I still believe that for primary level atleast till 5th grade, Special school helps for all Blind children. I would like to share why I think so, till 7th grade I studied in a blind school (in a hostel). it was very difficult for my parents to leave me their but that was the only alternative. I know that the quality of education is not good at the blind schools because I had to learn all concepts like algebra and geometry and also many concepts in science in the integrated school for my 8th grade from scratch(as my friends had already learnt it before 7th grade) and they had not taught these concepts in blind school. for a year or so it was very difficult and later I managed it very well. I used to stay in a village and there are no good schools near buy. my parents have given me all the facilities but english is not what they have studied so converting books would not be possible at any cost. as a girl, there is a question of sending me to any institute to take training in computer math etc on my own and the people from the institute would not come because I stay too far from city. and these institutes are so far from the village. in the village where all students in general are not getting proper education in computer, english, what about the blind children especially at the primary level? I studied in integrated school from 8th grade because I could manage on my own at that level with a little help. but how could I do that from primary level? I have very supportive family and tutors so I have managed to study math and programming even in the degree level and now I am working as research assistant (thinking of doing PHD in computer science ). and there are other blind children especially girls who are not even cared by their families(I am telling this because I know many of them), same flexibility in mingling with other children and also in mobility cannot be expected like boys for girls as all of you know that no place is safe. and if their are no special schools too, how to educate blind girls when female education in general is too bad in our country? atleast through special schools people will learn few basic educational skills and survival skills right? or else how to promote literacy among all blind girls? this is my personal opineon, I know that there are many exceptional cases with well educational and financially stable parents who can take care of blind children. so please don't take this opinion too seriously.
On 10/30/14, Parakh Rajesh <rajeshparak...@gmail.com> wrote: > the real essence of inclusive education is integration of differently abled > > to main stream where the notions and hesitance of the sited or normal > society is reduced to a level where inclusion of these children becomes > smoother. and moreover the feeling of isolation amongst the differently > abled population may fade away during the course of time which in turn > increases their confidence level. coming to resources and facilities in > rural areas or lesser priviliged society the issues are real complex in > country like ours. here stronger, pragmatic laws and stiff accountability > may help in long term perspective. > regards, > rajesh parakh > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bhavya shah" <bhavya.shah...@gmail.com> > To: "AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues > concerningthe disabled." <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> > Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2014 4:51 PM > Subject: Re: [AI] Regarding Inclusive Education and Special School. > > >> Hi, >> 'great bhavya, in todays context the need is to use technology in best >> possible ways. further there is a need to create strong laws for >> normal schools that they do not refuse any differently abled child for >> admission and provide atleast minimum standard of technology for the >> children to achieve education. i think strong rules will surely help >> children from rural areas also.' >> I think there is a law that mainstream schools cannot refuse to give >> admission to a visually impaired child, I might be wrong here. This >> wasn't in my case, because I have been studying in my school from when >> I was completely sighted to now, where I am completely blind. >> In a poor country as India, perhaps the school may not give >> technological solutions to the children, but certainly, they should >> allow the use of laptops and other such solutions. I am not sure about >> rural areas, I have seen that some NGOs with lots and lots of >> teachers, have failed to spread awareness, and sadly parents of other >> blind children aske me whether I am able to use a computer or not, >> whether I will drop maths or not, because in those NGOs (I won't take >> their names) only and only Braille is taught, and just nothing else. >> If NGOs themselves become more aware, then perhaps we can talk about >> the adoption of inclusive education in rural areas. >> >> On 10/30/14, Ketan Kothari <muktake...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> Dear Bhavya, >>> >>> I am a student from a "special school". I have also been a student in >>> a regular "not normal" school but I personally feel that education is >>> important to begin with and then the philosophical debate of "special" >>> versus "inclusive" for both have their advantages and disadvantages. >>> >>> In a case as yours, at least you have parents who have computer at >>> home. How many blind people or their parents in the country have it? >>> What about regional languages? And yes, the biggest asset that you >>> have is your mother who is painstakingly doing the conversion etc. >>> >>> I am not advocating special school but I am of the opinion that a >>> child must be educated in the best scenario that helps him. I have >>> been to the villages where both parents have to go to NREGS work and >>> the child goes to a regular school with little or no attention. This >>> certainly hampers his education and the learning outcomes will >>> definitely suffer. In the best available circumstances, children must >>> be in an inclusive environment but e-text can never replace Braille >>> till we have mobile sets that are easily accessible, fast to operate >>> and can maintain privacy (which present sets do not allow I am >>> afraid), and yes, Braille is not a language but a script. >>> >>> Having said all this, I really admire your courage and wisdom at your >>> age and for this I would certainly salute your parents. Their >>> perseverance is what led you where you are. I am sure you will go >>> miles in the future. Wish you best of luck, lad and may you climb >>> heights unthinkable. >>> >>> With best wishes, >>> >>> Ketan >>> >>> On 10/30/14, Amiyo Biswas <amiyo.bis...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> Dear Friends, >>>> >>>> Recently I met some of my teacher friends at a meeting of Blind >>>> Persons' >>>> Association. We were sharing our experiences in our respective fields. >>>> We >>>> were all surprised to learn that special schools are not getting >>>> students >>>> after inclusive education was introduced. There are hardly a handful of >>>> special schools for us. If these schools with a very low roll strength >>>> do >>>> not get sufficient students, what will be the lot of the next >>>> generation >>>> of >>>> visually impaired students? >>>> >>>> Inclusive Education programme is in effect for some years. We should >>>> review >>>> the situation now. As a project it sounds very good. Disabled children >>>> read >>>> at normal schools and ideally it helps mainstreaming them into the >>>> society. >>>> >>>> A cursory glance at a classroom will reveal the real situation. In West >>>> Bengal, where I live in, the normal student-teacher ratio is about >>>> 1-100 >>>> in >>>> many cases. It is even worse at the primary schools. Moreover, the >>>> primary >>>> school teachers have to perform various duties during census and >>>> election. >>>> Besides, they have their daily chore of midday meal. Many of these >>>> schools >>>> do not have the necessary infrastructure for children with special >>>> needs. >>>> Accessible toilets are dreams when the normal children do not get these >>>> facilities in some cases. >>>> >>>> There are Special Educators who are supposed to assist the children >>>> with >>>> special needs. A Special Educator has to cover about 30 schools in a >>>> month. >>>> Is it possible for him or her to guide a disabled child by meeting him >>>> once >>>> in a month? We cannot expect him that he will be efficient in Braille, >>>> sign >>>> language and so on. They are paid very low (hardly Rs. 8,000 per month) >>>> and >>>> appointed on a contract basis. They tend to quit their jobs whenever >>>> there >>>> is an opportunity. Why should well-educated young people stick to such >>>> a >>>> job >>>> for so humble a salary? >>>> >>>> I shall not say that nothing good has come of it. Many disabled >>>> children >>>> have been enrolled into normal schools or Sarba Shiksha Abhijan. In >>>> normal >>>> schools there is no pass or fail. So visually challenged children get >>>> automatic promotion up to class VIII without ever learning Braille. I >>>> have >>>> heard of a mentally retarded child who goes to the exam and his >>>> invigilator >>>> writes his name, roll etc. on his answer paper and he gets promoted. >>>> >>>> There is yet another benefit. Parents of the disabled children gain >>>> financially from the scheme, around Rs. 4,500. The Special Educators >>>> earn >>>> their living, whatever it is, from this scheme. But this is all at the >>>> cost >>>> of education. When children with special needs require special >>>> training, >>>> we >>>> are thrusting them into an atmosphere where they feel lonely and >>>> isolated. >>>> They memorise some rhymes and stories, but they seldom learn >>>> arithmetic. >>>> As >>>> a result they grow up with an inferiority complex. >>>> >>>> A severe consequence of the scheme is that since the parents earn >>>> something >>>> from this scheme, they do not send their children to special schools. >>>> Most >>>> of the special schools cannot enrol their full strength. >>>> >>>> I do not want to give up with Inclusive Education immediately. But we >>>> can >>>> do >>>> the following to make it more effective: >>>> 1. There should be some financial incentive for the parents who send >>>> their >>>> children to special schools >>>> 2. The block-level social welfare officer should try to find a special >>>> school for a child with special needs and when no such facility is >>>> available, only then the child should be enrolled in Inclusive >>>> Education. >>>> 3. Special Educators should be paid in line with the regular teachers >>>> with >>>> all facilities. >>>> 4. Braille books, Braille writing frames, Taylor frames and other >>>> similar >>>> items used by children with special needs should be available at the >>>> block >>>> level. >>>> >>>> I shall request all senior members to do something about it. We should >>>> write >>>> to the ministers of Social Justice and Empowerment, Education and to >>>> the >>>> PM >>>> also. Activists like Mr. Kaul, Mr. Rumta or Dipendra should take >>>> initiative >>>> with our full support for any action. >>>> >>>> With best Regards, >>>> Amiyo Biswas >>>> Cell: +91-9433464329 >>>> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >>>> of >>>> mobile phones / Tabs on: >>>> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>> >>>> >>>> Search for old postings at: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>>> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >>>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>>> >>>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>>> please >>>> visit the list home page at >>>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>>> >>>> >>>> Disclaimer: >>>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking >>>> of >>>> the >>>> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >>>> veracity; >>>> >>>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >>>> mails >>>> sent through this mailing list.. >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Ketan Kothari >>> Phone: [r] 24223281, >>> Cell: 9987550614 >>> MSN ID: muktake...@hotmail.com >>> Skype ID: Ketan3333 >>> >>> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >>> >>> >>> >>> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >>> of >>> mobile phones / Tabs on: >>> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> >>> >>> Search for old postings at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >>> >>> To unsubscribe send a message to >>> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>> >>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>> please >>> visit the list home page at >>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> >>> >>> Disclaimer: >>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >>> >>> the >>> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; >>> >>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >>> mails >>> sent through this mailing list.. >>> >> >> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of >> >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >> veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails >> >> sent through this mailing list.. > > > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
