In an attempt to make inclusion of differently abled children in regular schools a positive trend, teachers from government and government-aided schools are being trained to identify and assist children with disabilities. A three-week training programme was launched for select school teachers at Holy Cross College on Monday.
Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, block resource teachers are appointed to assist children with disabilities. Each teacher is assigned around 10-15 schools in a block. Participants identified by Chief Educational Officer K. Selvakumar on completion of the programme would take up the role of BRTs.
The programme offered by National Centre for Disability Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University, is held as an intensive course with resource persons from department of rehabilitation science, headed by professor Joicey Manickam.
The course would sensitise teachers with no introduction to special education on handling various disabilities, including visual impairment, hearing impairment autism and mental retardation.
Emphasis would be laid on identifying and assisting children with low vision and learning disabilities like dyslexia, said Sheila Christopher, dean of student affairs. These disabilities are not easily identified and need close observation on part of the teachers.
Hands-on-training would be part of the programme and teachers would be involved in therapeutic training. According to Saravanan, assistant project officer, SSA, Tiruchi, field trips would allow teachers to gain practical experience.
They would interact with students at the grassroots and visit children receiving home-based education.
