I also endorse your opinion. If guideline needs to be blind centric, then the examination venue should also be within the reach of the candidates. So she/he can easily reach to the center. It has been noticed on numerous occasion when the venue was kept on very awkward and far-off areas. Candidates of Delhi would be agree with the recent example of OICL examination center.
Thanks, Amit Bhatt On 6/16/15, Kotian, H P <[email protected]> wrote: > All > According to me, the writer guidelines should be blind centric. > 1 Blindness can come in any times of ones life and therefore the ability to > deal with blindness varies with person's situation > 2Technical subjects also needs writer who are familiar with the subject > 3 Writers provided by examination body are usually not upto the mark and > there are umpteenth examples where the blind person has to suffer as a > result of it. > 4 Strict invillation is the only solution for dealing with any malpractise > and one can always resort to technology solutions like videography which is > not very expensive these days. > > We cannot go back to the 2006 situation which we got it with a lot of > difficulty and convincing.the only way forward is to impress on making the > envigilation process more stricter and to curb any leakages if found. > > Harish Kotian > > -----Original Message----- > From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf > Of Kotian, H P > Sent: 16 June 2015 11:20 > To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues concerning > the disabled. > Subject: [AI] Writer guidelines > > > All > Copying below a mail from Kanchan which did not get on the list. > Harish Kotian > > Quoting: > > Dear Friends, > The time has come to once again discuss this very important issue. Let us do > so objectively whilst keeping in mind the UPSC and SSB's objections to the > qualification of writers. > Just to recap. > 1. We had a meeting in Feb. 2008 with the ministry and the minutes were > recorded and nothing further happened for many years apart from individuals > getting reliefs from different courts on a case to case basis. > 2. Certain senior memmbers of this group approached the CCPD and Ministry in > 2012 and submitted the representation copied below. > 3. I am not sure whether CCPD issued the 2013 guidelines taking into > consideration the representation of 2012 or only considered the > representation and minutes of 2008. > 4. Many VI candidates appearing for the UPSC 2014 have represented toUPSC > that the Preliminary examination should be with the candidate's writer while > the Main examination should be with UPSC's writer. They have a valid point > but then the SSB feels that its exam should be with the SSB's writer. If > this goes on and if any concession is made for any Examiner then we are back > to pre-2006 situation. > 5. We have 2 routes open at the Meeting that is to be held this week- one > stick to the 2013 guidelines and wait till UPSC blinks and back to court. > or be practical and give some concession on the qualification of a writer. > Both positions are correct. Both positions are vulnerable and we have to be > realistic and vigilant. > Whatever is the advice of this group I will be carrying to Delhi. I have > always share the issues and have always gone with the majority opinion. > This has been my baby since 2006 when I first got guidelines for > Maharashtra. > Waiting for a detailed discussion. > Copying below the 10 page representation that was submitted in 2012. Can we > find a compromise between 2013 guidelines and 2012 representation? > > Annexure A > Uniform Guidelines for Conducting Examinations (Practicals and/or Theory) > for Blind and Low Vision Persons > Purpose: > These guidelines are being issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and > Empowerment, Government of India on the basis of the state's legal > obligations towards persons with disabilities. More specifically, > obligations and rights enshrined in the Constitution of India, the Persons > with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full > Participation) Act, 1995 and the Right to Education Act, 2009. These > guidelines are also in alignment with India's obligations under the United > Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), > 2006 guaranteeing all human rights and fundamental freedoms at the place of > study and work. It will, hence, apply to all examining authorities and > examinations/tests in India. > These guidelines need to be understood in the spirit of seeking to provide > the appropriate reasonable accommodation and opportunity to blind and low > vision candidates to effectively participate in the examination process. The > examining authorities may further interpret the guidelines to help blind and > low vision persons to be able to give their exams freely and fairly. Rigid > interpretation which tends to be disabling needs to be avoided. In all > interpretation, the onus needs to be given to making the examination process > conducive and barrier-free for the candidate. > Further, these guidelines have to be seen as an evolving set of rules which > will be reviewed and built upon on a periodic basis. They aim to encourage > multiple methods of taking exams such as Braille, computers, adaptive > technologies etc. based on varied candidate needs rather than restrict the > heterogeneous group within a single format. These guidelines are aimed at > increasing the opportunities available to blind and low vision persons and > make the process of exam-taking by them widely known and understood to all > stakeholders. > These guidelines are being framed for blind and low vision persons > specifically. The Ministry or examination bodies can borrow the same for > other persons with disabilities as also for temporary disabling and limiting > conditions with additional specification that will need to be made for other > situations. > > > Guidelines > > Guideline 1: Definitions > For the purpose of these guidelines, > > 1. "Blind Person" means a person having the condition of blindness, as > defined > under the existing national disability laws enforced from time to time. > > 2. "Person with low vision" means a person having the condition of low > vision > as defined under the existing national disability laws > enforced from time to time. > > 3. "Disability Certificate" means a certificate issued by a competent > authority as > defined under the existing national disability laws enforced from time to > time. > > Guideline 2: General Principles > 1. These guidelines are applicable across India to all examination > authorities, > educational bodies, schools, colleges, universities, competitive exam > bodies, internal/promotional exams and any other exam/test-taking > institution that conducts an exam/test within the geographical limits of > India. > > 2. These guidelines apply to theory, practicals and multiple-choice > examinations; both paper tests as well as electronic examinations. > 3. The facility of scribe/reader/lab assistant is permitted to any blind > and low vision person. > > 4. The Examination authorities need to ensure that no candidate with > blindness or low vision will be discriminated against from an equal and fair > examination-taking process due to fear of malpractice, additional cost or > inconvenience. It will remain the responsibility of the examination body to > ensure appropriate invigilation, provide for appropriate finances and > resources to create an accessible examination taking process for blind and > low vision candidates. > > 5. The candidate will not be asked to bear any extra cost or fee to avail > of accessible examination services. > 6. To ensure lack of undue inconvenience, an existing valid disability > certificate should be accepted across the country as proof of disability. > The examination authority is not to ask for any additional disability > inspection or examination. > > 7. The examination/test-taking authorities need to widely and > appropriately publicize these guidelines to all relevant stakeholders. > Guideline 3: Use of Scribe/Reader/Lab Assistant > > 1. The candidates can opt for their own scribe/reader/lab assistant or > request the examination body for the same. The candidates' preference for > the same will be recorded by the examination authority at the time of > filling up the application form for the examination or at the time of > admission registration form or as a separate application system set up by > the examination authority as may be most feasible. > > i. If the candidate is bringing their own > scribe/reader/lab assistant, the application procedure needs to be completed > by the candidate at least one to three weeks prior to the commencement of > the examination. The candidate at the time of application to submit any one > of the scribe/reader/ lab assistant's most readily available bona fide proof > (college or school or employer ID/bona fide certificate/mark sheet) along > with a self declaration on a plain paper from the scribe/reader/lab > assistant saying that the information provided by him/her is true and he/she > meets the eligibility of the scribe/reader/lab assistant for the said > examination and he/she won't indulge in examination malpractice. > ii. In case of the candidate requesting the examination > authority for a scribe/reader/lab assistant, the said needs to be intimated > to the examination authority minimum three weeks prior to the examination. > > 2. Whether a scribe/reader/lab assistant is brought by the candidate or > being provided by the examination authority, the following criteria must be > met: > i. Fluency in reading and writing in the language of the > test being taken > ii. Fluency in reading and writing of the subject matter of > the test > iii. Speed of writing with legible handwriting > iv. Efficiency in use of computer, in case it is a computer > test > > It shall be the responsibility of the examination authority to ensure that > no malpractice takes place through effective supervision. The quality of the > scribe cannot be compromised at the fear of malpractice. > > 3. The examining body to maintain a panel of scribes/readers/lab > assistants at the > District/Division/State level as per the requirements of the examination. A > scribe/ reader/lab assistant provided by the examining body needs to fulfill > the criteria as listed in point 3.2. > > The examination authority to organize for the candidate to meet the scribe/ > reader/lab assistant within one week prior up to the date of the examination > based on the convenience of the candidate. > > The candidate shall reserve the right to make an appeal to the concerned > authority of the examination body in case he/she finds the scribe/reader/lab > assistant does not meet the criteria as specified in point 3.2. > > 4. In case of candidate bringing their own scribe/reader/lab assistant > the following criteria will apply: > i. For all examinations and tests up to Standard 8- it would be > incumbent on the school authorities to create a panel of scribes/readers/lab > assistants (from other teachers, parents or community members who could be > part of the scribe/reader/lab assistant pool). The examination authority has > to provide a scribe/reader/lab assistant unless the candidate makes a > specific request that he/she will arrange a scribe/reader/lab assistant on > one's own. Upon making such a request, the candidate will be allowed to use > their own scribe/reader/lab assistant meeting the criteria laid down in > point 3.2. There will be no other criteria of age/education. The school has > to ensure proper invigilation as at a school level it is impractical for > younger students to be writers. A Standard 3 child cannot be expected to > function as a writer for a Standard 4 child. > ii. For all examinations from Standard 8 up to post graduation, if the > candidate and scribe/reader/lab assistant are of the same stream, the > educational qualifications of the scribe/reader/lab assistant should be one > year below that of the candidate. This means that if the student is > appearing for a Second Year Arts/Humanities examination, if his > scribe/reader/lab assistant is from the Humanities/Arts stream, the > scribe/reader/lab assistant can be up to the First year. However, this > condition will not be applicable if they are of different streams. That is, > if a Second Year Arts/Humanities student uses a scribe/reader/lab assistant > from the B.Sc/Science stream the scribe/reader/lab assistant can be from a > higher year (Third.Year.Science/ Masters in Science etc.) as well. Apart > from this, no other restrictions such as marks obtained by the > scribe/reader/lab assistant are to be imposed. > iii. In all other examinations such as all competitive examinations, all > job examinations, the scribe/reader/lab assistant will be one year below the > qualifying year for the examination but not less than/minimum of Standard > 10. i.e. in all cases where the eligibility for the examination is less than > Standard 10, a scribe/reader/lab assistant up to Standard 10 will be > permitted. Apart from this, no other restrictions such as marks obtained by > the scribe/reader/lab assistant are to be imposed. > iv. In cases where, if following rule 3.4.ii and 3.4.iii does not allow > the writer to meet the minimum eligibility criteria as laid down in point > 3.2, the candidate will be allowed to use writers of appropriate higher > years to ensure fluency in reading and writing the subject. The examination > authority to process these requests on a need basis. For e.g., in case of a > foreign language paper a junior class student may not have fluency in > reading the paper at hand, in which case, a same year student or higher year > student be permitted with proper invigilation. > > 5. The candidate is permitted to take more than one scribe/reader/lab > assistant for writing different papers in an examination cycle and also for > different papers in a single day examination. > > 6. In case of emergency situations, there will be flexibility in > accommodating any last-minute change in scribe/reader/lab assistant. For any > last-minute change, the candidate can bring a new scribe/reader/lab > assistant with any of their most readily available bona fide proof (college > or school or employer ID/bona fide certificate/mark sheet) and a letter from > the scribe/reader/lab assistant saying that the information provided by > him/her is true and he/she meets the eligibility of the writer for the said > examination. For emergency situations, the examination bodies will also, at > all times, keep a pool of scribes/readers/lab assistants that can be > utilized. The examination authorities' scribe/reader/lab assistant's > eligibility is only to be measured as per point 3.2 and hence, it would be > easy for the authorities to keep a pool of qualified teachers/supervisors > etc. who can come in for an emergency. > > Guideline 4: Mode of Taking Examination > > 1. Blind and Low Vision persons will be given the option of choosing > the mode for taking the examinations i.e. use of writer/scribe, Braille, > using the computer or in large print or by recording the answers. > 2. The candidate will also have the option of selecting a question > paper in alternative formats - Braille, large font, electronic copy (latest > accessible copies such as Unicode, HTML, RTF, ePUB etc. should be provided). > Large font specification needs to be mentioned by the candidate. A maximum > font size of 20 can be requested for. > 3. The candidates' preference for the same will be recorded by the > examination authority at the time of filling up the application form for > examination or at the time of admission registration form or as a separate > application system set up by the examination authority as may be most > feasible. > 4. The examining body to provide reading material in Braille or > accessible E-Text or large and bold font or on computers having suitable > screen reading softwares for open-book examinations. Similarly, > online/computer examinations should be in accessible formats i.e. websites, > question papers and all other study material should be accessible as per the > accessibility standards laid down in this regard. > > Guideline 5: Computer Assisted Examination > > 1. To enable a person with blindness or low vision to write his/her own > examination using a computer, the following need to be provided by the > examination centre to the candidate: > i. A computer loaded with a > screen reading software and screen Magnification software. > ii. The configuration of the > computer should not be less than the installation requirements of the screen > reading software and screen magnification software. > iii. The computer must have a > functional sound card. > iv. A headset needs to be provided > to the user. Candidates should be allowed to bring their own simple > headsets. > v. The computer needs to be > completely free of virus. > vi. A Word Processing software needs > to be provided on the computer. > > 2. The candidate should be allowed to bring their own keyboard that > could be attached to the computer at the examination centre. > > 3. The candidate should be able to use their preferred assistive > technology on the computer provided by the examination centre. If the > examination centre is not able to provide the assistive technology preferred > by the candidate, the candidate should be allowed to bring his/her own > assistive technology. This may be installed by the person designated by the > examination centre at least one day prior to the examination. > > 4. UPS /invertors for back-up support must be installed and connected > at the centre. Enough power back-up needs to be provided for the examination > centre. > > 5. Two printers may be kept for taking the final print-outs of the > answer sheets. Assistance to take print-outs of the answer sheets needs to > be provided by the examination centre. > > 6. The candidates should be allowed to check the computer system on the > day before the examination so that they can familiarize themselves with the > computer and assistive technology installed on them. They should be allowed > to make necessary configurations in the assistive softwares and the user > interface if they feel that it will increase their efficiency. If the > candidate is not happy with the functioning of the computer, then he/she > should be allowed to check another computer system. > > 7. If the examination is a skill test only i.e. typing test, then the > candidate should be allowed to bring his own computer if he/she is not > satisfied with the computer available at the examination centre. > > 8. The candidates should be allowed to install any specific technology > which they possess which they find essential to access the basic word > reading programme and carry out proofreading. > > 9. On the day of the exam, access to the computer is to be given at > least 30 minutes before the start of the examination. > > 10. A soft copy of the question paper in an accessible format such as > HTML/RTF/TXT/DOC/DAISY/ePUB should be provided at the start of the > examination and copied to the computer being used for examination. The soft > copy of the question paper cannot be provided in DTP software format or in > PDF format as these are not compatible with screen reading software. If > question papers cannot be provided in an accessible digital format or in a > preferred alternative format such as Braille, then the examination centre > needs to provide a reader to read the question paper for the candidate. > > 11. If the examination is being administered through a computer software > then the compatibility of the software with screen reading software and > usability without mouse must be ensured beforehand. > > 12. The candidate should be asked to save his work at regular intervals. It > will be the responsibility of the candidate to hand over his work to the > examiner at the end of the stipulated time of the examination. > > 13. In case of power failure, the time of power failure is to be noted and > the same amount of time augmented in the end time of the paper. > > 14. The candidate should be given a choice in the use of keyboard layouts > for Indian language typing. If the preferred keyboard layout is not > installed, the candidate should be given the opportunity of installing > softwares for activating the desired keyboard layout. > > 15. Extra time need to be provided to the candidates similar to the time > provided to the candidates giving examinations with the help of writer > > 16. At the end of the examination, the work done by the candidate should be > printed on official stationery. This should be treated like any other answer > sheet and all necessary information such as candidate's roll number, name of > the examination & paper; number of pages used etc. should be marked. > > 17. After making sure that the complete answer sheet has been clearly > printed on paper, the computer files may be deleted. In case of practical > exams, the computer files may need to be preserved for evaluation. > > Guideline 6: Alternative Questions > > In case of visual-based questions, all question papers must have built-in > alternative text based non- visual questions. However, the candidate will > have the freedom to opt for the visual questions, if they so choose. There > are already examination bodies such as the CBSE board following this. > > > > Guideline 7: Compensatory Time > > Compensatory time of minimum 20 minutes per hour of examination will be > granted for persons who are making use of a scribe/reader/lab assistant. > This will hold true for both theory and practical examinations. All the > Blind and Low Vision persons not availing the facility of scribe will also > be allowed the compensatory time of minimum 20 minutes per hour. > > Guideline 8: Use of Assistive Devices > > 1. The candidates will be allowed to use assistive devices like talking > calculators and other assistive electronic/mechanical equipments (in cases > where calculators/parallel equipments are allowed for giving exams). > 2. All Blind and Low Vision candidates will be allowed to use > educational assistive tools. For e.g., optical and digital magnifiers, > Taylor frame, Braille slate, Abacus, Braille geometry kit, Braille log > books, Braille measuring tape etc., which are merely enabling tools. > > Guideline 9: Practical Examination > > 1. For practical examinations the candidate be permitted to use a lab > assistant to make observational recordings, wherever required. The > qualification rule of the lab assistant will be the same as per guideline 3 > above. > > 2. For practicals and experiments, the Blind and Low Vision students be > allowed to use material converted, wherever possible, into accessible > formats such as tactile diagrams, large font and expanded size diagrams, > Braille, accessible equipments etc. The same will be worked on and be made > available by the examination authorities who may consult experts in the > field of visual impairment. > > 3. Blind and Low Vision candidates will be allowed to feel objects and > any other practical apparatus for identification and any other purpose of > the examination. > > 4. If any experiment contains visual content to a large extent, the > student will be examined on that experiment or that aspect of the experiment > through a viva. The competent authority, after consultation with appropriate > agencies on visual impairment, will specify the experiments in the syllabus > which involve visual content to a large extent for the information of the > Blind and Low Vision student and the examiners. The said information will be > specified in the syllabus published and practical manuals published at the > beginning of the year itself. > > 5. Practicals on computer programs need to be made accessible with a > screen reader/magnifier/refreshable Braille and suitable assistive > technology program. > > 6. Blind and Low Vision students should be allowed to use Braille or a > word processor program to type his/her journals and then print-outs can be > either filed as a journal or they can be pasted in a regular journal. In the > absence of a computer facility, the student will be allowed the use of an > assistant to write the journal. No criteria will apply to who the assistant > will be as this is out of class work. > > 7. Blind and Low Vision students will be exempted from drawing diagrams > in the journal. For Low Vision students who are comfortable drawing > diagrams, they may be permitted to do so. For students not drawing diagrams, > in place of the diagram, a description of the same will be written. If the > student wishes, he/she may attach any tactile diagrams used by him/her to > study. For the purpose of evaluation, the marks for diagrams will be > compensated by the written explanations. > > 8. As far as possible, the examination authority to conduct accessible > practicals as per the method listed in points 9.1 to 9.7. In situations > where accessible practicals cannot be conducted, the said examination to be > replaced by a viva or multiple-choice questions or any other method found > suitable by the examination authority. > > Guideline 10: Administrative requirements > > 1. Proper seating arrangement to be made prior to the commencement of > the examination to avoid confusion or distraction on the day of the exam. > For candidates using scribes, adequate spacing between candidates should be > provided. > > 2. Proper lighting needs to be ensured for Low Vision candidates > including permission to bring their own lighting, in which case, suitable > power connection needs to be provided. > > 3. The time of giving the question papers should be marked accurately > and timely supply of supplementary papers should be ensured. > > 4. The examination authority to organize for appropriate power back-up for > all assistive devices at the examination taking time. > 5. The question papers and answer papers will have rules related to > extra time, exemption of visual questions and use of scribe printed on them. > The answer paper will have a marking spot that specifies candidate with > visual impairment. This is to avoid any confusion for the supervisor and > evaluator in appropriately checking and marking. > > 6. Scribes/readers/lab assistants will be eligible for fees to be > provided by the examination authority as per the rates of the invigilators. > In addition, the scribes/readers/lab assistants will also be paid a TA, as > decided by the examination authorities or Rs. 100, whichever is higher. The > said fees have to be disbursed on the same day as the examination. This fee > amount is a per-paper fee. > > 7. Each examination authority to designate the necessary points of > contacts at the central authority level as also at the examination centre > levels. These designated authorities to be responsible for processing > requests of the Blind and Low Vision students and addressing > concerns/grievances, providing services and ensuring appropriate > implementation of these rules. The contact information of the said officers > needs to be published in all application/admission forms, advertisements, > brochures, website, directories and any other suitable places. > > In case of refusal/denial of any service or accommodation, the said > designated authority, both at the central as well as the examination centre > level, is mandated to provide a written reply to the candidate for the > refusal of the same. > > 8. The said guidelines will be reviewed on a 5-yearly basis to keep up > with new technologies and services available in the field as also advances > in the educational systems. The review will be conducted by the Ministry of > Social Justice and Empowerment in consultation with all relevant > stakeholders. > > > > > > > Kanchan Pamnani > Advocate & Solicitor > 9, Suleman Chambers, > Battery Street, Colaba, > Mumbai - 400 039. > > > > ________________________________ > Caution: The Reserve Bank of India never sends mails, SMSs or makes calls > asking for personal information such as your bank account details, > passwords, etc. It never keeps or offers funds to anyone. Please do not > respond in any manner to such offers, however official or attractive they > may look. > > Notice: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are > addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, use, > review, distribution, printing or copying of the information contained in > this e-mail message and/or attachments to it are strictly prohibited. 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AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > 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..
