KSU is House of Expertise in Special Education: Official
King Saud University pays much attention to students with disabilities. Yet, sometimes, resolutions come out late, says Dr. Sahar Al-Khashramy, an associate professor of special education and director of disabilities service center, in an interview run with Resalah newspaper.
Resalah: How was people with disabilities unit run before you?
Dr. Sahar: It was run by a number of social workers and administrative personnel. It provided somebody to write on behalf of the visually-impaired students; coordinated with escorts; prepared a place for students in need of a certain place; and provided Braille printers for those need them.
Resalah: What are the accomplishments made recently?
Dr. Sahar: Since I took up the office, I worked on developing the by-then unit services. The development process started with deep review on people with disabilities service centers in international universities. Then, a development project was presented to the university and was approved.
Enumerating the accomplishments, they run as follows:
- A website was launched for disabilities service centre, the new name of special needs unit. The website was launched by H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman;
- Coordination between the center and the university was conducted to provide support and help to students with disabilities. The services covered admission and registration; maintenance; library; nutrition; safety and dormitories;
- A Golf car was provided to pick up students with disabilities on campus;
- A full-page was dedicated on Resalah newspaper, to disseminate awareness programs. Reporters from special education were assigned to edit and write up for the page under my superintendence. Resalah is issued on Braille way now on a regular basis in tandem with student deanship;
- The door was open for voluntary work and the volunteers were ready to help students with disabilities. The figure of volunteers was 135;
- Training sessions were conducted on campus, the first of which ended last week. It was Reading and Writing on Braille. It was attended by 135 personnel and students;
- A three-day awareness fair was held to disseminate awareness amongst undergraduates and staff members;
- A Canadian expert came on campus as Mrs. Betty Dion, chair of The Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES). She came to give advice on the buildings and provided a file on the universal designs of buildings for people with disabilities;
- Cooperation is run with special education department in the ministry of education and disabilities service center in Qatar.
Resalah: What were the results of the study you conducted on students with disabilities on campus?
Dr. Sahar: It came out with a number of results, foremost of which was that sharp shortage in services offered for students with disabilities on campus.
Resalah: What about support given by the university?
Dr. Sahar: Lucky, we are since we have a rector like professor Dr. Abdullah Al-Othman. Whenever the center submits a request on something, it is approved quickly. Yet, sometimes, resolutions came up late, a matter which made a pressure on me in person. But, committees are now forged to make things go easy.
Resalah: What do you think about the future of Disabilities Service Centre?
Dr. Sahar: I am optimistic that King Saud University (KSU) would be a pioneer in supporting students with disabilities and would be a house of expertise to other universities. I aspire that students with disabilities would overcome all environmental problems and use technology to conduct their researches.
Resalah: What about the series of students with disabilities?
Dr. Sahar: The centre has compiled 17 booklets to disseminate knowledge on people with disabilities. The series is reviewed and proofread by a number of teaching staff on and off campus. Some of them are psychologists, sociologies, engineers etc.
Resalah: A final word?
Dr. Sahar: I aspire that all requirements that guarantee quality of services offered are fulfilled, foremost of which is providing a building for people with disabilities. I am looking forward to have the power to hire qualified personnel.