The Hindu : Front Page : Field trips to be organised for mentally challenged children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 26, 2007
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Field trips to be organised for mentally challenged children

T. Saravanan

They will expose them to new experience and enhance interaction: authorities

Government has sanctioned Rs.25,000 to each district for the purpose
Many districts are interested in visiting Madurai

MADURAI: In an attempt to integrate mentally challenged children into the mainstream and improve their social skills, the State Government has introduced a new programme. .

According to the District Disabled Rehabilitation Officer M. Jeyaseeli, field trips to places of tourist and historical importance would be organised, on the lines of educational tours organised for school children. The Government had sanctioned Rs.25,000 to each district for the purpose, she said.

The trips would help the children understand things better and relieve them of their psychological stress. Several districts had expressed their willingness to visit Madurai under the programme, Ms. Jeyaseeli added.

K.S.P. Janardhan Babu, Assistant Director (Programmes), M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation, that runs two special schools, said the programme would expose the children to new experiences. The physical touch would bring about a change in their behavioural pattern and instil confidence in them and provide for enhanced interaction. Special schools from Erode and The Nilgiris had expressed interest to visit Madurai for a temple visit.

Mr. Babu felt the field trips would also facilitate teachers of special children to learn more about practices followed in other districts and get a chance to know about parent-support system.

The field trip programme would be able to provide the much needed interaction for the mainstream integration of mentally challenged, he said.

The Government should consider organising cultural festivals and sports meets exclusively for mentally challenged children, Mr. Babu added.

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