INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY: A WAY OUT TO ENSURE QUALITY, EQUITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

The present era is best known as the era of inclusion. In this era one of the most important goals of higher educational institutes is to impart quality education among one and all regardless any discrimination on any grounds in order to envisage the path of building a completely just and inclusive society. Government of India has undertaken numbers of initiatives by framing various acts, legislations, and launching schemes, and starting programmes to ensure quality, equity and accessibility in higher education (HE) for students with disabilities. However, research reveals that out of 722 Indian universities (Current as of 30th June 2015) not even a single one is completely disabled friendly. Research also revealed that only 0.1% students with disabilities are in mainstream educational institutions at the university level (N.C.P.E.D.P., 2004). A student with a disability studying in mainstream educational institutions at university level in India experiences many difficulties in navigating through the obstacle course of the Indian educational system. Problems exist in many areas - course content, trained staff facilities, accessible environment, social stigma, negative attitudes, resources, educational policy, legislations, and schemes, assistive technology and devices as well as the examination and evaluation process. The relative physical inaccessibility of educational institutions, unavailability of accessible content in different forms, lack of trained and sensitive teachers, and the lack of awareness about developments in enabling technologies have hitherto rendered the educational environment itself rather difficult to access. Thus the educational experience at university level often becomes a nightmare for a student with disability. In this regard the need of restructuring university at inclusive line cannot be denied as it is premised on the guiding principle to promote quality, equity, accessibility, student success, and high-quality learning. An inclusive university refers to a stimulating study environment where the student?s individual competence is taken into account and is allowed to develop. A university where respect, loyalty and a positive outlook on people characterize work and relations. By making inclusive university universities can achieve excellence in learning, teaching, student development, institutional functioning, and engagement in local and global communities. However, a high-quality, practical liberal education system must be made possible for all students with disabilities through inclusive university in India in order to achieve the excellence in HE. The present paper is an attempt to highlight the need of restructuring the university in inclusive line. This paper also suggests steps to be taken to create inclusive environment at university considering various existing challenges experienced by the students with disabilities.