The access to higher education for personsaimed with different abilities is very low. The XIth Plan goal must be to provide all facilities for persons with disabilities in the higher education sector. Course based repository of books, films, learning materials in Braille, audio tapes, lectures in sign language must be developed for all Courses in the Central Universities, with a mechanism for dissemination of these in State universities and colleges. Some other schemes could be incorporated as under: -
Setting up of Departments on ‘Disability Studies’ in universities, which will evolve into centres for studies and research on inclusive practices.
Setting up a Chair of Disability Studies in Universities, in different departments as appropriate.
Strengthening of existing schemes of UGC with enhanced allocation to universities/colleges to ensure a disabled friendly physical infrastructure.
Grants to be provided to every university for setting up a ‘Disability Unit’, which will act as an ‘one stop facility’ for the differently able persons.
All B.Ed. students may be asked to undergo training for teaching in any one of the streams of disability.
Preparing Specialized teachers/Resource persons/ In-service teachers to undergo Refresher Courses-Strengthening of Academic Staff Colleges for the purpose.
Curriculum Development for Special Education courses.
All universities to have barrier free access to persons with disability.
