To mark Dyslexia Awareness Month at Ashoka Campus, the Office of Learning Support (OLS) collaborated with student clubs and societies to promote a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and foster inclusion. The “Dyslexia Myth Busters” trivia game, held in partnership with Her Campus, allowed participants to guess whether statements about dyslexia were myths or facts, increasing awareness. OLS partnered with the Ashoka Students Behavioural Insights Team (ABIT), releasing a dyslexia-themed newsletter with practical tips for creating a neurodivergent-friendly environment. To conclude the month, OLS hosted a grand celebration of neurodiversity with an interactive installation, “The Ashokan Tapestry.” Participants tied threads to shared experiences, emphasizing unity of the Ashoka community. Mad Batter offered a dyslexia-themed trivia game and red-themed treats, while Siyahi organized a face-painting activity highlighting accomplished individuals with dyslexia. Overall, the OLS’ endeavours successfully promoted acceptance and inclusion throughout the month, with increased engagement from students.
Workshop on Indian Sign Language
Each year, September 23 is observed as the International Day of Sign Languages. To commemorate this day, the Office of Learning Support hosted a Workshop on Indian Sign Language (ISL) on September 26, 2023. The workshop was open for all faculty, students and staff at Ashoka. Sign languages are often sidelined from the mainstream. This interactive workshop debunked this perspective, introducing it as any other language, not necessarily associated with just the deaf community. The facilitators shared insights that expanded knowledge about deaf culture and inclusion, as well as the basics of sign language for the 50 attendees. It was very well received, with several students, staff and faculty members actively engaged with the hands-on training, and asked questions to understand deaf culture better. A portion of this workshop concentrated on the need for sign languages to evolve so as to better integrate folks with hearing and speech impairments into workplaces and society, which was a step undertaken by the facilitators after years of extensive research and working with the deaf community. At the end of the session, the sign language experts engaged the participants in an activity, which ensured their sustained curiosity and interest.
The workshop was facilitated by Société Generale, in collaboration with ISL experts from V-shesh.
Training and Workshops for the Incoming Student Cohort
On August 4, 2023, the OLS team conducted a workshop with the students who were part of the Academic Bridge Programme (ABP). The session was filled with activities and interactive exercises for the students to learn more about themselves, their strengths as learners, and how they can leverage them in academic situations at Ashoka. The students spent time understanding their learning styles and were encouraged to delve deep into what they meant. The OLS also gave a glimpse into what life at Ashoka would look like after the semester began for these students. The session’s target was to foster self-awareness among the students and develop skills that would help them learn better and make the most of their time at the University.
The OLS conducted a training session for the RAcohort for the 2023-24 academic year on August 14, 2023. As an extension to the conversation that the OLS has had with the RAs over the past semesters, this session was instrumental in the exploration and ideation of new and better ways for the two parties to work together. Brainstorming the ways in which the collaboration between the OLS and the RAs can be strengthened and better utilized for fostering the inclusion of students with disabilities in the residence and campus life became a major focus of this session. The RAs participated enthusiastically by asking pertinent questions and coming up with suggestions to make it happen. The session and the engagement of the participants set the tone for the coming academic year, which shows great promise on the front of the inclusion and integration of diverse students into the culture of Ashoka.
The session with the Cohort Leaders for the incoming undergraduate batch held on August 16, 2023, covered the broad aspects of the office’s work. The participants were told about the OLS’ functions, how they can identify any student who may require the office’s assistance, and how they can work with their respective cohorts to make their initial time at Ashoka more pleasant and inclusive. The Cohort Leaders were encouraged to reach out to the office to plan for the accessibility of the variety of activities and exercises being planned by them.
As a part of Orientation Week 2023, the OLS conducted a session titled ‘Inclusive Education at Play’ to generate awareness and sensitize students from the incoming undergraduate batch about the myriad diversities that surround us in terms of race, class, gender, disabilities and other markers of social identities. Led by Reena Gupta, the interactive session contained activities and discussions that encouraged the students to reflect on the impact their identities have on their actions and experiences, value diversity and practice inclusion in their day-to-day lives. It also provoked them to challenge stereotypes related to disabilities and other markers of identity. The highlight of the session was the ‘Voices’ segment, in which students with disabilities at Ashoka and those who have worked with the office shared their experiences and messages with the new students. It helped giving a glimpse into the ways in which the office interacts and engages with the students, and how they can contribute to the community.
The Future of Disability Inclusion in Higher Education: Conclave 2023
With a vision to make higher education more inclusive in India and create an environment that empowers differently-abled students, the OLS hosted a conclave on August 10, 2023. It witnessed the participation of stakeholders from the Central Government and non-governmental organisations, as well as representatives from various higher education institutions, including IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIIT Banglore, IGNOU, O.P. Jindal Global University, St. Xavier’s College, Ambedkar University, BITS Pilani, Thapar University, Azim Premji University, Plaksha University, Krea University, SRM University and Bennett University.
Delivering the keynote address, Vineet Singhal, Director of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, stated that despite a policy of reservation in higher education, we still lag far behind in making the environment all-inclusive for differently abled students. He remarked that access to both physical and digital infrastructure and inadequate curriculum delivery methods continue to be the biggest barriers. Talking about the conclave, he stated that such deliberations by stakeholders are necessary as they offer valuable insights to the government.
Echoing the sentiment, Dr Manju Singh, former Joint Secretary, New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, University Grants Commission (UGC), stated that the journey towards inclusion has just begun, and shed light on the NEP perspective.
Talking about Ashoka University’s vision towards inclusion, Somak Raychaudhury, Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University, said, “We firmly believe that differently-abled students should never be prevented from attaining a world-class education. This conclave is part of many dialogues that we plan to take forward, creating pathways for the exchange of best practises, experiences, and research among institutions, enabling us to collectively improve.” He further remarked, “At Ashoka University, we lay equal emphasis on addressing invisible forms of different abilities, such as chronic illnesses or neuro-divergence. It is crucial that we build capacities across campuses in the country to both identify and address such invisible forms.”
Talking about the progress made by the university, Reena Gupta, Director, Office of Learning Support, Ashoka University, shared that at least 3% of the entire student body on the Ashoka campus comprises differently-abled students today. She further stated that the university has robust systems that enable mobility, accommodations, learning aids, and support during their study years at Ashoka. Also, over the years, the culture on campus has evolved to a level where the entire student community now plans to integrate accessibility features into all their events. Going forward, they want to build multi-stakeholder partnerships to make disability inclusion a norm in higher education in India.
The conclave also featured a workshop titled, ‘Unpacking the Vision of Inclusive Higher Education through the Lens of Disability,’ moderated by Neha Trivedi, Founder, Spandan: Inclusion and Accessibility Consultancy Services. The participants deliberated in focused sub-groups to generate solutions for a wide range of challenges, such as addressing social stigmas and closing gaps in research, support services, or recruitment processes.
The Office of Learning Support at Ashoka University is developing a white paper on improving inclusivity in higher education in India. The conclave focused on building synergy and gathering insights from representatives and experts, facilitating the development of the paper. The university aims to submit these synthesised suggestions to the government in the future.
Neurodiversity Initiative: Volume 4 | Summer 2023
The Office of Learning Support concluded the fourth volume of the Neurodiversity Initiative on July 31, 2023. Started in 2020, the Neurodiversity Initiative is the Office’s annual summer newsletter. Since its inception, there have been 3 volumes of the newsletter, with the release of the fourth one this summer. The newsletter aims to raise awareness and start a healthy discourse on the inclusion and acceptance of neurodiversity and disabilities in the Ashoka community.
This time, the newsletter dived deeper into the intricacies of neurodiversity, and its overlap with different avenues. It looked at the themes of disability inclusion and representation, and through this lens, explored different arenas. These included a close-up look at labels and terminologies, fashion, beauty, pop culture, social media, and the art world, before zooming into the Ashoka University campus itself. In the Office’s continuous endeavours to maximise accessibility, this year also saw the release of audio versions of each issue for the first time. The fourth volume of Neurodiversity Initiative can be accessed here.
YIF Orientation
The Office Of Learning Support, led by Reena Gupta (Director) conducted an orientation session for the incoming batch of YIF ’24 on July 26, 2023. The session started with activities sensitizing the students about the stigmas attached to stereotypes. The students were briefed about the vision of establishing this office and its growth over the past 7 years. They were also oriented about the several pioneering initiatives of the office, as well as all the areas of engagement of the office. Through interactive exercises and questions, the fellows showed enthusiasm and curiosity to learn more about the Office’s functions and resources. They were informed about the ways in which they can associate and seek help from the Office. The session was followed by a Q and A, which was engaging and informative for the attendees.
Me as a Learner – A Session with Lodha Genius Programmestudents
On June 2, 2023, Reena Gupta (Director, OLS) conducted an interactive session with the Lodha Genius Programme cohort. Titled Me as a Learner, this session delved into the particulars of learning behaviours through easy-to-understand and relatable ideas. The students were encouraged to reflect on their qualities and ‘superpowers’ to understand how these can be harnessed in teaching-learning environments such as the Lodha Genius Programme and beyond. Through interactive exercises and humour, the session tackled the concept of effective learning and the skills and strategies that can enhance learning experiences. Throughout the session, the students asked pertinent questions, showcasing great engagement with the topic. They also acknowledged the material covered in this session as an important supplement to the coursework they were doing during the Programme.
Sessions with YSP Counselors and Lodha Genius Programme TAs
On May 16, 2023, Reena Gupta (Director, OLS) conducted one session each with the cohorts of YSP Counselors and TAs for the Lodha Genius Programme. The aim of both sessions was to generate awareness among the participants about diverse learners and how they can support and nurture their diverse needs. With the Young Scholars Programme seeing the participation of students with disabilities for the first time, the session equipped the counselors with tools and resources through which they can contribute towards these students’ effective engagement and integration. Areas like residence life, recreational activities, as well as academics were addressed. Both sessions saw active participation and engagement from the attendees, who asked several relevant questions and were committed to the cause of inclusion.
Learning About Learning – A Session with the YSP 2023 Cohort
Conducted on May 24, 2023, this session touched upon the skills students learn in schools and the ways to develop them further, with the catchy ‘4-3-2-1 Plan’. It was designed to empower students with creating their own toolkits to become more effective and confident learners. The session delved into different learning styles and behaviours, helped them identify the styles that apply to them and how they can harness them effectively. Reena Gupta discussed some important strategies that help us learn better and are easy to adapt. She also highlighted the need of developing certain skills that can go a long way in enhancing one’s journey as a learner. Through interactive exercises and humour, the session tackled the concept of effective learning, which helped the students understand how they can make the most of their time at the Young Scholars Programme, and continue to do so in any teaching-learning environment they may encounter in the future. The students recognised this session as a novel one-of-a-kind one and mentioned how ‘nobody ever taught them how to learn’, which is a crucial skill to have.
Training to Resident Assistants
The Office of Learning Support conducted an in-depth training session with Resident Assistants (RAs) and Resident Assistant Mentors in January 2023. The Resident Assistantship is a paraprofessional role with the target of instilling a feeling of community among Ashoka students. RAs are senior-year students from the current batches and form an integral part of Ashoka University’s residential life staff. The interactive session covered several key areas in which RAs can intervene and facilitate the inclusion of all students. The session began with an overview of the Office and the services it provides. It explored the avenues for RAs to liaison with the OLS to support their residents, organize accessible, conscious, and sensitive events and understand when to redirect any students to the Office. To this end, several questions exercises, and possible situations were discussed. The RAs also received information and resources on diverse disabilities and how they can inculcate inclusive practices in their day-to-day responsibilities.
Inclusion Through Innovation: Designing Barrier-free Environments
The Office of Learning Support, E-Club and Centre for Entrepreneurship organized “Inclusion Through Innovation: Designing Barrier-free Environments” on December 9, 2022. The keynote was delivered by Pramath Raj Sinha, Founder and Trustee, Ashoka University. The panel discussion consisted of lauded experts and entrepreneurs: Sangeeta Robinson (CSO, PVR Cinemas), Gita Dang (Chairperson, SCPwD), Shakul Sonker (Co-founder, I-Stem), and Virat Bhatia (MD, Apple India). It was moderated by Dr. Priyank Narayan (Founding Director, InfoEdge Centre for Entrepreneurship).
The speakers set the tone in line with this year’s theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities: “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”. The Ashoka community drew insights on making inclusion and belongingness possible for all in their spaces. Students participated in a pitch competition judged by the esteemed panelists, presenting various solutions related to challenges faced by students with disabilities.
Walk4Dyslexia
On Sunday, October 30, 2022, ‘Walk 4 Dyslexia’ was organised in New Delhi by several organisations and stakeholders working closely towards enabling inclusive spaces and supporting individuals with dyslexia throughout different stages in life. The Office of Learning Support (OLS), Ashoka University was one of the partners in this. Team OLS participated in this walk, which was also attended by organisation leaders, special educators, corporate heads, and most importantly, students and adults with dyslexia themselves.
The purpose of the event was to make learning differences like dyslexia publicly known, spread awareness, and start a conversation on acceptance and inclusion. Attendees carried several creative placards and banners to drive home this message.
Dyslexia Awareness Month: We all learn differently
As a part of the Dyslexia Awareness Month, the OLS hosted an informal conversation with Reena Gupta (Founding Director, OLS) and Chandana Singh (Founder, Ashoka University; Consultant, Advocacy for Dyslexia) on Tuesday, October 4. Titled “We all learn differently”, the conversation centered on dyslexia and learning differences, and how they manifest when students are in educational institutions. The hosts and the attendees participated in a meaningful discussion on their encounters with dyslexia in their personal and professional lives, their ideas about fostering a culture of inclusion in classrooms, as well as the collective responsibility of allyship. Members of the staff as well as the student community participated in this session, which helped OLS take the cause of inclusion and normalization of differences further.
Inclusive Education at Play
As a part of Orientation Week 2022, the OLS conducted a session titled ‘Inclusive Education at Play’ to generate awareness and sensitize students from the incoming undergraduate batch about the myriad diversities that surround us in terms of race, class, gender, disabilities and other markers of social identities. Led by Reena Gupta, Founding Director of the Office of Learning Support, Ashoka University, the interactive session contained activities and discussions that encouraged the students to reflect on the impact their identities have on their actions and experiences, value diversity and practice inclusion in their day-to-day lives. It also provoked them to challenge stereotypes related to disabilities and other markers of identity. The highlight of the session was the ‘Voices’ segment, in which students with disabilities at Ashoka and those who have worked with the office shared their experiences and messages with the new students.
Inclusion in Higher Education: Leadership Summit 2022
On August 5, 2022, the Office of Learning Support (OLS) at Ashoka University convened the first Summit on the inclusion of students with disabilities in higher education. The summit was a major milestone for the OLS as it initiated a much-needed deliberation around best inclusive practices, and helped spearhead collaboration with like-minded institutions that aspire to put inclusion at the forefront of their academic and campus activities. The idea was to create a plan and establish resource and support structures in higher education institutions (HEIs). The Summit also offered a useful platform to discuss avenues for research on accessibility and enhanced participation of qualifying students with disabilities at HEIs.
Eminent speakers and panelists delved into discussions on policies, solutions to major systemic and infrastructural barriers, research and technological advancements and the sharing of best inclusive practices and key learnings from various institutions already on this journey. Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was a keynote speaker at the summit. Speaking at the summit, he said, “Support system for students with disabilities is essential for India’s growth.” Dr Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities (AIU) also delivered a keynote address at the summit. This Summit was designed to be an event in which university leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders connected and shared education models based on the concepts of accessibility and inclusion. The sessions touched upon the steps taken by the govt. and regulatory bodies; lived experiences of the students; a parent’s perspective; respective roles played by the faculty members, senior management, external support service providers, innovators, policy makers and awareness advocates. The summit also focused on the role of technology, corporates and society at large in addressing the challenges. Overall, it accelerated progress towards implementing inclusive practices across all HEIs and in workspaces in India.
Click here to access the recording of the live stream.
Neurodiversity Initiative: Volume 3 | Summer 2022
At the beginning of June 2022, the OLS returned with the third volume of its summer newsletter, Neurodiversity Initiative. The weekly newsletter was started two summers ago to raise awareness about neurodiversity and diverse learning conditions among the Ashoka community. The past two volumes of Neurodiversity Initiative spoke about pertinent topics that attempted to demystify and destigmatise neurodiversity and learning concerns. They helped us see disabilities in a new light by sharing stories of success, and highlighting not just the challenges, but also the
strengths of people with diverse learning conditions. The idea was also to encourage Ashokans to implement inclusive practices that make neurodiverse folks feel more at home.
This time, the newsletter brought forth stories, lived experiences and perspectives of people who could lend us some first-hand insight into what living with a disability, and navigating it is like. Through these narratives, the OLS nudged the Ashoka community to become more acquainted with neurodiversity and disabilities, and the myriad ways in which they manifest in individuals.
Connecting with Differences: A Session with Ashoka Staff Members
Along with the Human Resources Team, the Office of Learning Support conducted a session titled, “Connecting with Differences: Inclusion at Workplace” on 20th May 2022 with the University staff members. The session was facilitated by Reena Gupta, Director, Office of Learning Support, and aimed to help the attendees reflect on their individual learning patterns, understand the diversity amongst team members and around them, and discuss the ways in which the staff members can contribute towards building an inclusive and nurturing work environment for everyone. This was the first time the office had engaged directly with the staff on this topic. The session was well-received, and acted as a platform to brainstorm solutions to make Ashoka a more inclusive and diverse workplace.
Every year, April is observed as World Autism Awareness Month, with an aim to support the creation of fulfilling lives and relationships for persons with autism. This month also acts as a marker of the work that has been done so far, and the road that lies ahead of us in our pursuit of enabling the inclusion and acceptance of persons with autism in our university. To observe this month, the OLS planned a series of events and activities to promote and foster feelings of warmth and acceptance among the Ashoka community, specifically in the context of appreciating and accepting neurodiversity around us.
As a kickstart, the OLS put up posters across the campus listing a few ways in which we can extend a hand of friendship to our peers who are on the autism spectrum. The idea was to encourage the Ashoka community to pause for a moment and engage with the poster to understand and implement some of the inclusive practices highlighted through it, so as to make our neurodiverse peers feel more at home at Ashoka.
On April 12, the OLS had invited two organizations, Action for Autism (AFA) and Action for Ability Development and Inclusion (AADI), for the Spring Haat organized by the Student Life Office. Both the organizations set up their stalls, showcased the products made by people with autism and other disabilities, and engaged with various students, staff, and faculty at the stalls. Along with this, there was an interactive activity organized to explore the common understanding of autism amongst the Ashoka community members and put down questions that might have about it. The purpose was to initiate a conversation around autism and neurodiversity on the Ashoka campus. Later, the responses were collated, the Ashoka community was encouraged to reflect on their connotations, and common questions were addressed for the purpose of increasing awareness about autism.
The OLS encourages those curious to learn more about autism or create inclusive spaces around themselves to reach out to the office, for the month may have drawn to a close, but the dialogue on autism must continue.
Virtual Conference | The Dyslexic Mind: Thinking Differently About Higher Education
One of the greatest milestones for the OLS this year has been organising the first-ever conference on the inclusion of students with dyslexia in higher education institutions in India. The virtual conference aimed to spotlight dyslexia through lived experiences, explore its acceptance in HEIs in India and look at its future in the realm of employment. It brought together academicians, practitioners, industry experts, parents, students, advocates, and policymakers to share best practices, knowledge and lived experiences to enable effective support systems for students with dyslexia across the HEIs.The idea was that this would further facilitate employers and industry leaders to capture the talent of people with dyslexia and achieve greater organisational productivity.
The conference hosted lauded keynote speakers and panelists consisting of experts in the field, and leaders and representatives from academia and corporates in the US and India. One of the panels hosted adults with dyslexia who have made a significant mark in their chosen areas of work. Other discussions centred around setting up the systems in place to encourage students with dyslexia to complete their higher education journey with confidence and contribute creatively to the ever-changing workspace globally. The conference was well-received by the audience and successfully started a dialogue on dyslexia and higher education in the Indian context. It also put forth Ashoka University as an educational institute that holds inclusion of students with diverse learning needs as one of its core values.
Click here to watch the livestream recording of the conference.
International Week of Deaf People
On account of the International Week of Deaf people, the OLS organized a workshop titled “HandSpeak: Demystifying Deaf Culture and Sign Language” on September 25, 2021. Led by disability experts and sign language trainers from V-Shesh Co, the workshop aimed at demystifying common myths associated with deaf culture and sign language through interactive exercises. At the same time, it provided participants with hands-on training on basic elements of the sign language used in everyday interactions, and employed fun and engaging ways to express emotions and body gestures using the nuances of sign language.
Ashoka staff members, students, and faculty joined the workshop and actively participated to learn more about sign language, deafness and the associated Indian context. The workshop made use of trivia, audience participation and a Q&A session to debunk common misconceptions and inform people about deafness, all of which was well-received by the participants.
NeuroDiversity and Ableism Webinar
As a part of Orientation Week 2020, the OLS conducted a webinar to create awareness and sensitize students from the incoming batch about various types of diversities in terms of race, class, gender, social identities around us. In doing so, we also introduced the concept of “Neurodiversity”, which aimed at creating awareness about various forms of cognitive, physical, and language diversities around us.
As a part of this webinar, we also invited a very special guest, Mr George Abraham, CEO, Score Foundation, and the founding chairman of the World Blind Cricket Council. He narrated his inspiring life journey and talked about what it was like for him as a person with 100% blindness to navigate his undergraduate journey at St. Stephens College, University of Delhi. He also provided certain practical insights into what all of us can do at an individual level to embrace all forms of diversities around us.
World Sight Day
October 8th is observed as World Sight Day every year.
The OLS took this opportunity to further knowledge about visual disabilities and the need to break the barriers that students with visual disabilities face in accessing higher education in India. In doing so, it highlighted the need for the promotion of a conducive learning environment for persons with visual disabilities in higher education institutions.
International Dyslexia Awareness Month
The month of October is observed as Dyslexia Awareness Month every year. On account of this, the OLS presented a Student Speaker Series, where Ashoka students with Dyslexia came forward and provided profound insights into their own experiences while navigating their academic journeys at Ashoka.
International Deaf Awareness Week
The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 23rd September as the International Day of Sign Languages in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf. The theme for the 2020 International Day of Sign languages was “Sign Languages Are for Everyone!”
With the entire week (Sept 21 -25) being celebrated as the International Week of Deaf Awareness, the OLS organized an interactive session on demystifying deafness through understanding the deaf culture and sign language. P Rajasekharan, co-founder of V-shesh, along with his team members, taught simple signs used in everyday conversations, fun and engaging ways to tell a story using sign language, and much more. This introductory session on sign language was well received by the students and staff at Ashoka.
NeuroDiversity Initiative
As a liberal space that values each individual as a significant entity in enriching the educational experience on campus, inclusivity and diversity are significant values of the Ashokan ethos. The human brain is a fascinating entity and Ashoka is a space shared by people with diverse minds. It is now time to value each mind – for all minds matter.
During Summer 2020 and 2021, the Office of Learning Support, along with a team of interns, launched the “NeuroDiversity Initiative”. As a part of this initiative, a series of newsletters were prepared to create awareness about the diverse minds that encompass our Ashoka community.
