Differently-abled students: KU organises seminar to strengthen resilience

KARACHI: The University of Karachi, under the directives and vision of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Wasim Qazi, organized a one of its kind seminar titled “Building a Stronger Me” to promote mental strength, self confidence, and personality development among differently abled students, including those with physical impairments and visual challenges.

The special session aimed to provide practical guidance on coping with psychological stress, managing anxiety, and addressing everyday challenges with resilience. Students were introduced to strategies for overcoming difficulties, enhancing self belief, and ensuring that physical or sensory limitations do not restrict their ambitions or progress.

The event ‘Building a Stronger Me’ was held at the Multi-Purpose Building of the Department of Teacher Education on Tuesday. The KU VC Professor Dr Wasim Qazi emphasized that the promotion of inclusive education is among KU’s foremost priorities.

He stated that under this vision, students with physical disabilities and visual impairments are being integrated into an academic environment where they are provided equal opportunities, facilities, and fair chances to progress.

He noted that this was the first event of its kind organized for differently-abled students, marking a significant step toward the welfare of differently abled students, enhancing their self confidence, and enabling them to become effective and independent members of society.

On this occasion, he announced that KU will also take measures to create business and employment opportunities for these students, helping them achieve economic independence and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The KU VC Professor Dr Wasim Qazi stressed that personality, character, moral values, and kindness hold greater importance than physical attributes. He highlighted the need to foster mutual respect, care, and cooperation, affirming KU’s commitment to providing every student with dignity, equal opportunity, and a supportive environment for growth.

He reiterated that the core purpose of this program was to strengthen the inclusive educational environment and to understand the needs of students facing challenges such as physical disability, visual impairment, dwarfism, or other conditions.

During the session, Professor Dr Zi Asma Hanif Khan from KU’s Department of Psychology guided students on understanding the nature of stress and cognitive overload, managing emotions, adopting positive thinking, and building mental resilience.

She placed special focus on gratitude practices, reducing fatigue, achieving mental calm, and improving the ability to face difficulties. Students were also advised on how to support peers experiencing stress or personal challenges.

According to her, KU currently has around 80 differently abled students. All were invited to participate, and their interests and needs were collected through an online form. Considering their academic commitments and upcoming examinations, topics were carefully chosen to focus on stress management, confidence building, and resilience. A good number of students joined the session.

Professor Dr Zi Asma Hanif Khan explained that the one?day session was conducted in the form of a focus group, allowing direct dialogue and exchange of experiences to better understand students’ psychological needs. Participants were educated about the physical and psychological effects of stress, strategies for maintaining emotional balance, and practical approaches to positive change.

“A key objective was to help students recognize their strengths, achievements, and positive qualities, reinforcing their identity as capable and valuable members of society.” She emphasized that the session’s purpose was to foster an inclusive educational environment and to address the needs of students facing diverse physical and social challenges such as visual impairment or dwarfism.

A distinctive feature of the seminar was the preparation and distribution of special certificates in Braille script for visually impaired students. This initiative was warmly welcomed, with participants describing it as a unique and uplifting experience. They appreciated that, for the first time, their psychological needs were addressed in such a dedicated manner, allowing them to share their thoughts and experiences.

Students expressed that the program contributed positively to their personal growth, confidence, and resilience. They emphasized the need for regular sessions of this kind, noting that the initiative had encouraged them to adopt a positive outlook, trust their abilities, and face academic and social challenges with greater strength.

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