Never give upDisabled students persevere
in adapting to university life
By Doris Cheung
While others are hurrying to attend the first lesson, one student in a wheelchair is waiting alone for a rehabilitation bus inside the University to take her to the lecture venue.
Miss Chau Man Wa, who suffered from cerebella degeneration at age 11, is now a student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
She is partially blind, and her limbs have lost their strength. Every morning, she needs the rehabilitation bus to take her to the lecture venue by 8:30 a.m. At times, however, the bus does not show up until 8:40 a.m.
"Sometimes the bus gets lost on the campus," she said. "But the University has promised to have its own bus. . . . I believe everything will be all right by that time.
"It is very difficult for an individual to book the rehabilitation bus services. Appointments have to be made two to three weeks beforehand. Due to the insufficient bus services, I avoid going home sometimes," she added.
The hilly landscape of the Chinese University causes even greater difficulties. Every little step between the pavement and the roadway is a challenge.
Besides, most buildings are not installed with proper facilities for the disabled.
Said Miss Chu: "Most of them are several storeys high, like the Cheung Chuk Shan Staff and Students Amenities Building. There is no elevator."
However, she is impressed by the University's apparent willingness to help.
She said, "The University took only a week to reconstruct the washroom in my dormitory, which was originally unsuitable for a wheelchair.
"Some lectures were rescheduled to venues with proper facilities for the disabled," she said.
Her physical constraints do not stop her from taking part in extracurricular activities.
Said she: "I joined the orientation camp for my department. My classmates were nice and helpful. Though I could not take part in some competitions, I cheered them on.
"I believe everybody, no matter whether they are disabled or not, has strengths and weaknesses," she said. "We should not regard disabled students as less talented."
Miss Winsome Yu, a Year 2 student majoring music at the University of Hong Kong, was born partially blind. She has had some unhappy experiences on campus.
She described some lecturers as "not very considerate". "Some lecturers may not notice me or simply ignore my presence. They may think that it is not worth paying extra effort to only one student in the class," she said.
Because of the physical constraints, she cannot enjoy school life completely. Last year, she refused to accept a place in a hall.
Said she: "Since I cannot read very fast, I have to spend much time on my studies. But lots of compulsory activities are held in the hall, which cost me lots of time."
Three more students suffering from the same problem were admitted to the University of Hong Kong this year.
Miss Sarah Ho, executive officer of the Office of Student Affairs of the university, said special arrangements would be made in examinations.
She said, "Those students will be given an extra time allowance and enlarged question papers."
There is also a "blind student room" in the library equipped with Braille, a system of writing and reading using dots for the blind.
Computers are also connected, by means of closed circuit television, to equipment that allows users to scan books and magnify materials on the screen.
Miss Ho said, "Normally, the university has a budget of $30,000 each for this issue. The introduction of new equipment is subjected to the decision of the University.
"The University is planning to set up a career to help the disabled students," she added.
Though the University seems to have made efforts, Miss Yu said she regards its performance as "half-satisfactory".
Said she: "The computers in the blind students room cannot access the Internet. Whenever we want to check or send e-mail, we have to go to the computer centre, where magnifying machines are not available. It is a tough task for us to read from the small monitors.
"It would be better if a photocopier could be installed in the blind student room. Since we often have to photocopy materials in enlarged form, we use much more paper," she added.
Within her peer group, Miss Yu is also an active person. She takes part in her department's student society and generates ideas for programmes.
She said, "My friends are very understanding. They understand what difficulties I am facing."
"I don't feel inferior to others. I believe everyone is gifted in certain respects, and we should respect the talents of one another," she added.
However, what worries Miss Yu most is her career prospects.
She said, "I do not know what to do upon graduation. It is the same feeling I had after finishing the A-level examinations."
