Xavier’s Resource Centre Honoured for Advancing Inclusive Education for the Visually Challenged

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, has presented the 2024 National Award for Inclusive Education to Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), a St. Xavier's College division.

XRCVC's contributions to inclusive education for visually challenged students and its expansion into pan-disability support over the last two decades have been recognised in the Divyang Sashaktikaran Hetu Sarveshrestha Sansthan (Best Institution for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities) category.

In 2003, XRCVC was established as an Assistive Technology (AT) centre for pupils with visual impairments. It has since developed into a national-level organisation that caters to the requirements of students with various impairments. 

“This award acknowledges our efforts in the field of inclusive education over the past two decades,” said Rajendra Shinde, principal of St Xavier’s College, as he commended Professor Dr Sam Taraporevala, executive director of XRCVC, for his leadership.

He added, “The 360-degree model of inclusive education we’ve implemented is designed to be scalable and replicable, impacting education systems across India.”

The award ceremony, set to take place on 3rd December 2024, coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Mr Ketan Kothari, managing consultant at XRCVC, said, “We are committed to equality and equity across all disabilities. With this award, our mission to expand the scope of our work only strengthens.”

XRCVC has implemented diverse services and initiatives to facilitate the accessibility of education and daily life for individuals with disabilities. In addition to educational services, XRCVC has created various resources and publications to assist policymakers and educators.

Commendably, Dr Taraporevala and Mr Kothari have been active members of expert committees, contributing to developing national policies prioritising accessibility. For instance, they collaborated with the Braille Council of India and the Ministry of Education to develop e-content for disabled children. Additionally, they have collaborated with prominent educational institutions, such as IIT Delhi and IIT Madras, to replicate their inclusive education model.

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