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CONCESSIONS TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

PRESENTED BYM.SRINIVASAN, PGT(MATHS)ZIET, MUMBAI

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE AMONG THE MOST DISADVANTAGED IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO SCHOOLING AND COMPLETION OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF ALL OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE DISABLED. MOST OF THEM ARE FROM THE POOREST STRATA OF INDIAN SOCIETY. DISABILITY IS FREQUENTLY BOTH A CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE OF POVERTY.

DISABLED CHILDREN SUFFER FROM A VARIETY OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HANDICAPS, THEY ARE ALSO THE VICTIMS OF SOCIETAL PREJUDICE, INCLUDING OUR SCHOOLSSCHOOLS EXPLICITLY REFUSE ADMISSION OR ACTIVELY DISSUADE THEM FROM JOININGTHE DESIGN OF SCHOOLS, AND FACILITIES SUCH AS TOILETS, DO NOT KEEP THEIR NEEDS IN VIEWADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY WAY OF SPECIAL TEACHERS AND LEARNING MATERIALS ARE NOT PROVIDEDTHE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IS INDIFFERENT TO THEIR LEARNING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS, AND CONSEQUENTLY MANY DISCONTINUE SCHOOLING, OR DO NOT EVEN ENTER SCHOOL

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SCHEMES - ESPECIALLY THOSE FOR UNIVERSALISATION OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION - HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING THE INCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES INTO THE MAINSTREAM EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

THE INTEGRATED EDUCATION FOR DISABLED CHILDREN SCHEME, LAUNCHED IN 1974, TO ADMIT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN REGULAR SCHOOLSTHE DISTRICT PRIMARY EDUCATION PROGRAMME, 1985, WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT UNIVERSALISATION OF EDUCATION IS POSSIBLE ONLY IF IT INCLUDES CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIESTHE NATIONAL POLICY ON EDUCATION, 1986, WHICH PROMOTES THE INTEGRATION OF CHILDREN WITH MILD DISABILITIES INTO THE MAINSTREAM

THE PROJECT INTEGRATED EDUCATION FOR THE DISABLED, LAUNCHED IN 1987, WHICH ENCOURAGES ALL SCHOOLS IN A NEIGHBOURHOOD TO ENROLL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIESINCLUSION OF DISABLED CHILDREN

THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, PROTECTION OF RIGHTS AND FULL PARTICIPATION) ACT, 1995, WHICH RECOMMENDS MAKING CHANGES IN ASSESSMENT AND CURRICULUM, AND REMOVING ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS, TO SUPPORT INCLUSION. IT ALSO RECOMMENDS PROVIDING FREE BOOKS AND UNIFORM FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

INCLUSION OF DISABLED CHILDREN

THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR THE WELFARE OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM, CEREBRAL RETARDATION AND MULTIPLE DISABILITY, 1999, WHICH RECOMMENDS PROMOTION OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONTHE SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (SSA, 2000), WHICH PLEDGES THAT THE "SSA WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE KIND, CATEGORY AND DEGREE OF DISABILITY, IS PROVIDED EDUCATION IN AN APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT

THE AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION IN 2001, TO MAKE EDUCATION A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT FOR THOSE IN THE 6-14 AGE GROUP, WHICH COVERS CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIESINCLUSION OF DISABLED CHILDREN

THE DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES - 2005, WHICH HAS A SECTION ON EDUCATION, STATING, "THERE IS A NEED FOR MAINSTREAMING (SIC) OF THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION SYSTEM THROUGH INCLUSIVE EDUCATION." IT ALSO MENTIONS THAT CHILDREN "LEARN BEST IN THE COMPANY OF THEIR PEERS"

A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, PRESENTED BY THE MINISTER FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, ARJUN SINGH, IN MARCH 2005. THIS ACTION PLAN ADVOCATES INCLUSIVE EDUCATION, AND ENVISAGES MAKING ALL SCHOOLS "DISABLED-FRIENDLY" BY 2020IN A CIRCULAR ISSUED IN MAY 2005, THE CBSE STATES THAT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD HAVE "BARRIER-FREE ACCESS TO ALL EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES"INCLUSION OF DISABLED CHILDREN

WHILE THE ORIGINAL RTE ACT PASSED IN APRIL 1, 2010 SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY, THE AMENDMENT PASSED IN 2012 RESULTED IN AN EXPANDED DEFINITION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY AND OTHER ENABLING MEASURESINCLUSION OF DISABLED CHILDREN

A CHILD WITH DISABILITY IS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ACT'S DEFINITION OF CHILDREN BELONGING TO A 'DISADVANTAGED GROUP'.A CHILD WITH 'DISABILITY' AS DEFINED IN 1995 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACTA CHILD WITH 'DISABILITY' AND 'SEVERE DISABILITY' AS DEFINED IN NATIONAL TRUST FOR WELFARE OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, MENTAL RETARDATION AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES ACT, 1999.

CONCESSIONS BYCBSETHE FOLLOWING CONCESSIONS ARE GIVEN BY CBSE TO PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTSEXEMPTION FROM STUDYING THIRD LANGUAGE UP TO MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL (I.E. CLASS VIII)PERMISSION TO USE AN AMANUENSISTHE CANDIDATE MAY BE PERMITTED TO USE THE SERVICES OF AN AMANUENSIS IN ALL OR ANY OF THE PAPERS. SERVICES OF SAME AMANUENSIS IS TAKEN FOR ALL THE PAPERS

CONCESSIONS BYCBSEADDITIONAL TIME AS UNDER IS GIVEN IN EACH PAPER:FOR PAPER OF 3 HOURS DURATION 60 MINUTESFOR PAPER OF 2 HOURS DURATION 50 MINUTESFOR PAPER OF 2 HOURS DURATION 40 MINUTESFOR PAPER OF 1 HOURS DURATION 30 MINUTESTHE CENTRE SUPERINTENDENT MAKES THE SITTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DYSLEXIC, BLIND, PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND SPASTIC CANDIDATES ON THE GROUND FLOOR, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE

ALTERNATIVE TYPE QUESTIONS ARE PROVIDED IN LIEU OF QUESTIONS HAVING VISUAL INPUTS FOR THE BLIND CANDIDATES IN ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE AND SOCIAL SCIENCE FOR CLASS X AND HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND ECONOMICS FOR CLASS XIISEPARATE QUESTION PAPERS IN ENLARGED PRINT FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY IN CLASS X ARE PROVIDED

CONCESSIONS BYCBSE

TO FACILITATE EASY ACCESS, A FEW SELECTED SCHOOLS ARE MADE EXAMINATION CENTERS FOR SPECIAL STUDENTS.BLIND CANDIDATES FROM DELHI HAVE THE FACILITY TO USE COMPUTER OR A TYPEWRITER FOR WRITING ANSWERS.BLIND CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO OFFER SUBJECTS LIKE MUSIC, HOME SCIENCE ETC. WHICH ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE SCHOOL

CONCESSIONS BYCBSE

TEACHERS FROM BLIND SCHOOLS ARE APPOINTED AS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT(S) (INVIGILATORS) AT THE SPECIAL EXAMINATION CENTRES. HOWEVER, PRECAUTION IS TAKEN TO APPOINT DIFFERENT SUBJECT TEACHERS ON DIFFERENT DAYS.A SEPARATE COLUMN HAS BEEN PROVIDED ON THE TITLE PAGE OF THE ANSWER BOOK FOR INDICATING THE CATEGORY OF PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED CANDIDATES SO THAT THESE ANSWER BOOKS COULD BE SEGREGATED FOR SENDING THEM SEPARATELY TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE BOARD.

CONCESSIONS BYCBSE

AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL A CANDIDATE HAS AN OPTION TO OPT FOR ONE LANGUAGE AND ANY FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING ELECTIVES: MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, SOCIAL SCIENCE, ANOTHER LANGUAGE, MUSIC, PAINTING, HOME SCIENCE AND INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, COMMERCE (ELEMENTS OF BUSINESS) & COMMERCE (ELEMENTS OF BOOK KEEPING AND ACCOUNTANCY)

CONCESSIONS BYCBSE

ADVISORY TO SCHOOLS : AS PER GUIDELINES OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES (IECD) EACH SCHOOL IS ADVISED :TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IS DENIED ADMISSION IN MAINSTREAM EDUCATIONTO MONITOR THE ENROLLMENT IN SCHOOLS OF DISABLED CHILDRENTO PROVIDE SUPPORT THROUGH ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF TRAINED TEACHERSTO MODIFY THE EXISTING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND TEACHING METHODOLOGIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL CHILDREN INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDSTO ENSURE THAT 3% RESERVATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IS DONE IN ALL INSTITUTIONS RECEIVING FUNDS FROM GOVERNMENT (UNDER THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 1995)

6. TO ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOOLS ARE MADE DISABLED FRIENDLY BY 2020 AND ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING HOSTELS, LIBRARIES, LABORATORIES AND BUILDINGS WILL HAVE BARRIER FREE ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED7. TO ENSURE AVAILABILITY OF STUDY MATERIAL FOR THE DISABLED AND TALKING TEXT BOOKS, READING MACHINES AND COMPUTERS WITH SPEECH SOFTWARE8.TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS, TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES AND A LOOP INDUCTION SYSTEM WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR THE HEARING HANDICAPPED STUDENTS9. TO REVISIT CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION REQUIRED FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS10.TO ENSURE REGULAR IN-SERVICE TRAINING OF TEACHERS IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AT THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL.

LET US EXTEND OUR HELPING HANDS