New Delhi: Recognizing the need of trained man-power in the disability field, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) shall now offer a Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology (PGDRP) in face to face mode in collaboration with Vision Institute of Advanced Studies, Delhi which is approved by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

Dr. Hemlata, Director of National Centre for Disability Studies at IGNOU describing about the course said, "PG Diploma courses in Disability psychology will help learners to understand the psychology of disabled people in a better way such as they can provide effective rehabilitation to them. The Right to Education laws and the philosophy of inclusive education will also see an increased number of disabled students going to schools, which will require more teachers trained in disability psychology. This certainly creates numerous career opportunities."

On completion of the programme, the candidates shall get registration from the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) after which they would be entitled to work in the Special Education field which is mandatory pre-condition.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has laid special emphasis on the commencement of academic programmes for the welfare of this long neglected field. The National Centre for Disability Studies under IGNOU has been established keeping in mind the broad objectives of the Government of India and facilitate and serve this field.

The admissions are open till July 31 and the eligibility of the programme has been kept as BA/ MA in Psychology. However the seats are only 20 and it is the first time that a need based program is being commenced in the capital of the country to fulfill the needs of Special Education and Disability sector.

Students can get further details from the official website of Vision Institute of Advanced Studies. It has always been desired that Institutions come forward to commence socially relevant programmes which may not be lucrative for the Institutions but are of very high importance to serve the principles of equity and relevance of Higher Education as being advocated by Government.

The Vision Institute of Advanced Studies is also offering Post Graduate Diploma in Guidance & Counseling under Jamia Millia Islamia under distance mode. The programme is serving immensely to create manpower in the field of Guidance & Counseling which is also in short supply to serve school and college going students.