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Young World
Understanding special needs
A. B. SUDHINDRA
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Empathise with the disabled not just sympathise.
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Over 500 children enthusiastically queued up for a check up at the speech and hearing camp organised by Lions Club International at JSS Public School recently. The camp held as part of SFA (skills for adolescents) programme titled ‘Quest’, was spread over three days and specialists from Dr. S. R. Chandrashekar Institute of Speech and Hearing screened the students for any speech and hearing impairment.
Speaking on the occasion, Maithra Mahesh of Dr. S. R. Chandrashekar Institute of Speech and Hearing said that early detection of speech and hearing impairment in children is of vital importance as it may lead to learning disabilities. We cry, we talk and we listen to the world of sound and words. These acts are not as simple as they sound.
A child listens a lot before he can speak well. Our ability to speak helps us to know more about the wonderful world we live in. It helps us to understand other individual’s ideas and emotions and tell them what we want to say. This difficult act cannot be mastered by many.
Of the various faculties of the brain, the ability to express ideas, thoughts and feelings through speech is a precious gift to mankind. This wonderful faculty is possible because of speech centres of the brain and the speech organs we possess”, she explained.
A student, Vijayashree, said, “I was touched when I realised the difficulties people with speech and hearing impairment face. She told us to care for them and I will definitely try to do my bit.”
Standard X students, Hemanth and Vignesh, agree. They said, “Citing examples, she made us think about the plight of children with such disabilities. The camp was a huge learning experience.”
Social consciousness
Ayesha and Sameera, said they were told to empathise and not sympathise, while interacting with the speech and hearing impaired.
Inaugurating the camp, District Governor P. S. Venkatachalam said the organisation will aim to reach 1,500 children through Quest, this year.
“The programme had taken off in right earnest and Quest is aimed at the students of standard VIII to X and it will develop in them positive social behaviour, strong commitment to their families, resist negative pressures and build citizenship skills through community service,” he said.
Over 500 children were given a book on SFA free of cost. District chairperson for speech and hearing of Lions Shailendra Gaur welcomed, while associate chairperson Usha Kumari proposed a vote of thanks.
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