Kottayam: Aswathy, a fully blind MPhil student of MG University’s Social Sciences Department, has triggered a silent revolution in the ambience of the department.
It is all set to change into a ‘Universal design’ (barrier free) building, where the visually impaired students will be helped to move freely without the hassles of the traditional building.
Dr K.T. Rammohan, Director of the School of Social Sciences, says: “It dawned on us when Aswathy joined our department that the structure of the present building obstructs the movement of the visually impaired students. We are planning to change the design to support and facilitate the free movement of such students through the department. Once the modifications are completed, more such students may join the department,” he told DC.
The changes include construction of ramps at necessary points and dismantling of steps and blocks impeding the movement of the visually impaired.
The construction will begin in January and the photo documentation of the barriers to be removed has been taken.
An amount of Rs 55 lakh was released by the state Department of Higher Education for the purpose.
Aswathy says that the new design will help her to be independent as now she needs the aid of her friends to move around.
The UGC in its twelfth plan had emphasised the need to address the concerns of the physically handicapped in the universities.
The change of the building to the ‘Universal design’ will be under the supervision of Athul Ramanathan , an expert in such designs.
Dr S. Balram of CJ Academy of Design, Coimbatore, is the brain behind the design.
According to the initiative, a slew of programmes, including training in the assistive technologies, will be put in place to make the department friendly to the visually impaired.
A website to give help them has been developed: http://www.abilitysssmgu.ac.in/
An expert team of 30 resource persons, including film director T.V. Chandran, visited the department and discussed how this could be developed further.
An audio visual journal for humanities and social sciences is also being planned and the work on it will begin once the staff members are recruited.
