R Gunalan, a
22-year-old disabled youth, had approached several colleges for
admission. In spite of the reservation policy which stipulates 1%
reservation for such students in higher educational institutes, there
are not many, especially in the private sector who are willing to accept
them. Gunalan, who is a second year B Com student at the Sankara College of Science and Commerce in the city, has two other classmates who are also speech and hearing impaired.
Those
working with the differently abled say that one of the major problems
faced by the deaf and dumb is that they lack of avenues for higher
education. There are very few colleges who admit such students. Even
where they are admitted, they are admitted to a selected few courses.
"In fact there are only a few institutions across the state who admits
the deaf and dumb students," said Renuka Ramesan who runs an NGO 'Family
Care' for such people.
The need of an interpreter for such students is said to be one of the major reasons why many colleges hesitate to admit students with such problems. However this is said becoming a major problem for such students, affecting their prospects. Murali Kuppusamy, who runs 'Deaf Leaders', an organisation which works for the deaf says through his daughter Sneha Murali that many of those under this category are forced to drop studies.
S Divya, who had recently appeared for her plus two examinations recently and is planning to join for B Com says that she expects to join a suitable college where she can take a suitable course for graduation. "Getting into a place where someone will can interpret what is being taken is a challenge," she said. This is a similar thought shared by M Saranya another student who is about to join graduation.
"Many times, the families of the disabled think that the affected need not be provided with education. When most of the colleges deny admissions, those who come forward to learn become discouraged," he points out. Only a small minority of those who pass school later go for higher education. Unless educational institutions admit them and are able to get make use of more job opportunities, their condition will remain deplorable.
Premavathy Vijayan, the head of the department of Special Education at Avinashilingam University which has 5 students who are deaf and dumb says that students should not be denied admissions due to any kind of disability. At the same time she says that such students require special attention. "They should be guide on what subjects to be chosen and which field to go to. This is important for them in their later lives also," she said.
The need of an interpreter for such students is said to be one of the major reasons why many colleges hesitate to admit students with such problems. However this is said becoming a major problem for such students, affecting their prospects. Murali Kuppusamy, who runs 'Deaf Leaders', an organisation which works for the deaf says through his daughter Sneha Murali that many of those under this category are forced to drop studies.
S Divya, who had recently appeared for her plus two examinations recently and is planning to join for B Com says that she expects to join a suitable college where she can take a suitable course for graduation. "Getting into a place where someone will can interpret what is being taken is a challenge," she said. This is a similar thought shared by M Saranya another student who is about to join graduation.
"Many times, the families of the disabled think that the affected need not be provided with education. When most of the colleges deny admissions, those who come forward to learn become discouraged," he points out. Only a small minority of those who pass school later go for higher education. Unless educational institutions admit them and are able to get make use of more job opportunities, their condition will remain deplorable.
Premavathy Vijayan, the head of the department of Special Education at Avinashilingam University which has 5 students who are deaf and dumb says that students should not be denied admissions due to any kind of disability. At the same time she says that such students require special attention. "They should be guide on what subjects to be chosen and which field to go to. This is important for them in their later lives also," she said.
Source : T.O.I , 3rd May 2013
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