Policy

> POLICY OF THE VISUALLY DISABLED STUDENTS

POLICY OF THE VISUALLY DISABLED STUDENTS

Policy Number

IOU Policy # ST/012/2015

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the rules and regulations concerning the admission and study procedure of visually disabled students at the Islamic Online University.

Status

Approved.

Date of Approval

June 19, 2015.

Policy Statement

Definition
Blindness is a severe vision impairment, not correctable by standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery. It interferes with a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. “Legal blindness” is defined as vision with best correction in the better eye worse than or equal to 20/200 or a visual field of less than 20 degrees in diameter. Vision impairment (VI) is defined as having 20/40 or worse vision in the better eye even with eyeglasses. However, people with the slightest VI can experience challenges in their daily activities (Blindness and Visual Impairment).

Guidelines for the Visually Disabled (VD) Student

  • A visually disabled / impaired student may study at the Islamic Online University in any of the undergraduate, postgraduate or Open Education program without facing any discrimination.
  • The student has to submit current appropriate medical documents clearly mentioning the visual disability / impairment.
  • The student may have a maximum of two designated caregivers who will assist in his/her registration, payment, enrollment, reading out materials, playing the audio files, reading out the module test questions and midterm questions, selecting the choices and submitting the tests and exams.
  • During the Final Examinations, student may take the required help from the examination center proctor instead of the designated caregiver.
  • The student must agree not to take assistance in any way, shape or form which is academically unacceptable or considered as cheating.

Guidelines for the Caregiver of the VD student

  • A family member, friend or acquaintance above the age of 15 years may be a designated caregiver of the VD student.
  • If no acquaintance is available, then a volunteer above the age of 15 years may be assigned as a designated caregiver of the VD student.
  • The designated caregiver may assist the student in registration, payment, enrollment, reading out materials, playing the audio files, reading out the module test questions and exam questions, selecting the choices and submitting the tests and exams.
  • The name and identity of the caregiver(s) must be clearly mentioned in the disclaimer form and duly signed by the same people.
  • The caregiver must agree not to provide assistance in any way, shape or form which is academically unacceptable or considered as cheating.

This policy includes all the accredited bachelor’s degree, diploma, higher diploma, master’s degree, and certificate programs and Open Education Program at the IOU from the following 7 departments:

  • Department of Education
  • Department of Islamic Economics, Banking, and Finance
  • Department of Psychology
  • Department of Islamic Studies
  • Department of Arabic Language and Linguistics
  • Department of Business Administration
  • Department of Information Technology
Benefits of the Policy

This policy will allow the IOU students who have full or partial visual impairment to study and experience a very similar learning experience like the regular students without facing any discrimination.