Dignity for the differently-abled at IP College for Women

Differently-abled students have always found difficulty in accessing public spaces in educational institutions.

However, such students at Delhi University's Indraprastha College for Women have no reasons to worry, as the college has been providing a multitude of facilities to differently-able students since 2013.

Established in 1924, IP College is the oldest women's college in DU and offers a wide range of courses.

On entering the college premises, tactile tracks can be seen adorning several areas, which provide students with physical disability much needed help in navigating inaccessible areas in the college.

The college also has five per cent reservation for disabled students.

Several ramps have also been erected for students who use wheelchairs.

The College has in its possession three wheelchairs, out of which one has been deputed to the medical room for emergencies.

The authorities have taken special measures to help visually-impaired students, providing them with computers with special Braille software for the blind, which helps them use the computer without any guidance.

The College canteen has also taken into consideration issues faced by visually-impaired students and introduced special Braille menus.

"The College has come up with these facilities to help out differently-abled students," says Dr Manaswami Yogi, the coordinator of Mass Media in the College.

Talking to Millennium Post, several differently-abled students appreciated how the facilities were improving their lives.

"Tactile tracks are really helpful. It saves a lot of time as we do not have to wait for someone to help us, and we can move around the college on our own," said a visually-impaired student.

Moreover, the campus of IP College is spacious and well-maintained. It has a tennis court, a basket ball court, a football field, a rock-climbing wall and even a swimming pool – a facility provided by no other college in Delhi University.