NATIONAL INSTITITUTE OF OPEN SCHOOLING (NIOS) AND THE VARIOUS PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS
Triveni Goswami Vernal
Registered Special Educator (A64010)

The previous blogs looked at the various educational and vocational programmes available, for students under NIOS. While the content of the curriculum under NIOS, has been designed for a wide range of students and not specifically for individuals with additional needs, NIOS does offer the flexibility through its various provisions, facilitating the overall learning process for individuals with varying additional needs (both learning as well as physical challenges).

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE VARIOUS PROVISIONS:
It is to be noted that any accommodation required by a student with disabilities (whether cognitive or physical challenges) will require a disability certificating stating the need for it.  The following information has been taken from the document, https://www.nios.ac.in/media/documents/PWD/provisionforlwd.pdf
I. ADDITIONAL TIME
i) An additional time of 20 mins per subject per examination.
ii) If the medical certificate states that the student requires a break during the examination, a break of no more than 10 mins will be given.

II. PROVISION FOR SCRIBE OR AMANUENSIS, LAB ASSISTANT, READER will be provided for Students with:
a) Autism
b) Cerebral Palsy
c) Intellectual Disability including Mental Retardation
d) Multiple Disabilities
e) Blindness/Low Vision
f) Speech or Hearing Impairment
g) Learners with Specific Learning Disabilities such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia and Developmental Aphasia etc.

III. USE OF COMPUTERS: 
Students “with minimal hand function, blindness and low vision and learners with learning disability, cerebral palsy, autism and any other disability will be allowed to use computer if they make a request in advance to the concerned Regional Director”.  There are several sub-provisions included in this, such as the student can bring their own computer with assistive devices etc.

IV. WHEELCHAIR USERS
Learners who use wheelchairs or other tools of mobility, will be allowed to take the examinations at the ground level. Ramps and Accessible spaces will be provided to them.

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR LEARNERS WITH AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY (MENTAL RETARDATION), MULTIPLE DISABILITIES:

“i. Computers with adapted hardware like trackball instead of mouse, augmentative communication boards (illustrative and not exhaustive) may be allowed.
ii. Intellectual disability (Mentally Retarded) learners may opt for project work as an alternative for practical.
iii. Adapted chair, table, bed, etc., may be allowed in the Examination room in case of learners with specific disabilities who need them.
iv. Provision may also be made for reading out the questions wherever necessary. Note: Learners may arrange for their own tools and equipment”.
NIOS also provides flexibility to all the learners, in terms of its provisions regarding examinations:
a) The learner can take the examination of only one subject at a time.
b) The learner is also allowed 9 attempts of a paper, in a span of 5 years.
c) On-demand Examination: The student can choose the date on which they want to give an exam, rather than doing it on the basis of a fixed time frame.
Thus, we see that the various provisions that have been formulated keeping in mind the additional needs of a wide spectrum of learners, has made a lot of guardians opt for the NIOS system of education, for their wards.

RESOURCES:
https://www.nios.ac.in/departmentsunits/evaluation/general-and-specific-relaxations-(disability-wise)-during-nios-examination.aspx
https://www.nios.ac.in/media/documents/PWD/provisionforlwd.pdf
https://www.nios.ac.in/on-demand-examination.aspx
https://specialsaathi.com/2025/04/17/nios-and-individuals-with-learning-challenges-1/
https://specialsaathi.com/2025/04/24/nios-and-individuals-with-aditional-needs-part-2/
https://specialsaathi.com/2025/05/01/nios-and-individuals-with-additional-needs-part-3/
https://specialsaathi.com/2025/05/08/vocational-education-under-nios/

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Author Dr.Triveni Goswami Vernal

Dr.Triveni Goswami Vernal is a Registered Special Educator (CRR: A64010), a Psychologist and an Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner (UNESCO-CID). She is an Avaz Certified Educator and Certified in Dyslexia Teacher Training. She is also an art educator for children with additional needs.

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“Under the Sea”
Acrylic Painting on Stretches Canvas
30 inches x 30 inches
Kabir Vernal