OLS-Support Services for Students with Disabilities

Support Services for Students with Disabilities

The office is geared to support learning difficulties due to dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and ADD/ADHD, high functioning autism as well as difficulties related to blindness, deafness, and mobility. It strives to integrate students with disabilities as holistically as possible into the university experience. Through an interactive process, the office works individually with each student to provide access to university classes, programs, and activities.

It should be noted that the mere disclosure/diagnosis of a disability does not automatically entitle a student to receive disability-related accommodations. Each student needs to request learning support for their specific condition and the office will make its best efforts to extend as much support as possible for each course. There is no financial impact on students for receiving the required learning support. We encourage students to identify factors that can help them in managing their learning outcomes despite their difficulties and gain self-advocacy skills to support their needs.

Academic Accommodations

The OLS provides a structured framework for students who seek accommodations (academic adjustments) and remedial support for specific learning challenges. Accommodations are set on a case-by-case basis, individualized to each student and their current needs. These are adaptations to teaching and learning processes that allow a student to manage the learning difficulties faced by them due to a disability. Accommodations may include modifications to academic requirements as necessary to minimize the impact of the disability. Remedial support is an instructional program to help students achieve expected competencies in core academic skills such as literacy and numeracy.

Following are some examples of accommodations and modifications:

1. Curriculum Modifications
2. Attendance Modifications
3. Extension in Assignment Submission
4. Priority Registration
5. Examination-related Support
6. Note-takers and Scribes
7. Lecture Recording
8. Preferential Seating
9. Auxiliary Aids

NOTE: Students are requested to check with the office for policies related to the above-mentioned accommodations.

Accessible Content Request

Students may request their course-related instructional material in an accessible format. Some examples include:

• Computer files or electronic versions of printed instructional materials
• Captioned video material
• Transcriptions of spoken text
• Audio material along with transcriptions, etc.

Students, after consulting with their professors, will need to fill in the Accessible Content Request Form to put in a request for the same. The office will do its best to process the request within three weeks of receiving the form.

Guidelines around Academic Accommodations

• Students need to fill out the Academic Accommodations Request Form (AARF) and Assistive Technology Inquiry Form (ATIF) at the beginning of their first semester at Ashoka. This is a mandatory step even if the student does not anticipate any support for that semester.  The AARF and ATIF will be shared with the student well within time. Students need to email back the filled up form within a week of receiving it.
• The OLS will make every effort to arrange for reasonable accommodations based on a student’s documented disability.
• The OLS accepts documentation that meets the following criteria:
  • The assessment report is not more than 3 years old.
  • The report should include a summary of diagnostic tests, criteria used to make the diagnosis, evaluation results and standardized test scores (wherever applicable), and recommended accommodations supported by the diagnosis.  In the case of physical disabilities, a disability certificate is required.
  • The report should clearly indicate the credentials of the diagnosing professional, if not clear from the letterhead or other forms.
• There is no stipulation as to when a student must identify themselves as having a disability; however, adequate notice for the provision of accommodations is necessary. For the accommodations to come into effect, the respective faculty members should receive the information at least two weeks in advance. Thus, students need to plan ahead accordingly.
• Accommodations will not be granted in retrospect.
• The OLS will convey the accommodations to the respective faculty members, keeping the student informed throughout the process.
• The student is responsible for contacting the OLS if the accommodations accorded are not implemented in an effective or timely manner.
• Accommodations accorded do not form part of the student’s academic record. The transcripts do not reflect any support from the OLS.
• The OLS reserves all rights to grant and terminate accommodations based on the need and feasibility of the courses.
• Besides providing academic accommodations, the OLS members work with the students at an individual level to help them with the required academic skills.

Confidentiality Note

The office ensures that all information regarding a student is kept confidential. Any information regarding a disability shall be considered confidential and shall be shared with others within the institution on a need-to-know basis only. No one has immediate access to student files except the OLS team.

Campus Accessibility

The campus has been thoughtfully designed to be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, ensuring that everyone, including students, faculty, and staff members, can seamlessly explore the campus’s offerings. Adhering to UGC guidelines, the campus provides essential amenities such as ramps and accessible toilets to cater to individuals with diverse disabilities. By following these guidelines, the campus fosters an inclusive environment, per UGC directives, to create a supportive and equitable space for all. These measures go beyond mere compliance; they enhance the overall campus experience and demonstrate a sincere dedication to inclusivity and diversity. The shuttle service at Ashoka is also made accessible to the physical disability students, faculties, and staff. This commitment is reflected in the provision of special attachments, such as wheelchair ramps, to the vehicles and shuttle service. These modifications aim to facilitate the seamless transportation of students, faculty, and staff with physical disabilities, underscoring the university’s dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all members of the community.

The Indoor Navigation Project

To further the Ashokan vision for inclusive education, the OLS has decided to initiate the indoor mapping of the entire campus for an efficient wayfinding experience for everyone. While this idea initially stemmed from the struggles of the visually impaired students, it will be helpful for other first-time visitors, such as people who face challenges with orientation and spatiality, and all the university residents in general.

We are working with iWayPlus, an indoor navigation service provider based out of IIT Delhi, to develop an application-based navigation solution. The project is currently in a pilot stage and should be available by April 2024.