Inclusion in Action: The Office of Learning Support at Ashoka

About the Office:

The Office of Learning Support (OLS) at Ashoka University was established in 2016 to assist students with diverse physical, sensory, neurological, and learning disabilities. It serves as a central resource hub for specific-needs-related information and services, promoting inclusive practices at Ashoka.

The OLS aims to create an equitable, inclusive, and diverse environment at Ashoka University, leading in implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in higher education across the nation. Its mission is to involve the entire Ashoka community in enabling equitable access to education for all learners.

Support at OLS:

The Office of Learning Support (OLS) at Ashoka University offers a range of personalised services to support students with diverse learning needs, ensuring an inclusive, barrier-free experience across their entire journey, from outreach and admissions to placements.

Key Services:

Assessment of Learning Needs: OLS conducts assessments to identify learning challenges that may impact academic performance, and provides end-to-end support throughout the assessment process.

Learning Support Plans and Case Management: Individualized Learning Support Plans (LSPs) are created to detail the accommodations and modifications each student requires. The office, as a case manager, then coordinates with concerned authorities for possible intervention.

Academic Accommodations and Accessibility: OLS offers adjustments such as extended exam times, accessible materials, and other accommodations based on individual student needs. It also works with faculty, teaching teams and students to ensure inclusive learning in classrooms and delivery of accessible content.

General Academic Support: Time management, academic strategies, and executive functioning support are provided to help students succeed. The OLS has also initiated executive function coaching sessions, which range from one-on-one sessions to mentoring and workshops to help students realise their full potential.

Assistive Technology Resources: OLS provides several assistive technology resources to students, such as grammar tools, text-to-speech and speech-to-text software, magnifiers, etc. It also has an Assistive Technology Room, equipped with cutting-edge technology such as software, hardware and accessible learning tools, which foster independent learning for students with visual, hearing, and learning disabilities.

Residence Life and Daily Living Support: OLS coordinates with administrative staff such as residence life, housekeeping and maintenance to ensure interventions like room modifications, managing socio-behavioural needs and campus navigation meet student needs on campus.

Placements: Collaborating with the Career Development Office, OLS promotes inclusive hiring, ensuring students with disabilities have access to employment opportunities.

Barrier-free Spaces: The OLS works with several internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the campus space is accessible for wheelchair users and those with visual impairments. Notable efforts include the recent launch of Accessible Ashoka, a campus navigation app, Braille signages, wheelchair-accessible shuttle, ramps and audio-enabled lifts and ATMs.

Raising Awareness: The OLS organizes several events and workshops to spread awareness and sensitize the Ashoka community members towards various disabilities.  This has been done in the past by observing several Disability Awareness days and guest speaker sessions. It also hosts collaborative events with clubs, societies and student ministries, and sensitizes them about events accessibility.

Peer Learning Support Programme (PLSP): The PLSP offers many opportunities for Ashoka students to volunteer or work with the Office of Learning Support with the larger goal of facilitating the inclusion and integration of students with diverse disabilities into the Ashoka ecosystem. Roles under PLSP include campus buddy, notetaker, content remediator and more.

Student Testimonials:

Aarushi Raika, UG 25

My journey with the OLS began in August 2022. It has been characterized by unwavering support in matters not only related to navigation and academics, but also executive functioning, and overall campus experience. 

The team has gone out of their way to make my initial major of computer science as accessible as possible, along with any content previously unavailable to me as a visually impaired student. One of the team members, Pritika Gupta, has gone out of her way to regularly conduct weekly check-ins, which has both provided room for me to enhance my campus experience, as well as provided a wonderful source of advice.

Arti Manmode, YIF 25

“As the only person with a visual impairment in my YIF class, I was quite nervous after my interview. However, the Office of Learning Support (OLS) reached out to me and provided much-needed relief. OLS has been instrumental in helping me navigate my YIF journey by providing academic accommodations. This includes accessible study materials, receiving slides before class so I can follow along on my own device, extra time for exams, and exemptions from visual tasks like drawing graphs. 

Most importantly, OLS provided me with an iPad loaded with assistive features. As someone with low vision, being able to read content with my own eyes rather than relying solely on screen readers has been a game-changer. The iPad’s numerous accessibility features have made a tremendous difference in my learning. Additionally, having a dedicated OLS point of contact available to discuss any issues at any time has been incredibly valuable. OLS’s support has empowered me to fully participate in classroom discussions, engage with the material, and occupy an equal place in the YIF cohort.

I am grateful and appreciate OLS for all the support.”

Events & Initiatives:

OLS has initiated a host of awareness and advocacy initiatives such as newsletters, events, and workshops on important issues in order to further include and normalise differences on campus and beyond. Some key initiatives include:

Annual Summer Newsletter

From 2020 to 2023, OLS published the Neurodiversity Initiative newsletter to raise awareness about neurodiversity. In 2024, they launched Calling the Shots, focusing on executive functioning skills. This engaging newsletter educates the Ashokan community with fun, easy-to-digest content.

Dyslexia Awareness Month 2023

In October 2023, OLS marked Dyslexia Awareness Month with events like the Dyslexia Myth Busters trivia game (in collaboration with Her Campus) and a dyslexia-themed newsletter with the Ashoka Behavioural Insights Team (ABIT). The month ended with The Ashokan Tapestry, an installation celebrating neurodiversity, alongside face-painting and trivia games by student clubs.

Workshops and Guest Lectures

OLS held an Executive Functioning Skills Workshop in February 2024, partnering with Children First. Facilitator Ankita Khanna guided students on skills like planning, attention, and emotional regulation.
OLS also conducted a Disability Sensitization Workshop for faculty and staff, led by Neha Trivedi from Spandan, focusing on inclusive practices in classrooms.
Additionally, OLS hosted Neurodiversity 101, a workshop by Dr. Amit Sen of Children First, which introduced participants to neurodiversity concepts, with case studies on ADHD and autism, promoting deeper understanding.

Autism Awareness Month 2024

In April 2024, OLS observed Autism Awareness Month on campus with sensory-friendly activities, highlighting the talents of individuals with autism and promoting inclusion through interactive art and sensory tools.

Such events not only target community sensitisation but also shape the campus culture to be more inclusive, in turn enhancing student experience.