The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has directed the colleges and universities to provide the accessibility of online classes to PwD students.
The Supreme Court directed the council to implement the access of online education to the person with disabilities (PwD) students.
The AICTE has notified through an official notification that in the case "W.P. (Civil) No. 600 of 2021 filed by Javed Abidi Foundation Vs Union of India & Anr.", the Supreme Court had instructed in its interim order dated on November 12, 2021, to execute the following suggestion given by Javed Abidi Foundation during the hearing of the case.
As per the suggestions, the Council has initially directed the universities to ensure that the course material provided should be accessible for students having visual disabilities and specific learning disabilities.
The suggestion argued that the PwD students were not being able to access the online classes that were held during the lockdown period as the course material was provided in the form of an image, an alt text was not provided for description and that the documents were not scanned properly.
Further, the suggestion instructed them to take necessary actions to have sign language interpreters and transcripts in the lectures for these students.
It directed the universities and colleges to assign tutors for some students who require personalized assistance in a few subjects.
Talking about the examination schedule, the council suggested that the universities are requested to keep these challenges in mind while publishing the amended date sheets for holding the examinations.
As it would also assist the PwD students to arrange for scribes and other facilities to write the exams in a relevant manner, it said.
Moreover, the Council has directed the universities to implement alternatives like wearing gloves, use of hand sanitizers etc. for ensuring the safety of these students if these students with disabilities cannot follow the social distancing norms.
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