A case in point is the University of Karachi, one of the largest public sector universities in the country, where 10 to 15 physically challenged students are enrolled every year. Though this comprises a very small percentage of the total 22,000 students, discussions with a number of blind students showed that the lack of institutionalised support for academic problems renders them completely incapable of achieving their full potential. The university offers no place exclusively reserved for such students where they can study.
Talking to Dawn, these students pointed out numerous problems. One of their most major concerns was related to the non-availability of educational material, for which they were dependent upon fellow students, who may or may not be willing to help them out on time because of their own pressing engagements.
The blind students – around 15 currently studying at the university – require recorded material on each and every subject, besides a helper to read out a book or anything they are interested in.
“We can’t think of having our own independent notes or do proper research. So, the focus is to get a copy of old notes and have them recorded. There is a small set-up in the English department where recorded material is available on some subjects and help is provided in getting new information recorded, but that is not adequate. Also, the issue is that we fail to get help on time,” a student said.
The lack of timely help is seriously felt during exams. Most of the time, students have to rely on colleagues who, busy in their own activities, often don’t give a positive reply. The issue of finding an appropriate writer for exams is also a big handicap.
Insensitive attitudes
“Teachers are generally sensitive to our needs and at times get the stuff recorded for us. But, unfortunately, the attitude of most class-fellows leaves much to be desired,” a student complained. Referring to an incident, she said that once her guide failed to come up on the day of her field visit and she had to go along with other students. “After a briefing at the site, all the students moved out to see the different sections of the institution and I was left behind. Nobody volunteered to take me around. In fact, I was told that it would be of no use for me to move around and I should rather wait till they all come and brief me on what they observed. I was lucky, however, to get help from a teacher a bit later.”
A step that could greatly assist such students is the installation of JAWS, a commonly available screen reader software. With the help of the software, one can listen to what appears on the computer screen, use the keyboard correctly and can also email. At the moment, there is no such installation in the entire university.
According to Farhat Fatima, a student of the Library and Information Science Department conducting research on the educational facilities available to the blind at KU, the Department of Special Education of the university was also not equipped to facilitate these students. “They have a very small collection of talking books. The screen reader remains non-functional most of the time,” she said, adding that the modern digital lab at KU had no section for the blind. During her research she also came to know that a similar situation existed at most libraries in the city.
About other problems, students told Dawn that physically challenged students need to initially have a guide to get familiar with the new surroundings. They said some arrangement should also be made to make university transport less inconvenient for them. “For instance, it would be convenient if a seat is reserved for us and special instructions are issued to university drivers to exercise a little patience while picking up a disabled student,” they said.
Physical impairment of any kind also prevents such students from independent movement: whether for seeking new sources of knowledge or just for the purpose of recreation. “When I was in my school, specially meant for the blind and deaf, I never felt I was inadequate. All my colleagues were so helpful. Perhaps the shared kindness was rooted in the shared pain. Now, at an institution of higher learning I am reminded again and again that I am deprived,” said a student.
A good initiative
Established by a group of students of the English Department in 1976, Sharafat Ali Cassette Library is the only educational support blind students receive at the university. Deprived of any official assistance, no space has been allocated for the library. The library, which comprises a collection of 5,000 cassettes on different subjects, has moved from one room to another, according to the convenience of teachers.
Talking to Dawn, Professor Amberina Kazi, who has maintained the library over the years, said: “A disability unit is an inherent part of every university abroad and we need to (establish something similar) here. It would be a great service to students if such a unit is established at KU with relevant facilities.”
The initiative in the English Department, she said, had been possible and continued with the support of student volunteers and generous contributions from people. But, this effort now needed to be institutionalised. “We don’t have any staff or specific place where blind students can study. We provide recorded material, blank cassettes and recorders free of charge. Every blind student that comes into contact with us leaves a collection of recorded material that helps other incoming students. Since 1976, 60 students have benefited from the library so far. It does not seem to be a large number, but every drop, every individual counts.”
Commenting on the issue, KU vice-chancellor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui recognised the need for special infrastructure for the physically challenged students and said that the university would plan a facility for them. “There is no denying the fact that such students need assistance. All the staff members, including drivers, are asked to facilitate physically impaired students. No public sector university in Pakistan has a special disability unit, but I think there is a need for that and we will plan something in this regard. We will install the software that could make their job easier.”
Prof Dr Saleem Shehzad, head of the KU admissions committee, told Dawn that though the university could accommodate many disabled students, very few applied. “For instance, of the 2,500 masters’ seats, we can give admissions to 75 disabled students. However, very few apply. Their annual admissions in the university remain between 10 and 15.”