Narayana Room: The Implementation of Inclusive Education Through Airlangga University Library Services
AIL News - In order to support Airlangga University in being friendly and welcoming to students with special needs (disabilities), the Unair library provides the same facilities in the form of a special room. This room is known as “Narayana” and is located on the 1st floor of the Campus B Library, Airlangga University. Established in 2021, the Narayana room was initiated by the UNAIR library team and the Airlangga Inclusive Learning (AIL) team through an analysis of the need for assistive technology for students with special needs. This room is expected to support inclusive education services at Unair by providing easy access to information for students with disabilities.
The Narayana Room is equipped with assistive technology facilities, including a zoom magnifier for students with low vision and a talking computer for students with visual impairments. The zoom magnifier helps students with low vision to read printed collections through an object magnification mechanism. Meanwhile, the touch screen computer with NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access) software facilitates students with visual impairments to access information to support the learning process with ease. “The Narayana Room was created to help students with special needs easily access library collection information. So far, many students with special needs have taken advantage of these facilities to support their learning process,” said Mrs. Indah Rachma Cahyani, S.IIP., M.A., a librarian who is also a member of the Airlangga University AIL Team.
In addition to the Narayana room, the Airlangga University library also provides physical facilities for students with special needs, such as wheelchair-accessible entrances and exits, guiding blocks, ramps, and toilets for people with disabilities.
Not only improving facility services, Airlangga University Library also frequently conducts activities with students with special needs as a form of implementing inclusive education. These activities include the production of Narayana's profile video, international accreditation, and a book review of a work by a student with special needs who has now graduated from Unair. The Unair Library also offers Library Classes, which are open to all members of the Unair academic community, including students with special needs. With the support of physical facilities and collaboration with students with disabilities, the hope is to create an inclusive learning environment at Airlangga University, where students with special needs also have equal rights and opportunities to access quality education and actively participate in the learning process to achieve success.
Author: Fadhilah
Editor: Rozi
