This blog was inspired to create an awareness of the ACADEMIC SUPPORT/DISABILITIES LAISON UNIT (ASDLU) at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus. ASDLU has been in existence since 2006. Initially, it was called the Academic Advising/Disabilities Liaison Unit, due to the high failure rate by students during the academic year, increasing the number of applicants with disabilities and the increasing need to provide support for students. Since then, the name has been changed in an effort to include the entire UWI student body including those without physical, sensory, mental/ emotional, cognitive and temporary disabilities. Statistics have shown that in the academic year 2010-2011, the university catered to approximately 150 students, ranging from Arthor Lock Jack Graduate School of Business, UWI Open Campus and the University of the Southern Caribbean.
Services for all Students:
ASDLU provides academic support to all students as follows
- Educational Assessments
- Peer tutoring
- Time Management Techniques
- Examination Strategies
- Workload Management
- Study Skills
- Extended hours for Evening UWI Students
Information is also provided to faculties and staff to easily identify and assist students who are facing difficulties on campus.
Services for students with disabilities,(temporary or permanent)
- Provision of aids and devices such as laptops, usb drives, tape recorders and special software.
- liaison with faculties and departments regarding the special needs of certain students
- Special accommodations for examinations such as a separate room, extra time, scribe or reader.
- Class accommodations such as changing the venue of a lecture from the top floor to the ground floor.
- Special arrangements for parking accommodations.
What is a Disability?
A disability can be defined as a restricted capability to perform particular activities or the inability to perform some or all of the tasks of daily life. A disability may be physical, sensory, mental, emotional, cognitive or even a combination of these.
Types of Disabilities
Physical Disabilities
A physical disability is any impairment which limits the physical function of limbs or motor skills.
Examples include:-
- Cerebral Palsy
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Dyspraxia
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sensory Disabilities
A sensory disability is an impairment of one of the senses such as vision and hearing. However, other senses can be impaired.
Examples include:-
- Blindness or vision impairment
- Deafness or hearing impairment
Mental or Emotional Disabilities
A mental disorder or mental illness is defined as a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjected distress or disability that occurs in an individual which is not part or normal development or culture.
Examples include:-
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Anorexia
- Bipolar
- Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD)
Cognitive Disabilities
Cognitive impairment occurs when problems with thought processes occur. It can include loss of higher reasoning, forgetfulness, leaning disabilities, concentration difficulties, decreased intelligence and other reductions in mental functions. Cognitive impairment may be present at birth or can occur at any point in a person's lifespan.
Examples include:-
- Dyslexia
- Dyscalculia
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHA)
Interacting with People with Disabilities.
Person with disabilities shouldn't be treated any different, they should be acknowledged respectably. By doing this, it is rather easy to fulfill the slogan put forward by ASDLU, that is, to create a campus without barriers. It is therefore mandatory that the University place more emphasis on overcoming the stigmas targeted towards disabled persons. tudents should learn the various ways in which they can assist disabled students:
- Visual Impairment
- Be descriptive. You may have to help orientate people with visual impairments and let them know what is coming up. Ife they are walking, tell them if they have to step up or down, let them know if the door is to their right or left and warn them of possible hazards.
- You do not have to speak loudly to people with visual impairments. Most of them can hear perfectly well.
- Often to read written information for persons with a visual impairment, when appropriate
- If you are asked to guide a person with a visual impairment, often your arm instead of grabbing theirs.
2. Hearing Impairment
- Face people with hearing impairments when you talk to them so they can see your lips.
- Slow the rate at which you speak when you talking to a person with hearing impairment.
- Increase the level of your voice.
- Communicate in writing if necessary.
3.Physical Impairment
- Try sitting or crouching down to the approximate height of people in wheelchairs or scooters when you talk to them.
- Do not lean on a person's wheelchair unless you have their permission-it is their personal space.
- Be aware of what is accessible and what is not accessible to people in wheelchairs.
- Give a push only when asked
4.Intellectual Impairment
- Do not assume the person is not listening just because you are getting no verbal or visual feedback. Ask whether he/she understands or agrees.
- Do not assume you have to explain everything to people with intellectual disabilities. They do not necessarily have a problem with general comprehension.
- Offer to read written material aloud, when necessary.
