Colombian network for inclusion of deaf persons at university

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Published on 02 December 2013

Around 1500 persons took part from October 2 to 4 in the 2nd International Conference on Disability and Inclusion, held in Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires province), Argentina under the heading: "Disability and Human Rights. Inclusion policies from the perspective of recognising human diversity." At the event, Colombian speech-language pathologist Rocío Molina Béjar (photo), co-ordinator of the Colombian Universities Network for the Disabled (RCUD), joined speakers from Paraguay and Argentina on the Table for Inclusive Education Rights, and explained the development of the concept of disability from the medical to the biopsychosocial model.

Molina Béjar reminded delegates that Colombia ratified and accepted, on May 10, 2011, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In fact, the country had been working on this subject for several years. In 2005, Colombia created the RCUD, a non-profit body made up of higher education institutions, state and private organisations, and individuals working for the inclusion of persons with disabilities at higher education centres, "particularly those with hearing disabilities on courses where they needed facilities and special adjustments to meet their needs. In this respect, training of lecturers, curricular flexibility, an interpretation service, and the right technology are areas in which all institutions should fulfil obligations," the expert pointed out.

The Network currently involves 30 Colombian universities, with others expected to get on board soon. The RCUD is also a founder member of the Latin American and Caribbean Inter-University Network on Disability and Human Rights.

Translation: P.W.