A Resource Centre catering to the special needs of disabled students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) should begin offering a range of services by next month.

Construction work on the multi-purpose centre inched closer to completion on Wednesday with a million-dollar donation by the St Ann Bauxite Company Limited to finish the administrative offices.

The centre, established by the Lions Club of Mona and the University Development and Endowment Fund, will serve students with disabilities such as vision, hearing and limb impairment as well as learning disabilities.

Dr Keith Peart, president of the Lions Club of Mona, noted during a brief tour of the facility that after it is fully equipped, the centre will provide students with high-quality recording services and six functional soundproof booths suitable for sitting exams.

Peart said while the facility will be ready in time for

the sitting of exams at the end of next month, an additional $6 million is still needed to provide furnishing and specialised equipment for the Centre.

He further explained that the facility, which will be officially commissioned in June, will also house a library to enhance the storage and retrieval of recordings, tapes and materials to assist teaching, learning and research.

“Modern Braille and embossing services will also be available to the students, and all services will be enhanced by integrated computer link-up,” Peart said.

Other physical facilities will include non-slip stairways, walkways and ramps, as well as

an elevator.

Peter O’Sullivan, chairman of the committee for students with disabilities, told the Observer that although the majority of the disabled population on the campus is visually impaired, the centre will cater to all other forms of disabilities.

O’Sullivan said the centre will also offer services to people with learning disabilities.

“We want to work with some of our psychologists to have testing programmes in place – even from the high school level – so that any deficiencies will be recognised very early,” he explained.

He said the university would have to re-examine some of its policies in its bid to include people with learning disabilities in the population.

For example, he said, “For matriculation requirement we will have to see what flexibility the university will have in even entrance requirements.”

O’Sullivan said while the Resource Centre would be primarily for UWI students it will not be exclusive to them.

Nelson Barton, human Resource and public relations manager at the St Ann Jamaica Bauxite Partners, said the company decided to sponsor the completion of the building because they were heartened by the work that had already been done.