CROSSING THE DIVIDE:
EMPOWERING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
THROUGH OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATION
ZAHID MAJEED
Assistant Professor
Department of Special Education
Allama Iqbal Open University,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
zahid_majeed@aiou.edu.pk
UNESCO Conference: From Exclusion to Empowerment
24-26 November 2014, New Delhi, India.
Parallel Session 9
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Track-III: Access to Information and Knowledge
Open and Distance Learning Services
for Learners with Disabilities: the
Rights Perspective
Inclusive Education
People with Disabilities: Pakistan
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2.49% of total population (1998 census)
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National Policy for Persons with Disabilities 2002
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Physically Handicapped: 19%
Hearing Impaired: 7.40%
Mentally Challenged: 14%
Visually Impaired: 8.60%
Multiple: 8.21
Others (not classified): 43.33%
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Education Policy 2009: Inclusive Education
 Disabled Persons (Employment and
Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981
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From Exclusion to Empowerment
Educational provisions for 1% of 2.49
 Free Education
 Free Transportation, Food, Uniform and
Books
 Monthly Stipend
 Double Salary for Special Education Teacher
 Cochlear Implementation
 Teacher Training (Pre and In-service)
 Free Medical Facilities
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Students with Special Needs
Few hundred educational institutions up to K-12
 Conventional education system not able to cope the
special needs of disabled students
 AIOU the only institution welcomes special need
students from school education to graduate level.
 The results are encouraging because the ODL
system is much flexible and accommodative for the
students with special needs.
 The SNS mostly used ICT devices and software for
learning and communication
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AIOU enrolled about 500 Students/year with
Special Needs
 Physically
Handicapped
 Hearing Impaired
 Blind/Visually Impaired
 Emotional, Psychological and Behavioural Disordered
 Multiple/Cross Disability
 Support
system in-line with online education
and Web 2.0 technologies for the teachinglearning process of PWD
Allama Iqbal Open University
ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
(AIOU)
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Allama Iqbal Open University
(AIOU) is the first Open University
in Asia.
AIOU is a unique institution in
Pakistan because of its philosophy,
system, approach, functions and
overall structure.
The University with its main campus
at Islamabad and huge network of
regional centers spread all over the
country is serving its clientele all
over Pakistan and in the Middle East
AIOU is a Distance Education
institution, which provides multi
disciplinary education from basic to
doctoral level programs.
ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD,9 PAKISTAN
Faculty at AIOU
Four Faculties
 More than 40 departments
 About 150 Full Time Faculty
 About 80,000 Part Time Tutors
 About 1.3 Million Students
 About 100+ Staff with Special Needs
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 Blind/Visually
Impaired
 Physically Handicapped
 Hearing Impaired
 Emotionally, Psychologically and Behaviorally
Disordered
Facilities/Services for Special Need
Students at AIOU
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Equal Educational
Opportunities
Free Education
Relaxation in Admission
Criteria/Eligibility
Education for Parents,
Spouse and Guardians of
Special Need Students
Free Books
Free Soft-wares
E-Content
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Online Classes for Multiple or
crossed disability Students
Sign language
Content or Material in Braille
Assistant for Writing in
Examination for Blind
Students
Computer Typed Assignments
or final Examination
Assignments, Final
Examination in Braille, on
computer and voice recording
AIOU’s Readiness
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Equal Educational Opportunities
Free Education
Special Need Students’ Friendly Admission Policies
Ramps all over the campus
Accessibility in each department of the university
Online Content
E-Library
E-Examination
Job Opportunities
Workshops/Seminars/Trainings
Experiences at AIOU and in Pakistan
Following new Trends of ODL towards
Inclusion
 Willingness, motivation and attitude of faculty
 Teacher-to-student ratio
 Customized instructional materials
 Special equipment and Training
 Inclusive Education
 Technological advances, especially in adaptive
devices to attach to computers,
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Faculty Readiness
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Positive Attitude
Acceptability
Willingness and Motivation
Knowledge about Special
Need Students
Individual
Differences/Individuality
Assessment (Basic/Screening)
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Formal and Informal
Teaching Methods
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Administrative
Admission Policy
Fee/Scholarships
Academic
Admission
Content/E-Content
Methodology
Evaluation
Making lecture notes
available or providing
annotated reading lists,
Online Learning Services
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Assessment
Medical
Transportation
Faculty Development/Training
Online Information
Accessibility
Equal Opportunities
Use of Technology
Study Support
Resource centers
Guidance & Counseling for Students and Parents
Faculty Readiness…Training…Professional Development
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Assessment/Diagnosis of children with special needs
Identification of special needs children
Formal and informal Assessment
Reading and interpretation of assessment reports
Consultation/Collaboration with colleagues and
professionals
Consultation for support
Participation in discussions
Interaction with schools
Recommendations of others
Collaboration with Experts/colleagues
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Communication and Conversational Skills
Communication with special needs children
Conversation with parents
Holding classroom Discussions
Motivation/Social-emotional and Moral Development
Methods for social development
Making student feel at Ease
Developing positive social atmosphere
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Guidance & Counseling
Guidance to overcome the problems
Counseling sessions
Harmonious and safe working climate
Creativity &Reflective Practice
Corrective measures and Innovation
Applications of theories
Development of Individual Treatment Plan (ITP)
Self reflection
Self-employed learning
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Classroom Management & Organization
Classroom management according to needs of children
Information collection related children with special needs
Maintaining up to date record for ITP
Professional Development
Developing own pedagogical views
Efforts for self professional development
Handling own emotions in difficult situations
Future Planning
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The provision of special counseling for dyslexics
Assessment and Evaluation
Inclusive Education as Specialization
COL MA Special Education Needs/Inclusive
Education
Curriculum Adaptations
Workshops/Seminars/ Conferences
Inclusive Education as Compulsory subject for all
the programs
THANKS FOR LISTENING ME
QUESTIONS PLEASE