THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Akkulam, is a beehive of activities, but that is not an outcome of the announcement in the Union Budget. Even before Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that NISH is to be developed into National University for Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Centre, the groundwork towards the same had started.
In 2011, the State Planning Board had assigned a sub-group to study the needs in disabilities sector and had made a recommendation to upgrade NISH into an independent institution which will offer higher education for professionals in the disability sector, according to NISH executive director Samuel N Mathew.
In 2014, the State Cabinet approved the Bill which would give NISH the status of a university and it was to come up for discussion in the Assembly. During this time, State Planning Board held talks with the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister.
‘’Now that the Centre has also taken this up, it is a very good sign. High quality education for professionals, such as what the IITs and IIMs offer, is needed in the disabilities sector. We will offer courses related to disabilities, in areas such as occupational therapy, social work, special education and psychology,’’ says Samuel.
NISH was established in 1997 as an autonomous body under the Department of Social Justice. In its first decade, it had a diploma course in software systems for people having difficulties in hearing. ‘’Of the 108 students who were part of the course, 90 have got placements according to a recent survey we did,’’ says Shirly G, head of NISH Training and Industry Placement Cell.
The institute shifted its focus to degree courses in 2008, when it started B Sc (Computer Science) and BFA for Hearing Impaired. The courses, though affiliated to Kerala University, were tweaked by NISH faculty, in consultation with the State Government and the university, to suit people with disability. In 2013, a one-year preparatory programme was added to the two courses, to help students ease into their course.
B Com was introduced in the same year, for the Hearing Impaired. The institute in addition to these courses, offer training courses for professionals interested in teaching people with disability. Undergraduate and MA course in Speech Language Pathology as well as Diploma in Early Childhood Special Education (Hearing Impairment) attract professionals committed to training people with disability.
Currently, there are around 300 students with hearing impairment in its degree programmes. There are also close to 150 children born with profound hearing loss enrolled for specialised classes in language and speech.
NISH has also been providing counselling to parents of children with disability. It was while playing this role, that the institute recognised the need to cater to parents of children with autism spectrum and other related disorders.
While laying the foundation for the university, NISH faculty did focus group studies in Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram to understand the issues and needs of people with hearing impairment, disorders in autism spectrum, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities. Audiology and Speech Division Head Suja Kunnath says: ‘’We chose these areas as we felt that the services available for these are very less.’’
NISH had sought a financial assistance of Rs 200 crore. To develop into a university, the institute’s top brass feels that the 9.75 acre campus might need a hundred acres. Though the numbers were not mentioned in the Union Budget, things are looking hopeful, they say.
