Chair: Prof. Poonam Kumria
Co-ordinator: Dr. BR Alamelu, Associate Professor, Department of English
India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006 (UNCRPD 2006). In our obligation to the Convention and, equally importantly, in line with our respect for human rights, the Indian parliament enacted rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act 2016). Sections 39 and 47 of the RPwd Act 2016 casts an obligation on institutions of higher education to establish Centres for Disability Studies. Owing to the need, Indraprastha College for Women has establish Centre for Disability Studies intending to increase disability awareness among the non-disabled, to train manpower in disability services, and to promote the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities.
The Centre was formally launched on the World Braille Day i.e., 4 January 2023 with a seminar. Prof. Anita Ghai, Professor, School of Human Development, Ambedkar University, Delhi delivered the foundational lecture titled, ‘Disability Studies: An Engaging Practice’. While Mrs. Karuna Shriram, Special Educator and a Social Worker graced the occasion as discussant, and Prof. Rekha Sethi, Principal chaired the event. Dr. BR Alamelu, Associate Professor, Department of English and Founding Coordinator, Centre for Disability Studies detailed the relevance of such Centre today. The Centre is a feather in the cap of the college’s centenary celebrations.
The proposed centre will be an academic unit fostering teaching and research on disability. The vision is to bring synergy between policy framework and academic research.
To foster teaching and research on disability.
To conduct cutting edge research on disability policy, accessibility, inclusion, universal design, assistive devices and technology, etc.
To design and offer courses on disability rights, Indian Sign Language, Inclusive development, Disability and Gender, and other fields relevant for disability studies.
To organize seminars, conferences, workshops and teacher training including faculty development programmes on disability rights, inclusive practices and rehabilitation services.
To undertake research projects on disability research with special emphasis on issues concerned with women with disabilities.
To enter into colaborations with like-minded institutions and organization working in the field of disability both in India and abroad.
To publish the research and teaching material on the themes covered broadly in this proposal.