Two day workshop ‘Peer support for students with disabilities’ inaugurated at Jammu University

Disability Initiatives, University of Jammu in collaboration with the Office of Programme Coordinator, NSS, JU is organizing a two day workshop for student volunteers, ‘Peer support for students with disabilities’. The inaugural function of the workshop was held today, where Prof. Rahul Gupta, Registrar, JU was the chief guest and Ms. Sandhya Dhar, Disability Rights Activist was the Guest of Honor. Speaking on the occasion Prof. Rahul Gupta mentioned that the University is making earnest efforts to make the campus disabled friendly. He exhorted upon the student participants to develop empathy for those with disabilities, and volunteer to become scribes, amanuensis and readers for these students. He mentioned that the peer is an extremely important group for helping students with disabilities in their academic pursuits. He further mentioned that SWOT analysis should be conducted to understand the challenges of this group of students.

Ms. Sandhya Dhar shared the lived experience of being a person with disability. She narrated the challenges encountered in her life journey as a child, youth, student and an adult. She emphasized on the need of creating sensitive and accessible environment in all possible public spaces. She hoped that the students after the workshop will go back as messengers of inclusivity in their own colleges and institutions.

Earlier, Prof. Sarika Manhas, Coordinator Disability Initiatives, JU in her welcome address mentioned that the UGC Accessibility Guidelines , 2022 also emphasize on training peers as buddies and creating an equitable environment in all higher education institutions. She further stated that the youth have a major responsibility of bringing sustainable social change where those with and without disability are treated as equal.

Dr. Hema Gandotra, Programme Coordinator, NSS, JU while elaborating on the objectives of the workshop stressed on the role of NSS volunteers for building an inclusive environment for the persons with disabilities in the society. She further highlighted on the relevance of the moto of NSS, ‘Not me but you’ in the present scenario and urged the volunteers to carry forward this moto not just during their student life but rather should imbibe it as a lifelong principle.

The formal vote of thanks was accorded by Dr. Neelam Choudhary, Faculty DD & OE, JU

The inaugural session was followed by three technical sessions, with Ms. Sukanya Bhan (Sign Language Interpreter) talking about ‘Disability etiquettes’ and Ms. Swati Basotra (Motivational speaker and life coach) focusing on ‘Developing empathy towards those with disability’.

Prominent among others who attended the inaugural were Prof. Namrata Sharma (Convener JU CASH and LMS), Dr. Monika Bhardwaj (The Law School), Dr. Nisha Kapoor (School of Biotechnology), Dr. Ritu Mahajan (School of Biotechnology), Prof. Ramni Gupta (Deptt. of Physics), Dr. N. Suresh Rao (Deptt. of Computer Science), and Mr. Ajay (Assistant Registrar).

 More than 70 NSS volunteers from different affiliated Govt and B.ed colleges of Nowsehra, Rajouri, Billawar, Bishnah, Sidhra, Marh, Mendhar, Akhnoor, Ghagwal and other parts of Jammu division are participating in this workshop.

Team of research scholars of Department of Home Science and Sociology -Ms. Vinish Malik, Ms. Meghna Sharma, Ms. Vishawdeepika, Ms. Vineet Kour, Ms. Kehkashan, Ms. Neha Uttam and Ms Manu Saini helped in the smooth conduct of the workshop.