Mumbai’s Wilson College’s certificate course in disability studies finds widespread support

It was in the year 2008, that residents of St Andrews House, the former hostel of Wilson College and Former Principal Dr Sam Skariah came up with the idea of setting up the Andrews Vision Centre (AVC).

Started with the aim of helping blind and low vision students, the AVC gives them access to the all the means they need for educational, technological, psychological and social growth.

Now AVC has gone one step further by offering a certificate course in Disability Studies, the goal being to build an inclusive future for all in partnership with the Rolta Foundation. Over 100 students have been provided mentorship and guidance until now.

This year the course will begin from 9 February.

The course is vital for creating inclusion and sensitization in the society. Students can learn about the challenges faced by people with disabilities. When they go out in the world, they can help break barriers through the information and learning they have received. Awareness is the key to inclusion and we hope to promote this at Wilson College. – Dr Biraj Mehta, Faculty, Wilson College

The course looks at various types of disabilities and how they are regarded at the social, cultural and economic levels. Such an in-depth focus, authorities hope, will help not only help create better understanding about the challenges faced by people with disabilities, but also promote inclusive education.

Abhilash, who is a masters students, took the course last year and found it informative. “It helps students understands the various aspects associated with disability. The course structure covers various factors involved when it comes to the mindset towards people with disabilities”.

Details of the course

The course covers the following main aspects:

a) Disability Awareness and sensitization.

b) Developing need-based intervention programmes

c) Strengthen the existing voluntary programme of Wilson College and the Andrews Vision Centre.

Last year the faculty at the course included experts and activists like Nidhi goyal of the Rising Flames, Dr Sanjay Jain from ILS Pune, Dr Kanchana Mahadevan from Mumbai University, Dr Ketki Ranade from TISS Mumbai campus, Dr Asha Achyutan from TISS, Mumbai campus, Professor Meet Dyaneshwar of SNDT, Ghatkopar and Dr Pallavi Shankar from NAB.

This year too the course promises to have more experts within the field of disability studies.

Educating the younger generation about the need to empower and enable people with disabilities is a much needed approach as this helps change attitudes in the future. For more details about the course contact 9820496563.