Mysore University planning centre for visually impaired

Centre to assist visually impaired students

The University of Mysore is planning to set up a centre for visually impaired to enhance their skills thereby increasing their employability.

The centre is supposed to be a national institution, a nodal centre in the country for the benefit of the visually impaired. The university said, one of the main motives of this institution is generate employment for such candidates and make them self-reliant. 

The university said that it is committed to provide training and education to students with special needs, adding that this will be the first of its kind of institution of education for the visually impaired in the country.

The university’s Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Board has already submitted the proposal to the Karnataka State Higher Education Board and the latter’s reply is awaited.

The rapid digitization has forced the visually impaired to the background, which is why the university decided to come up with an institution that will equip the said work force for the market-driven world.

“There is a need to create opportunities in universities to establish computer centres for the visually impaired to provide education and training in ICT along with various soft skills. Universities have the responsibility of facilitating education and training to disadvantaged students in higher education,” said the university’s concept note.

With the aim of preparing students for employability, the centre has proposed plans to develop a collection of learning resources like Braille software, Braille books, talking studio and periodicals.

The plan includes offering specially designed courses to develop professional skills and knowledge in assistive technology and information and communications technology. The university also plans to create a database of question banks of competitive exams in braille and develop and design instructional material for the visually impaired. The university also plans to create a database of visually impaired people in Karnataka.

The plan includes training teachers and special educators and evolving strategies to assist in improving the quality of education and encourage adoption of ICT education for the visually impaired in regular university curriculum.