320. 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..
