Higher Education of Girls with Visual Impairment

1. Higher Education of Girls with Visual Impairment

2. Founder and Managing Trustee – Ms.MadhuSinghal IBN7 Super Idols Award 2010 National award from Vice President of India 2008 State Award 2010

3. Our Activities Digital Talking Book Library to provide educational and general books in accessible formats. Basic and Advanced Computer Training for the visually impaired. Braille Transcription Centreto provide Braille books and Braille tools. Independent Living Skill Training to the rural women with visual impairment. Job placement service. Mitra Jyothi building at HSR Layout

4. Talking Book Library Established in 1992, the library converts print books into audio books. Caters to more than 1600 members and 50 institutions in India. Recording studio for Digital Audio Books (DAISY Standard)

5. Braille Transcription Centre Braille Embosser Student reading a Braille book

6. Independent Living Skills Training Girls busy cooking Girls busy in their craft and knitting session

7. Computer Training Centre • 9 months Basic Computer • Training • 2 months Summer Batch • Advanced Computer • Training in collaboration with • TCS Maitree • Short Term Courses • Need Based Training

8. Job Placement Cell Philips CEO Mr. Alexius addressing the placed candidates

9. Hostel Facility Girls Dormitory Dining Area Leisure Time – Chess & Music

10. Low Vision Aids Students with low vision can make use of the various low vision aids available in the computer center.

11. Higher Education of Girls with Visual Impairment • Key Facts

12. Up to 20% of women globally have a disability. • Women and girls with a disability face triple discrimination, being female, having a disability and being among the poorest of poor. • A significant majority of girls with a disability in developing countries remain illiterate. • When it comes to education, women with disabilities are likely to report less education than both non-disabled women and men with disabilities.

13. 17.4% of all women with disabilities have less than 8 years of formal education as compared to 3.5% of non-disabled women. • NCPEDP (2004) survey showed only 0.1% of students with disabilities are in higher education. • Only 16% of all women with disabilities are likely to have any college education compared to 31% of non-disabled women and 28% of men with disabilities • The investment in education, health care or job training, that families are willing to make in disabled girls are often substantially less than for disabled boys. • Women with disability are 2 to 3 times more likely to be victims of physical and sexual abuse than women without a disability.

14. Status of women with disabilities in India as per World Bank Report, 2005 They are much more likely to be illiterate and out of school

15. Higher Education of Girls with Visual Impairment • Barriers

16. Testimony of a Blind girl at a Public Hearing organized by Jadavpur University in collaboration with Sruti Disability Rights Centre, Kolkata. “I face sexual abuse regularly. I have to commute to college by public bus. I need help of others in crossing roads and even during bus rides. One day I asked a man who was standing at the bus stop to help me to get into the bus. I asked him to hold my hand and then I realized he was touching my body also. I was very nervous – I thought if I protested he will let me go off and I will meet with an accident. You know how crowded buses in Kolkata are. This man kept on touching me in an inappropriate manner inside the bus. But I could not protest. And if I would have said anything, who would have believed? I cannot see, so for me to identify him would be difficult. “These kinds of incidents happen regularly. I never discussed these issues with my friends. This is something, I think shameful to discuss.”

17. Critical Areas of Concern / Barriers • Family opposition (Because of the patriarchal society, they are perceived to have no economic value) • Financial constraints • Susceptible to Abuse and Harassment – Safety concerns • Difficulty in using public transport independently – Mobility issues and accessible transportation • Lack of girls hostels (Govt. or otherwise) for pursuing higher education. • Many colleges not open to giving admission to girls with disabilities. • Restricted choice of courses

18. Critical Areas of Concern / Barriers • Difficulty in availing government schemes • Lack of counseling and guidance. • Lack of accessible and safe accommodation within college campus • Difficulties in taking class notes – aids and appliances unavailable • Inaccessible college library. • Unavailability of study material/textbooks in accessible formats such as Braille or audio. No govt. support in this area. • Faculty is not trained to handle students with disabilities.

19. Critical Areas of Concern / Barriers • Inappropriate teaching methods • Limited accessibility to e-resources • Difficulties in writing exams. (Unavailability of scribe) • Lack of alternate evaluation system. • Lack of participation in college activities. • Lack of vocational training and skill gap. • Lack of availability of jobs for the women with disabilities. • Inaccessible workplace

20. Govt. Initiatives & Challenges In a recent paper presented by Dr. UmaKanagala, Associate Professor , Dept. of Rehabilitation Science, Holy Cross College, Tiruchirapalli, she highlighted some of the policy interventions taken by the Govt. of India and the challenges therein.

21. Govt. Provisions • The Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act of 1995 encourages equal access in higher education • 3% reservation in institutes of higher education. • 2 ministries - Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are responsible for education of SWD • Constitution emphasizes education up to 14 years and PWD Act (1995) up to 18 years

22. Measures/Initiatives XI Five Year Plan 2007-2012 proposed: • Establishment of Disability Units in universities and colleges • A Disability Coordinator in all universities • A separate Department of Disability Studies • Chair of Disability Studies • Introduction of Special Shuttle Services • Improve the accessibility • Provision of special equipment

23. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Provisions: • 500 national scholarships per year in technical and professional courses • Financial Assistance to • Blind/deaf graduates for computer with editing software • Post graduate students for professional courses

24. Reimbursement of course fee - Rs. 10,000/- per year.

25. GyanPrabha Scheme: • Scholarship scheme under the National Trust Act, for persons with multiple disabilities. • Vocational training / professional courses including UG and PG • Scholarship of upto Rs.1000/- per month for 1000 persons per year

26. Efforts of Karnataka Govt. • Provides additional 2% reservation for Pre-University Colleges

27. Prize Money Scheme

28. Policy Challenges • Minimal provisions for higher education of SWD by the government • All provisions & policies are either for persons with disabilities or for women in general. No specific provisions for Women with Disabilities. • No measures to ensure transparent, measurable and accountable implementation of the action plans

29. Policy Challenges • Minimal data about the disabled in the higher education group, no separate data on girls with disabilities in higher education. • Research in higher education of disabled is grossly lacking • Lack of quality measures in higher education of SWD

30. Recommendations • Educate women with disabilities about their rights. • Awareness workshops for parents to change their attitude by showcasing successful role models. • Awareness to colleges and universities to make their infrastructure accessible • Books in College libraries and study material should be made in accessible formats such as e-text, Braille or audio. Govt. support needed. • The learning tools such as DAISY players, refreshable Braille displays, computers, etc can be provided to the girls at subsidized cost under Govt. schemes.

31. Set up equal opportunity cells in colleges and universities. • Govt. should also ensure that there are adequate and safe student hostels for visually impaired girls • Hostel accommodation in college campus • Govt. should also take measures to make public transport accessible. • Govt. should give interest free study loans for their higher education.

32. Specialized teacher training even in college level, to ensure quality teaching. • Workshops on developing communication skills for the girls with visual impairment to express themselves with confidence. • Vocational training programs to increase their computer skills and employability. • Specialized career counseling services in college and placements.

33. Conclusion • We cannot expect development, while leaving behind women with disabilities. It is extremely important to include them in the development process. • The solutions have to come from all the stakeholders involved, including the girls themselves, parents, teachers, colleges and universities, NGOs and the Govt. • All need to work together hand in hand.

34. Thank You C.A. Site No. P22, 31st Main,18th Cross, HSR Layout, Sector IBehind NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) Bangalore: 560102 Phone: (080) 22587623 / 22587625 Email: admin.office@mitrajyothi.org Website: www.mitrajyothi.org