Faculty Development Programme on Serving Students with Disabilities in Open, Distance and Online Learning

सार

In terms of educational needs, it is invidious to treat disabled students as a separate category. Rather, these students fall along with a range of learner differences and share similar challenges and difficulties that all students face in getting an education. Sometimes the barriers are more severe for them. Arguably, in the long run, suitable adjustments made in advance for the non-disabled students, such as well-prepared handouts, instructions given in writing as well as verbally, notes put online, and variety and flexibility in forms of assessment, are simply good teaching and learning practices which benefit all students. One unintended consequence of these (disability) support mechanisms is that as departments and institutions introduce more flexible learning and alternative ways of assessment for disabled students, demand is likely to rise for giving greater flexibility for all students. Many students with disabilities are seeking admission to various programmes / courses offered by IGNOU. These students need some special/additional services and aids in order to realise independent forms of studying and living.