National Centre for Differently Abled (NCDA)
Introduction
IGNOU created the National Centre for Differently Abled (NCDA) to provide educational, vocational and awareness programmes for the differently abled and develop appropriate information and communication technology and software for education and training in the area of disability.
About Us
The National Centre for Differently Abled (NCDA), set up under the 10th plan, started functioning from November, 2006. The Centre is mandated to provide educational, vocational and awareness programmes for the differently abled and develop appropriate information and communication technology and software for education and training in the area of disability.
Objectives
The objectives for the National Centre for Differently Abled are:
Ø To develop, and offer programmes on differently abled for grass roots workers, professionals and other target groups in community settings.
Ø To facilitate inclusive education, the NCDA would conduct research leading to M.Phil., Ph.D. and Post-doctoral programmes.
Ø To undertake activities of documentation and dissemination of information related to the differently abled.
Ø To facilitate inclusive education at primary, secondary and higher education levels, the Centre would liaison with various national and international agencies as well as Schools, Divisions and Centres of IGNOU.
Ø To set up a national resource centre on differently abled
Ø Create a database of differently abled persons enrolled in the various programmes of IGNOU.
Ø To study the problems faced by the enrolled candidates who are differently abled.
Ø To initiate academic activities to promote successful education of the differently abled in the courses/programmes they have enrolled in.
Ø Formulation of a forum of the differently abled employees of IGNOU which could address issues pertaining to them.
Areas of concern
The various areas of activities proposed to be undertaken by NCDA include:
v collaborating and coordinating with National/ International agencies, organizations, institutions (including GOs/NGOs/VOs) for development and delivery of programmes; adapting innovative approaches and policies for rehabilitation, training and education of the differently abled;
v designing and developing awareness programmes and educational and vocational programmes for persons with disabilities, their parents, family members, professionals providing services in the disability sector and other such target groups;
v designing, developing and implementing awareness programmes for people from various walks of life about creating a society that is friendly to the differently abled where they can live with dignity;
v identifying and developing appropriate information and communication technologies and software for education and training in the area of disability;
v sharing expertise and extending support to other such programmes throughout the country as an Apex National Resource Centre;
v conducting teaching, research and extension programmes in the area of rehabilitation and education, with focused attention on innovations, to develop user-friendly and economically viable systems employing emerging areas of technology;
v identifying and developing innovative academic activities as may be useful for implementing the provisions of Persons with Disability Act, 1995;
v undertaking assignments of monitoring and evaluation, on behalf of governmental and non-governmental agencies, of projects undertaken in the field of rehabilitation, special education and other initiatives.