DU sets up panel for disabled students

Delhi University has set up a committee to look into problems being faced by its 1,000-odd disabled students while writing exams.

Delhi University has set up a committee to look into problems being faced by its 1,000-odd disabled students while writing exams.

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“The committee has had a couple of meetings so far. It has become clear that each case must evaluated individually. There is no point framing a rigid guideline that will leave out more people than it can help,” said a senior university official on condition of anonymity.

The university has more than 1,000 disabled students enrolled in regular colleges across courses. Several visually disabled students fail to get writers for exams, while others who can neither speak nor write clearly face several more problems.

“We have spoken to a lot of people about the issues and have consulted experts as well. The WHO website has listed some software that can help these students. We have decided to make use of these resources and help out every student who has a problem,” said the official.

The committee is expected to come out with broad guidelines by April, before the semester examinations begin.

Students with special requirements will be asked to write to the university’s equal opportunity cell so that arrangements can be made.

The university has already done away with the requirement for writers for visually challenged students to be less educated than them. Special seating arrangements have also been requested for students with locomotor disabilities.