SERDANG, Dec 10 – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is celebrating the OKU Inclusive Campus Awareness Month, starting from November 16 until December 22, 2020.
The campaign is part of the UPM OKU Inclusive Campus Framework approved during the University Management Committee Meeting on June 25, which serves as a platform for students and staff to discover the services provided by UPM to persons with disabilities (OKU) and to recognise the contributions of OKU members in UPM.
Through the campaign, UPM Student Affairs and Alumni (HEPA) office will examine the different needs of people with disabilities through a series of courses and workshops, as well as to strengthen the relationship and integration of various entities in UPM for the well-being of the OKU.
Besides, the UPM OKU Inclusive Policy created on September 8 was signed by His Highness Tengku Sharif Laksamana Perlis Dato 'Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) on December 3, 1992, and it has since become an annual observance. In line with the international commitment, the Malaysian Government also observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities every year beginning from 1994.
Various activities and programmes have been planned, including the Sign Language Course ( November 16, 2020); OKU-BKUPM Special Meeting (November 19, 2020); Alumni OKU Sharing Knowledge & Passion (November 20, 2020); Online Career Fair & Talk (November 26, 2020); Friendly Session & Special Dialogue for OKU Students with UPM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Dr. Arifin Abdu (November 27, 2020); Disability Equality Training (DET) Programme (December 8-9, 2020); Workshop on OKU Inclusive Campus Implementation Guidelines (December 15-16, 2020) and OKU Inclusive Campus Meeting with Main Campus Committee (December 22, 2020).
As of October 2020, there are 53 OKU students and five (5) academic/non-academic OKU staff at UPM who come under seven categories of disabilities, namely visual, hearing, physical, speech, learning, mental and other disabilities.
Apart from strengthening management with the creation of relevant policy, the committee of UPM OKU Inclusive Campus Framework has also taken appropriate steps by providing facilities to the OKU in UPM, including two units of special vehicles for the OKU, a contribution from UPM staff and the public in collaboration with the Selangor Zakat Board (MAIS) coordinated by the Waqf, Zakat and Endowment Management Centre (WAZAN) together with UPM Student Affairs Division; installation of Braille Printers and training, a contribution from the public through UPM Knowledge Endowment Fund. Also, an Audio Book application was developed by the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FSKTM), UPM, with an aim to provide opportunities for everyone to contribute their voices to help the visually impaired OKU to review notes through the recordings made by their peers using the application under the coordination of Zuhaimi Abdul Rahim from WAZAN. - UPM
