Ratchasuda College offers bachelor
degree programmes in Deaf Studies, and a master of arts can be
earned in Rehabilitation Services for the Disabled. There are
also postgraduate certificates in Academic Support Services for
Blind and Low-Vision People and certificate programmes in Teaching
Thai Sign Language and Interpreting Thai Sign Language.
Under the patronage of Her Royal
Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirind-horn, the college is part
of Mahidol University’s Salaya campus. It is open to all qualified
students, but its unique blend of courses makes it especially
attractive to the disabled, who also find the campus convenient,
with wheelchair ramps, guard rails and study materials tailored
to their needs.
While most courses run every
year, the bachelor’s degree in Deaf Studies, a programme not found
anywhere else in the country, accepts no more than 120 students
every four years. The programmes are open to both the deaf and
non-deaf with a Matthayom 6 education, via the college’s own entrance
examination.
“We expect 100 deaf and hard-of-hearing
students and 20 hearing students,” said Ratchasuda College director
Dr Jitprapa Sri-oon. “The ability to pass our three-part entrance
exam is very important, but we do not limit the age of our students;
in the first intake of the programme four years ago, we had a
student who was 46.”
“We have to ensure the quality
of students. We want to be confident they can cope with the coursework
and will not drop out. The college aims to teach students with
the potential to be leaders and role models for those with disabilities,”
Jitprapa said.
She added that not every hearing-impaired
student could expect to be able to attend the college and the
student intake could be lower if applicants were not up to standard.
However the limited number of
places at the college has disappointed many. “The number of available
seats and the timing of the courses are not good enough,” complained
Nipha Keaw-prakong, a science teacher at a school for the deaf.
“They should accept students
every year. Schools produce Matthayom 6 students interested in
those fields of study every year, but they have to wait so long
for the opportunity to attend,” said Nipha who was accompanying
50 students on a visit to the college.
Jitprapa said that the limited
student intake was partly due to the research-based teaching adopted
at the college.
“We cannot accept many students
because finding sufficient qualified lecturers is still difficult.
Few people graduate directly in this field. Those who do not have
to be trained first by international experts have to assist the
few lecturers we have,” Jitprapa added.
Once accepted, undergraduate
students are not required to pay any tuition fees, and even receive
a meal allowance of Bt2,000 per month, as the college enjoys financial
support from the government. The students are only required to
pay Bt300 for a medical check-up, a dormitory fee of Bt2,000 per
term [all undergraduates are entitled to it], and to pay for all
necessary books, stationary and other daily expenses.
The Deaf Studies programme is
aimed at educating deaf and hearing students on the sociology
of deaf people. There are seven major subjects: History and the
Culture of the Deaf, Sign Language Translation, Signing Linguistics,
Tea-ching Thai Sign Language, Education for the Deaf, General
Management and Applied Pottery Arts.
The master of arts programme
in Rehabilitation Services for the Disabled, takes two years to
complete and costs students Bt80,000, excluding accommodation
and daily expenses, said postgraduate curricular co-ordinator
Wiraman Niyomphol.
“This year we aim to admit 15
students into each of our four areas of specialisation [Rehabilitation
Counselling, Access Technology, Administration, and Academic Support
Services for Blind and Low Vision Persons]. Classes will begin
in June next year,” Wiraman said.
Jitprapa said the college’s teaching staff includes 19 Thai and
foreign academics, as well as visiting lecturers such as Prof
Jan Branson, director of the National Institute of Deaf Studies
and Sign Language Research at La Trobe University in Australia.
The college also cooperates with
the National Technology Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester
University in the United States, and Thukuba College of Technology
for the Deaf in Japan, in developing the programmes and exchanging
teaching staff for deaf studies.
With its Deaf studies programmes
the college places a clear emphasis on catering to deaf people
and the hard of hearing.
“The blind and those with other
physical disabilities usually find it easier to study among able-bodied
students in other institutions, but the deaf have communication
limitations and require learning assistance such as sign language
translators and note takers,” said Wiraman who is visually impaired.
However, the research and support
activities at the college for the benefit of visually or physically
disadvantaged people also vary, said Wiraman.
For instance, the blind section
features computer access technology for blind people such as the
digital talking book initiative “Daisy” (Digital Audio-based Information
System) and a program for translating Thai into Braille.
The college’s infrastructure,
buildings and living quarters are designed to be easily accessible
for the disabled [handicap-user friendly]. For example, every
building in the college has ramps for wheelchairs and rails for
the blind, and lifts and passageways link all buildings.
In the library, there is an audio-visual
department, a teaching aid production room, a computer room, and
other tools and equipment to accommodate all types of the disability.
There are also 6,000 books – 140 in Braille – 200 theses, 1,100
lectures on videocassette and 100 magazine titles.
A resource centre provides computer-assisted
educational aids for both its own students, as well as a note-taking
service, in-class sign language interpreters and tutoring. Several
courses in living skills for disabled people are also taught,
such as ironing clothes for the blind.
The college also provides non-formal
sign language classes for deaf adults and advice for families
with disabled children.
The college co-operates closely
with the Education Ministry for the provision of in-service training
for teachers of the deaf and provides academic support services
for disabled students in other educational institutions.
For details on study programmes,
contact 0-2889-5315/9 or visit http://www.rs.mahidol.ac.th.
You can help the disabled through the Ratchasuda Foundation by
donating money, assets, stationary, or other useful materials,
call 0-2889-2204, 0-2441-0173 or fax 0-2889-2203.
