About CSS

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The year 2008 brings great news for visually challenged students in Pakistan as Government College University (GCU) establishes a Centre for Special Students (CSS). This is the first ever, such center at college or university level established in Pakistan which aims at assisting the visually challenged students in order to eliminate their educational barriers. The number of visually impaired students registered at present from first-year to PhD are about 32.

The credit for this centre goes to Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab, the then Vice Chancellor of GCU who is the visionary behind this project. He took personal interest in initiating, planning and arranging the funds for this centre. In opening this centre not only has he facilitated the blind students in their learning, he has also provided them with an equal opportunity to become useful citizens in the society.

The Centre for Special Students (CSS) is attached with GCU Library for IT based services and administrative affairs.

Facilities

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The centre offers all the major facilities which the blind students generally require in order to meet their educational demands. Some of the major facilities provided by (CSS) are mentioned below:  

1- Computer Training Classes for Blind Computer Learners

The blind students are given special training in the centre to elevate their understanding regarding the use of computer and specially designed softwares that are widely used all over the world by the blind computer users.

At this modern age, the use of technology has minified most of the problems of the visually impaired people. The main idea, thus, is to train more and more blind students so that they may take the best out of the technology to diminish their educational dependency. For this very cause, the centre is playing a substantial part by promoting the use of technology for blind and giving them proper training to be heavily benefited by it.

2- Solutions for Braille Related Issues

Some blind students in the GCU campus take their exams using the Braille format. The Braille machine, which is used for this purpose is very expensive and most of the students cannot afford it. The centre has arranged for six Perkins Braille machines, which can be used by visually impaired students to take their exams on campus. In addition these Braille machines can also be utilized by the examination branch to transcribe question sheets.

The same Braille machines may also be used by the students to transcribe books/notes and other material related to their college courses.

3- Computers/Speech Output Programs

The centre now offers computers with special, specifically designed screen reader programmes which enable the visually impaired students to work independently in their own special lab and not be dependant on other computer laboratories on the campus. The latest versions of Jaws and open book, (the main screen reader programs used by the blind) are now available in the centre. With the help of these speech oriented programs, the blind students are able to get rid of their certain limitations in different areas and become educationally independent. The facility of computer may also be used for those blind students who take their exams via computer.

4- Internet Surfing

Internet facilities are also available for research purposes. Using their screen reader program (jaws), a visually impaired person may also be able to surf internet independently and in equally effective manner like others.

5- Braille Magazines for Pleasure Reading

The centre for special students (CSS) also has a collection of different Braille magazines for the purpose of pleasure reading.

The magazines may also be issued to the students for a limited period of time. More over, the Braille books shall soon be added to this section of the centre.

6- Braille Dictionary

English to Urdu Braille dictionary designed by Aziz Jahan Bagum Trust for the Blind is available in the Centre. Consulting this six volumes Braille dictionary, the blind students find the greater solution to many of their English vocabulary problems as well as improve their English skills by exploring the meanings of countless words. This unparalleled facility for blind students may not be found in any other college/university of Pakistan.

7- Audio Books/Tutorials

Audio facilities and other related programs are also available for curricular and extracurricular learning. There are number of audio books and training tutorials on different subjects which the students may get from the centre. These training tutorials help the blind computer users discovering the in-depth knowledge regarding the screen reader programs as well as the MS office package.

8- Books-Scanning

The Centre provides the facility of books scanning which allow the blind students to read their course material independently. For this very purpose, the Centre has got the high speed scanner along with the special program, Open book, which enables the visually impaired people to scan material of their own and get it read with the help of speech output softwares.

Staff

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News & EVENTS

GCU VC demands HEC to set up fund for special students

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman; Vice Chancellor, GC University Lahore demanded the Higher Education Commission to set up a special fund for developing facilities in public-sector for physically-challenged students, saying that GCU is the only university in Pakistan that  has a state-of-the art Centre for Special Students. The Vice Chancellor was addressing to a ceremony organized by the visually-impaired students of GCU in connection the International Disability Day.  University of Management and Technology Dean of Arts Dr. Abdul Hameed, College of Physicians and Surgeons Dean Dr. Khalid Jamil, Punjab University Chairperson Special Education Dr. Humaira Bano Leonard Cheshire Disability, UK Country Head Sir Imran Nazir and about 200 physically-challenged students from all over Pakistan attended the ceremony.

In his presidential address, the Vice Chancellor said that there was no special funding to the universities for the disabled by HEC or government due to which these talented students faced difficulties. He said that they would form committees which make a representation to HEC for establishing fund for physically-challenged students. He said that GCU had established the Centre for Special Students (CSS) for its physically-challenged students from its own resources and also providing them free education. He said that people would be surprised to know that visually-impaired students were trained in using computers at GCU through screen-reading software.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdul Hameed said disability was inability, rather physically-challenged were found to be more talented than normal students.  He said that the Higher Education Commission should prepare a separate curriculum and examination system for the disabled, especially blind. College of Physicians and Surgeons Dean Dr. Khalid Jamil said minorities and women were granted special representation in Assemblies, but there were no special seats for the disabled in the assembly. He requested the government that there should be at least two seats for the disabled in each assembly of Pakistan. He also laid a stress for legislation for securing quota and other right of the disabled. Dr. Humiara Bano said that the disabled, especially visually impaired students, put in a lot of effort to get education but in practical life, they were not given jobs. “Even government institutes don’t welcome them which was a matter great embarrassment,” she added. Dr. Humiara said that there was no university in Pakistan which organized special sports events or competitions for the disabled. “Even HEC has never organized special sports contests for the disabled,” she added.

(13-12-2012)

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Contact Us

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Centre for Special Students (CSS)

Room # 9, Main Building

GC University, Lahore

UAN #: 111-000-010 Ext: 244

Email: chieflibrarian@gcu.edu.pk