Cell for Differently Abled Persons

Preamble

Persons with disability are unable to access education at all levels. In the higher education sector, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and University Grants Commission support all Universities to involve and empower differently-abled persons in special education activities.

Aims & Objectives

• To facilitate admission of persons with disability by following Rules & Regulations and Policies of the States and Central Governments,
• To provide counselling to differently-abled individuals in the University for better learning support,
• To provide guidance to avail various fellowships / scholarships of different funding agencies,
• To provide appropriate financial assistance to disabled individuals to increase their sustainability in higher education,
• To create awareness about the needs of persons with disabilities and other general issues concerning disabilities,
• To provide equal educational opportunities to disabled persons in the University,
• To provide infrastructural needs to enable them to easily access classrooms, laboratories, toilets, etc for barrier free learning environment,
• To provide special facilities in the University campus for differently abled persons under the programme of Integrated Education for Disabled Children by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India,
• As per the UGC guidelines, promote Teacher Preparation in Special Education (TEPSE), Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs (Differently-Abled Persons) (HEPSN) and Visually Handicapped Teachers (VHT) schemes.

• To encourage the University to start such type of courses through which differently abled persons are benefitted specially,
• To provide information to the University authority about the Guidelines of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India for conducting written examination for Persons with Disabilities,
• To explore the full participation and equality as well as suitable placement opportunities for educated disabled graduates in public as well as private sector enterprises as per the Acts, Rules & Regulations and Policies of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India (socialjustice.nic.in) for differently abled persons.
  • (A) Acts:
    • (i) Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 The Act provides for constitution of the Rehabilitation Council of India for regulating the training of rehabilitation professionals, maintenance of a Central Rehabilitation Register, recognized rehabilitation qualifications, minimum standards of educations etc.
    • (ii) The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 It gives effect to the proclamation on the full participation and equality of the persons with disabilities in the Asian & Pacific Region and provides for their education, employment, creation of barrier free environment, social security, etc. The implementation of the Act requires a multi-sector collaborative approach by the appropriate governments, including various Central Ministries/Departments, States/Union Territories, local bodies.
    • (iii) National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability Act, 1999 The Act provides for constitution of the Board of the National Trust, Local Level Committees, Accountability and Monitoring of the Trust. It has provisions for legal guardianship of the four categories of the persons with disabilities and for creation of enabling environment for their as much independent living as possible.
  • (B) Rules & Regulations:
    • (i) The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules, 1996 The Rules indicate about evaluation and assessment of various disabilities and indicate the authorities, which are to give the Disability Certificate. The Rules also provide the procedure for holding Central Coordination Committee and Central Executive Committee meetings, procedure of notification of vacancies to Special Employment Exchanges, procedure to be followed by Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in handling the complaints of persons with disabilities, salary and allowances of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the manner in which annual report is to be submitted by him/her.
    • (ii) Rehabilitation Council of India Regulations, 1997 The Regulations provide details about powers and duties of the Chairperson, powers of the Council and about the meetings of the General Council and Executive Committee, their quorum and proceedings etc.
    • (iii) Rehabilitation Council of India (Conditions of Service of the Member-Secretary, the officers and other employees) Regulations, 1998 The Regulations provide for the conditions of service of the Member Secretary, other officers and employees of the Rehabilitation Council of India.
    • (iv) Rehabilitation Council of India (Standards of Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Code of Ethics for Rehabilitation Professionals) Regulations, 1998 These Regulations lay down the standards of professional conduct, etiquette and code of ethics for rehabilitation professionals.
    • (v) The National Trust Rules, 2000 The Rules provide for election of Members of the Trust, Powers and Duties of its Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer etc.
    • (vi) The National Trust Regulations, 2001 The Regulations provide for conditions of service of the Chief Executive Officer and other officers and staff of the Trust, form and manner in which application is to be made for registration of NGOs and procedure for appointment of guardians etc.
    • (vii) The National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2013 Include the description and categories of the awards of the disabilities.
  • (C) Policy:
    • National Policy for Persons with Disabilities has been announced in February, 2006.
    • The National Policy recognizes that Persons with Disabilities are valuable human resource for the country and seeks to create an environment that provides them equal opportunities, protection of their rights and full participation in society. The focus of the policy is on (a) Prevention of Disabilities and (b) Rehabilitation Measures.
    • The salient features of the National Policy are
      • (i) Physical Rehabilitation which includes early detection and intervention, counselling & medical interventions and provision of aids & appliances. It also includes the development of rehabilitation professionals.
      • (ii) Educational Rehabilitation including vocational training and
      • (iii) Economic Rehabilitation for a dignified life in society.
    • The policy specifically focuses on issues concerning women and children with disabilities.
    • Various Ministries/Departments in Central Government and the State Governments and UT Administrations are implementing the policy, which is a continuous process.

Categories of the Disability:

As per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission, New Delhi and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, the "Disability" is classified in following categories:

• (i) Blindness
• (ii) Low vision
• (iii) Leprosy-cured
• (iv) Hearing impairment
• (v) Loco motor disability
• (vi) Mental retardation and
• (vii) Mental illness

Committee Members: