Special Education- A better perspective
by Himani Sharma himanisharmaWe have
entered 21st century yet we lack certain basic understanding
when it comes to ‘special education' or 'special children'. Say the word
special education and many would understand it as a school where brain-damaged students or the one on wheelchairs
and respirators are kept and treated. It is a massive issue in Indian society.
However, examining a special education student closely reveals a far different
picture.
Various
views and opinions have been shared, that these children with normal mental
ability however diagnosed with any disability
should be given the opportunity to
perform at grade level and graduate from high school with a regular diploma. Necessary
accommodations and support should be extended right from the very beginning.
Yet the achievement of those who receive special education lags far behind than
their other counterparts. There is a vast diversity in students who receive
special education. Majority of them in school for special children are not acutely disabled –
physically or mentally. It is devastating to know that only a fraction of
them are actually suffering from any severe handicaps; however, unlike school
for special children in Rohini , all of children in special schools across the country are usually treated equally and given similar learning
models .
So,
before we can bring out any transformation we need to aptly understand the
issues.
What is
special education?
Special
education is an academic program or initiative that is aimed at serving
students who have physical, emotional, mental disabilities. So, places that
offers special education, like the school for special children in Delhi endevour
at providing these children with schooling and impart empowerment and other
life skills. Education here includes everything from academic tutoring to
imparting life skills such as cooking meals, washing, cleaning, social skills,
finance management, etc. as shared by a senior special educators at a school
for special children in Rohini, Delhi. Special schools realize that every
student ability level is different. Each child has a different learning
ability. Coaching is customized and imparted
basis their learning ability’s.
Mrs.
Negi, veteran teacher at one of the schools for special children in
Delhi, summarized our understanding on special children:
- Almost every state in our nation
has special children who need customized support and special education
facilities.
- Most students have mild to
moderate disabilities instead of severe issues.
- There are various strategies to
support special children in special schools, such as assistive technology,
accommodation (day boarding) and specially trained educators.
- Special students with mild to
moderate issues can achieve graduation or a diploma level education in a
normal institution when given good initial special education and support.
Parents
usually play a very significant role in the life of a special child. Individualized
Education Plan (IEP), is a special program where parents need to participate.
This program identifies, evaluates, classifies your child and recognizes the
type and level of services they need, based on their needs with customized
support.
Sponsor Ads
Created on Oct 9th 2017 04:18. Viewed 417 times.