Fostering inclusivity through university social responsibility (USR): Empowering the visually impaired community (PERTIS) via health and self-management interventions

Abstract

University Social Responsibility (USR) plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between academic institutions and marginalized communities. This paper examines the execution and impact of a targeted USR community service program conducted by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Kelantan in collaboration with Persatuan Orang-Orang Cacat Penglihatan Islam Malaysia (PERTIS) Kelantan. The initiative focused on enhancing the quality of life for the visually impaired through specialized modules on systematic self-management, personal hygiene, and healthy lifestyle practices. Recognizing the unique pedagogical needs of visually impaired individuals, the program employed detailed descriptive instructional strategies and tactile learning methods. Employing an action research methodology, pre- and post-intervention assessments were utilized to measure the participants' comprehension and skill acquisition. Quantitative results indicated a drastic improvement across all modules, with health literacy and self-management skills increasing from an average baseline of 42% to 88% post-intervention. The findings underscore the efficacy of customized, descriptive instructional methods in community outreach and highlight the profound social impact of institutional USR initiatives in fostering independence and inclusivity for the disabled community.