After we receive student accommodation forms, we conduct individual need assessment interviews. The assessment is done well before the term begins and is conducted by a specialist external organization. Information obtained during the assessment include:

• Nature of disability and its impact on education
• Any medications students are taking, physiotherapy, etc.
• Previous support at their schools and colleges
• Access to assistive technology
• Appropriate academic and non-academic support (for example, accessible classrooms, accessible hostel rooms and furniture, exam accommodations, in-class support, etc.)
• Based on the assessment report, the requirements of students are shared with concerned departments. We also send emails to teaching faculty before the commencement of each term about students’ needs during classes and exams.

Academic accommodations are legally mandated modifications and adjustments to ensure that a student with a disability gets an equal opportunity to benefit from the educational process. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and depend on a student’s disability and its functional impacts.

Academic accommodations may include:

• Modifications to the curriculum (for example, three-year PGP track)
• Provision of accessible course materials
• Scheduling of classes in accessible classrooms with appropriate seating
• Other modifications that enable students to perform to their potential and live independently on campus

Students are required to inform ODI as soon as possible of any problems or delays in obtaining academic accommodation and services.

Course Design

Course materials, including textbooks, handouts, documents, and exams, are provided to students in accessible formats such as MS Word, PDF, etc. Our office will attempt to obtain copies of handouts, textbooks, etc. from faculty and the Programme Offices to prepare the accessible course materials. To ensure timely delivery of these materials, we request students to contact ODI as soon as they register for a course. Students are ultimately responsible for ensuring that ODI has a copy of the course material.

ODI will attempt to procure an accessible/digital copy of the textbook from the publisher. If an accessible/digital copy is not available, we will ask the student to provide a physical copy of the book for conversion to accessible text.

Please note that the accessible materials are intended to be used by the eligible student only and not to be duplicated and shared with friends, peers, posted online, etc. In case of any breach, the student will no longer be eligible to receive the material in accessible formats.

For students who are unable to take notes due to their disability, ODI assigns peer note-takers who are enrolled in the same class/course. Students should make requests for peer note-takers as early as possible.

To ensure smooth note-taker assignments, we request students to adhere to the following:

Tutors are provided to students who require additional academic support in a specific course(s). Most of our tutors are current IIMB students.

For tutoring support to be effective, we request students to:

• Request a tutor as soon as possible
• Fix an appointment with the tutor to decide a mutually convenient meeting place and tutoring timings
• Be on time for tutoring sessions
• Provide advance notice to tutor of any schedule changes
• Prepare specific questions in advance of the sessions
• Submit the tutor’s timesheet to ODI at the end of term

Reasonable exam accommodations allow students with disabilities to represent their knowledge and perform to their potential. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and may include, but are not limited to:

Placements are facilitated by the Office of Career Development Services (CDS) and the Students’ placement committee. Students are advised to meet the CDS head/representative of the placement committee if they need more clarity about the placement process or if they want to apply to specific companies. The placement committee approaches recruiters from specific companies when desired by the student.

• ODI maintains the list of companies that have hired students with disabilities in the past.
• ODI An email is sent to CDS about the needs of students during the placement process.
• We organize an annual interaction session with alumni. In this session, students receive counseling and career guidance to make informed career choices.

ODI is committed to imbibe a culture in the Institute that provides students with a disability what they need when they need it and as a matter of right, not as a favor. During Orientation Week, we conduct a session on ‘Disability Awareness and Inclusion’ for students; a similar session is conducted once a year for faculty and staff. Any discrimination against Persons with Disabilities or rude/insensitive behavior is taken very seriously.

ODI also conducts various events and speaker series in association with student clubs to raise awareness among the IIMB community.

Any discrimination against Persons with Disabilities or rude/insensitive behavior is taken very seriously.

In terms of infrastructure, most of the campus is accessible, and IIMB’s Estate Office continuously works towards making the entire campus friendly towards those with disabilities. Lecture rooms and faculty blocks are wheelchair accessible. A few hostel rooms have been modified to ensure students using a wheelchair can access them easily. In case an escort needs to stay with the student, accommodation is provided for the escort. Caretakers are also assigned based on individual needs. We provide motorized wheelchairs for students with locomotor disabilities.

Forms

Scribe and Reader

Peer Note-taker Form