The Meeting “A Preparatory Workshop” with the Executive Committee of the Group of the Disabled Graduate of the University of Khartoum ”The Association for the Graduates with Disabilities of the University of Khartoum”
Reporter: Mohamed Omar Abdin
I. Objectives
・ “Identify the main issues of the students with disabilities in the university”
・ talking with the executives of the Group and disabled students of the University about issues disabled students face
・ Share the activities of the association
・ Receiving the report of the main activity of the group
・ discuss the possibility of cooperation with CAPEDS
II. Outcomes
1. “Structure” Organization of the Group
The leader of the Group: Naurany, graduate of the college of economics, the assistant of the institute of social development
Number of the member: 37
Disabled: around 1/3 (visual impairment: 90%, physical disabilities: 10%)
2. The Report of the Activity Carried out by the Group
・ support for employment of graduates
・ maintenance of information education system for students
・ requesting the University to follow-up graduates
・ improving exchange between graduates and students
・ attempting to donate three-wheeled cycles for people with physical disabilities
Ⅲ. “Issues Identified” Problems that Disabled in the University Face
・ The support office for disabled was established, but the facilities in the office does not suit “meet” the needs of students
・ The office has one computer with Screen Reader in Arabic, but the computer has broken two years before, and 60 students have to use only one computer
・ The office was set up in the library and the library does not listen to the request from the Group of Disabled Graduates
・ The office has such a limited space that only 1/4 students in the University can access at one moment
・ The Group requests 20 computers with the voice browser in Arabic, but this request seems not accepted
・ There is no system in the University to support employment of graduates
Ⅴ. “Possibility of Cooperation with CAPEDS” Request to CAPEDS for Cooperation
Cooperation in the field of finance and skill for maintenance of new support office
・ being partners of the project conducted in the University
III. Comments
The group of disabled graduates appears the best partner for the information education project in the University of Khartoum which we CAPEDS are planning to carry out. The project will be more effective with the Group, because it will enable CAPEDS to have chance to appropriately understand needs of the disabled through direct discussion with the main party, and avoid long office procedure.
IV. “Challenges To Tackle” Issues We Face
The scale of the information education project would be so large, with the cost of 4 million yen, roughly estimated. It might be hard for the Group to manage to carry out the project effectively without enough experience.