History

The Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo accommodates a special intake for students with disabilities every Academic Year. The Centre for Disability Research, Education and Practice (CEDREP) was established in December 2012 by the founding director Prof. Chandani Liyanage to facilitate necessary support for undergraduate students with disabilities and to promote Disability Studies within the Faculty of Arts.

In December 2013, under the first phase of the University of Colombo ‘Equal Access to Education’ Project, a proposal was developed to address barriers and challenges related to students with disabilities falling under the larger categories of built environment, educational/learning, social, and inadequate administrative and academic interest in disability issues at both University and National level. These activities were recognised in the University Strategic Plan 2012-2016, and the Faculty Action Plan for 2013.

In June 2014, the ‘Ability Centre for Students with Special Needs’ situated on the ground floor of the Faculty of Arts was refurbished and rebranded as the ‘Support Centre for Students with Disabilities’ (SCSD). The centre was equipped with the necessary assistive technology for students with disabilities. The Jinasena Training and Rehabilitation Trust (JTRT) funded the refurbishment of the centre and donated equipment for the use of students with disabilities. The SCSD functions as a support centre for the students with disabilities under the purview of CEDREP.

In order to further develop the facilities for students with disabilities, the Faculty proposed a series of activities to the World Bank fund Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) in 2018. The proposal was written by Ms. Avanka Fernando from the Department of Sociology. Securing funding from AHEAD the Faculty was able to develop infrastructure, build awareness on disability, and design suitable assistive technologies for the use of students with disabilities. The implementation of proposed activities was coordinated by Dr. Tharindi Udalagama from the Department of Sociology.