Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 26: A three-day online workshop on disabilities, themed ‘Towards Inclusion for persons with disabilities’ and organized by the P G Department of Home Science (Human Development), University of Jammu, concluded today.
During the workshop, the participants had live interactions with resource persons who in spite of their disabilities have been able to carve a niche for themselves. Apart from this, the major themes covered in the workshop included disability etiquettes, guidelines for the assessment of disabilities, early screening and intervention, dynamics of inclusion, the role of teachers in inclusion, and resource room activities.
The workshop was inaugurated by Prof Kusumlata Malik, President of National Federation of the Blind and member of the Women Committee of the World Blind Union. She emphasized the need for creating an inclusive society that is based on principles of equality and accessibility. She stated that if inclusion becomes the cornerstone of the education system it would pave the way for societal inclusion automatically. According to her, empathy and compassion for the disabled is a primary requirement for inclusion.
Prof Rajni Dhingra, Dean Research Studies JU, was the chief guest at the valedictory function. In her address, she stated that inclusion acknowledges and respects human differences. She noted that even though the disabled are an important segment of the social system yet they are often marginalized and discriminated. She said that inclusion of disabled would not only be beneficial for the special individuals but for the humanity as a whole.
Dr Sarika Manhas, Workshop Coordinator and Associate Professor Department of Home Science, JU, informed that the entire workshop was planned and executed based on two premises.
The key resource persons for the workshop were Sukanya Bhan, Multimedia Journalist and Sign Language interpreter; Sandhya Dhar, Founder & Director, JIGER; Dr Bharti Tandon, Associate Professor, College of Education, MIER Institute, Jammu; and Neha Kalra, District Resource Person- Inclusive Education, Jammu. The workshop was attended by students, research scholars, teachers and social workers of repute.
Prof Shashi Manhas (HOD, Home Science), and Prof Samridhi Arora were the other organizers of the workshop.
Follow our WhatsApp channel