International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3rd December 2010

On 3rd December, we are going to observe 'The International Day of Person's with Disabilities.' The International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992. The annual observance of the Day aims to increase awareness and understanding of disability issues and trends, and to mobilise support for practical action at all levels by, with and for persons with disabilities.

This year's theme is "Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming disability in the Millennium Development Goals(MDG) towards 2015 and beyond". It aims to ensure that disability and the concerns of people with disabilities are included in the commitments. The inclusion of persons with disabilities in all development activities is essential to realizing the MDGs and other development goals. This year's Day will serve as a reminder to governments, global leaders, policy-makers and other stakeholders to keep up their efforts on behalf of disability-inclusive development.

The 13 December 2006 adoption of the Convention by the UN General Assembly reflected an attitudinal change towards people with disabilities. The Convention recognises that persons with disabilities have the same inherent dignity as persons without them, are capable of claiming their rights, and should be participating members of society. As of November 2010, 147 countries have signed the Convention, and 96 have ratified it.(Sources-www.hrea.org, UN Dept of Public Information, UN Enable)

We have made a good start by introducing a path breaking Right to Education (RTE) where in children with special needs are included in the mainstream schools. Hope to see some real affirmative action in other spheres as well.

In the month of December, besides International Day for Persons with Disability, we are also observing Volunteering Month, so are planning a workshop for effective volunteering. So please register your names, be with us.

Let us make both these events meaningful!

I am One in a Hundred .....& want to be the only one so!

This is not a boast but a wish, a commitment made on the occasion of National Epilepsy Day which falls on 17th Nov 2010.The epilepsy statistics say that every one person in a hundred has epilepsy( tendency to have Fits /Seizures ) & this National Day our earnest efforts should be to keep it constant & better still, make it nil. But this statistics will be brought down only by Preventive measures towards Epilepsy & Awareness about them.

Nov 17th is commemmorated as National Epilepsy Day & the entire November month will be dedicated to Epilepsy Awareness. This year, Indian Epilepsy Association (IEA) which is a National Body has decided to focus on 'Women & Child'. IEA has urged all their 27 chapters / branches & neurology depts/organisations to focus their programs on this theme to have a stronger impact.
Children's Day is also celebrated in the month of November.

In India we celebrate November 14 as Children's Day, while 20th November is universally celebrated as Children's Day. In India this day has been preponed to 14th November, the date that marks the birth anniversary of independent India's first Prime Minister – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.The reason why his birthday has been chosen for the celebration of children is because of his love and passion for children.

So it becomes doubly important that we take extra care in case of children on this Epilepsy Day. My journey in the special education & disability field started with my having epilepsy attacks post childbirth & eventually my joining IEA & Samman- Epilepsy Support Group in Mumbai. In these past 15 years of my association with Samman, I have seen that impact of epilepsy is adverse in childhood & it clouds every aspect of life thereafter. I have witnessed many cases of children with epilepsy going haywire due to lack of resources. In this month all our efforts are to increase Epilepsy Awareness & provide resources that are available for people with epilepsy.Especially to provide educational , psycho-social guidance to children with epilepsy & their parents. Let us all join hands together to bring "Epilepsy Out Of The Shadows!"

For further Information regarding treatment of epilepsy Click here

Global Campaign against Epilepsy: Out of the Shadows Bringing support to epileptic patients

Read NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY DIWALI & A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!

This year, like every year, ChildRaise had organised a Diwali Exhibition on the 30th and 31st of October 2010, which was a great success. We were successful in creating a lot of awareness on children with special needs. Well-wishers and supporters poured in, providing us with appreciation & encouragements throughout.

On 14th November we will be celebrating Children's Day & on 17th November we will celebrate National Epilepsy Day. Indian Epilepsy Association has appealed to their chapters all over India & other organisations to focus on women and children with epilepsy for a unified effort to raise epilepsy awareness from all corners.

Preparations for festivities were on when we received the sad news of Mr. Damodar Tilak, disability activist, who passed away in Pune, where he used to reside along with his wife & Nandita, fondly called as Nandu (who is mentally challenged) .Mr. Tilak, had worked tirelessly for the welfare of mentally challenged. In financial planning section we have made available his entire book. We, at ChildRaise pray that his soul may rest in peace... 

Editorial - October 2010

Celebrating 'World Sight Day' world wide this 14th October

Every month we focus on a particular issue/cause which is being observed or celebrated during that month.Thus all year around, different disabilities are covered. In October we will be focusing on Visual Impairment & Learning Disability.

This year 14th October (Second Thursday) is observed as 'World Sight Day'.

World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually impaired held on the second Thursday in October.In 2010 it falls on 14th.

World Sight Day is observed around the world by all partners involved in preventing visual impairment or restoring sight. It is also the main advocacy event for the prevention of blindness and for "Vision 2020: The Right to Sight", a global effort to prevent blindness created by WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.' (Source-WHO) & October 15th is ' White Cane Safety Day'.This day is a national observance in the United States, celebrated on October 15 of each year since 1964. The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the white cane. October is also earmarked as ' Learning Disability Awareness Month'. I am very happy to share that KEM hospital has recently started a full fledged LD Assessment & Certification Centre, thus being the third one besides Sion & Nair hosp which are State run. I am also very happy that KEM hosp. has posted a very detailed information regarding the assessment & certification procedure, which I am reproducing for the benefit of parents. Also reproducing LD related articles, news items.

Instructions for Learning Disability (LD) Certification 

The following will help you to understand the procedure for obtaining LD Certification. Please read the instructions completely. At least one parent or, a guardian who knows the child well, should accompany the student.

1) How to get an appointment for a student's assessment in LD Clinic? 

• On Wednesday or Saturday, meet Dr. Sunil Karande, Professor of Pediatrics & In-Charge, Learning Disability Clinic, in the Pediatric Clinic No. 26, Room No 1, First Floor Multi-Storey (New) Building between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. If you enter the hospital through the main gate (no.2) ask for the " New Building " and you will be guided properly. While meeting Dr. Karande, you need to have the referral note from the school (see below); you need NOT make any "case paper/OPD paper" for the pediatric OPD. This will be issued to you during consultation with Dr. Karande.
• The parent should have a referral letter (on school letter head) from the Principal of the school - describing the reasons for the referral. The letter should describe the academic difficulties observed in the child when he/she is reading and writing; his/her problems with spellings, performing mathematical calculations and the behavior of the child in the classroom (normal, hyperactive, inattentive, withdrawn). This information is very important and helpful in diagnosing the cause of the child's poor school performance.
• The parent should bring along - notebooks of any one subject and also of mathematics . This is essential to see the child's handwriting and school work. Please also get along with you - photocopies of the last two report cards. This will help us get an idea of the child's scholastic performance.
• After being assessed by Dr. Sunil Karande in the Pediatric Clinic the child will be given an appointment for assessment in the LD Clinic. The parent will be referred to the LD clinic for taking an appointment for child's assessment. Please do not seek appointment directly from the LD clinic without the student having been evaluated by Dr. Karande.

2) What are the assessments done in the LD clinic? 

The child has to be brought at least three times to the LD Clinic for various assessments as per appointments given.These cannot be combined into a single session as this gets very taxing for the child. The dates of appointments for these testing are given by the Secretary in the LD Clinic and the entire procedure to be followed will be clearly explained by her to each parent. 

• The first appointment is given for child's detailed clinical and neurological examination. (which takes about 30 minutes to be completed).
• The second appointment is for testing the child's intellectual capacity (IQ testing). (which takes about 60-90 minutes to be completed).
• The third appointment is for the educational testing of the child. (which takes about 60-90 minutes to be completed).

In general the accompanying parent would have to take a half-day off from work / other family responsibilities for each of the three appointments.
None of these examinations are painful or inconvenient to the child. The child need not be starving for any of these 'tests'.

3) What other tests are required to be done before certification? 

• Vision testing to be done by an Ophthalmologist (Eye Specialist)
• Hearing testing (Audiometry) to be done from an ENT Specialist

These two tests can be done at KEM Hospital or at any public hospital near the child's residence. They can also be done from a private Ophthalmologist or ENT Specialist - if so desired by parent. Both the vision and hearing testing reports should be recent (done in the past 3 months) to be considered valid.
Any questions you may have about these will be answered at the LD Clinic. 

4) How long does it take for the entire assessment procedure to be completed? 

Generally it takes about three weeks; beginning from the time of the first assessment done in the LD clinic (namely, the child's detailed clinical and neurological examination). The certificate will be issued to the parent(s) after a meeting with the Counselor in the LD Clinic who will explain the child's diagnosis and how to help the child achieve his/her maximum potential.

Contact Information
The Secretary can be contacted for any enquiry from 10 am to 2 pm (Monday to Friday; excluding public holidays) at: telephone number 022-65182624. In case you wish to contact Dr Sunil Karande send an email to sunilkarande@kem.edu . We especially welcome feedback on your experience at the LD clinic. This will help us make the clinic more student and parent friendly. 

Learning Disability Clinic address: 
Pediatric Research Laboratory ( PRL ), 2nd Floor, 
Above Ward 17/18, (Near Ward 1, Department of Pediatrics, KEM Hospital Main building)

Source - Times of India
07 July 2010
Mumbai, India

Tending To The Special Ones 

Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) now have yet another option. The Rajhans Vidyalaya in Andheri (west) opened its LD centre on Tuesday.

Named Samanvaya, meaning integration, the centre was inaugurated by psychologist Anjali Chhabria. Principals from various schools in the city were present at the inauguration ceremony.

"This is our endeavour to reach out to children who need help. The great challenge that schools face today is meeting individual and unique needs of each child," said Deepshikha Srivastava, principal of the school."Samanvaya will take a holistic approach to children with LD and try to bolster the self-esteem of these kids by emphasising their strengths," Srivastava added.

Sudeshna Chatterjee, principal of Jamnabai Narsee School, shared with the audience her experience with LD children."The centre would be a stepping stone towards a better future for kids with LD," said Chatterjee.

"This is not a centre for students with disability, but for those who are differently abled," added Srivastava.

Source - Times of India
09 April 2010
By Anahita Mukherji
Mumbai, India

Booster shot: KEM will be the third civic hospital in city to have a learning disability testing centre

Here's a shot in the arm for kids with Learning Disability (LD), who have for long had to run from pillar to post in search of an LD certificate. KEM Hospital, one of Mumbai's premier institutions, is working towards creating a testing centre for learning disability.

At present, there are only two hospitals with LD testing centres that are recognised by the SSC board—Sion and Nair. Once the KEM centre is in place, the hospital will approach the SSC board for permission to certify LD kids, making it the third such testing centre in Mumbai. KEM, Sion and Nair hospital are all run by the BMC.

"The BMC has taken a policy decision to start an LD centre at KEM, as well as a school for autistic children like the one at Nair Hospital," said Dr Sanjay Oak, dean of KEM hospital.

While welcoming the move, Dr Harish Shetty, president of the Counsellor's Association of India, who has been at the forefront of the country's LD movement, said that over a decade after activism on learning disability began, the number of testing centres for children with LD is abysmally low. "Why only three, there should be 20 LD centres by now in a city like Mumbai. I know of countless cases where students have lost out on a year of studies because of a delay in getting their LD certificates. This has also greatly affected their self esteem. The government needs to take up the matter on a war footing, as proper diagnosis of LD students will greatly improve their mental health," said Shetty.

"An LD testing centre in KEM Hospital is an excellent idea, but we need many more such centres," said advocate Rajeev Kumar, one of the lawyers whose legal battle resulted in Bombay high court's landmark judgment on learning disability. "I feel that certain clinical psychologists should be authorised to test and certify students with LD. This would be better than taking a child to the hospital for LD testing. Entering a hospital convinces LD kids that there is something wrong with them. The scars are difficult to heal," said Kumar.

Source - Indian Express
13 April 2010
By Inal Shah

Though there is an increasing awareness about learning disability in private schools, many civic schools teachers are unable to identify such students. We are trying to screen class X students at the beginning of the year.

IN A first–of–its–kind, doctors from the B Y L Nair Hospital are surveying 10 civic schools to identify class 10 students with learning disability. The idea is to screen students ahead of their board exams. So far, the doctors from the Life Centre for Learning Disability have identified 190 students with learning problems. The project includes BMC schools in Matunga, Dadar, Parabhadevi, Worli and Parel.

"Though there is an increasing awareness about learning disability (LD) in private schools, many civic schools teachers are unable to identify such students. Under this project, we are trying to screen class 10 students at the beginning of the year. The schools have provided lists of academically weaker students to the doctors for screening. Doctors conduct certain tests on the students to identify the ones with the learning disabilities," said Poonam Lalwani, managing trustee of Life Trust, NGO working with BMC schools.

"Psychologists and social workers made teachers aware of the symptoms of learning disability and other related problems. Students once identified will be referred to Nair Hospital LD centre for further assessment," said Dr Henal Shah, associate professor, department of psychiatry at Nair Hospital.

According to Dr Shah, poor awareness among teachers and parents pose a major problem in identifying children with learning disability.

"Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, doctors at LD centre have trained over 1,500 teachers in the last two years to identify such students. However, this has not helped much. Among the BMC schools, government–aided schools and private run, civic schools are least participating," said Dr Shah.

Since 2007, the Life Centre for Learning Disability at Nair Hospital has issued certificates to 950 children in city schools, both public and private. With only two LD centers in the city – at Sion Hospital and Nair Hospita to certify students, educationalists say there is a need for more centers to reduce the waiting period.

Learning disability (LD) is a lifelong disorder which affects the manner in which individuals with normal or above average intelligence select, retain and express information.

Some of the prominent forms of LD include dyslexia (difficulty in reading and comprehension), dysgraphia (Difficulty in writing) and dyscalculia (difficulty in arithmetic). According to the data, there are over 6,00,000 students appearing for SSC exams every year in India, out of which 5 to 15 percent are dyslexics.

V Volunteer - Pratima Jamalabad- A great homemaker, an animal activist, nature lover wished to do some more with her time. . She is sharing her experiences of Volunteering at our ChildRaise Centre. We urge people to come forward & join /sign up for our V Volunteer Initiative.

Kavita has been both a dear friend and neighbour for the past 20 years. I have always been witness to her involvement in issues relating to epilepsy and aiding children with autism, learning disabilities, in other words with differently abled people. So when I got a chance to volunteer at her Child Raise centre, I decided to give it a try.

So far my teaching abilities were confined to my son and his friends. Nobody in my close circle had an child with autism so I didn't really know what to expect. Would the parents of her students object to my presence there? As it is, I didn't have any qualification that would justify my being there.

However, all apprehensions were laid to rest. On my first visit to the centre I was welcomed by the mothers present there. I was introduced to the students-Michelle, Mukul ..... The first day was spent just in observing the pattern of activities- exercises, reading, vocational training etc. I decided to start reading out to the children and then at a later stage helping them with activities like solving simple arithmetics and English vocabulary.

Initially, I found the going tough. A child with autism does not meet your gaze nor do all of them like to be touched. It was difficult to know if they were listening to my reading out to them as getting an expected response is not possible. By expected response I mean a response a normal child would give like a nod of the head or a smile or an answer.

Kavita & other teacher -Alka was always there to guide me and give me the confidence I so lacked. Little by little, I learned to judge and appreciate their response. I learned to be patient which was a big thing for me as by nature I am an impatient person expecting quick results. I learned to wait until I got an answer, understood their body language and realised that these children have a short attention span.

Since children with autism do not let you know if they have enjoyed an activity or not, it sometimes seemed a hopeless task and I wondered if I was wasting their time as well as mine. But I could soon tell what interested them and what bored them as well as different methods of getting through to them.

My biggest reward was when one day Michelle after our reading session reached out and put her hand over mine. Today, I realise that instead of just me teaching them, I have learned a lot.

Celebrating 'Deaf Awareness Week' world wide this 24th September

September 24th to Sept 30th is celebrated world wide as the 'Deaf Awareness Week'. Next month on October 8th 'World Sight Day' will be observed. September 5th is 'Teacher's Day'. Taking into consideration all these important days, we at ChildRaise would like to chip in with our efforts to create more awareness & understanding about Hearing as well as Visual Impairment and also salute the Miracle Teacher -Annie Sullivan who gave Helen Keller to the world!!

Sullivan was Hellen's great teacher, best friend, philosopher& guide. I do not think one will find any better 'Guru-Shishya' team in modern times. They have taken the teacher disciple relationship to a very great level.Annie Sullivan accompanied Helen for almost 50 years. Without Annie's help Helen would have remained trapped within an isolated and confused world. Helen Keller says of the times before Annie came in to her life-

"I was like that ship before my education began, only I was without compass or sounding line, and no way of knowing how near the harbor was. light! Give me light was the wordless cry of my soul and the light of love shone on me in that very hour.

Helen Keller published 'Teacher' acknowledging Sullivan's contribution to her life. ChildRaise salutes to them. They will always inspire us to make difference in the lives of differently abled who want to be noticed and heard.

In this issue we are launching online Campaign 'FEEL' for deaf blind population by providing compiled resource material, information for them & also to raise awareness in public.

FEEL - Online Campaign to know more about Deaf-Blindness

1) What is Deaf- Blindness-

The federal definition of deaf-blindness is "concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination that creates such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education in programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness."

What that means is deaf-blindness is a condition in which both a hearing and vision loss are present at the same time. The combined effect of these losses, even if both are mild, creates unique challenges for the individual that cannot be addressed solely within a special education program for the deaf or special education program for the blind.
Source- Mississippi Deaf-Blind Project,The University of Southern Mississippi
Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
118 College Drive # 5115,Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: (601) 266-5135 or (800) 264-5135
Fax: (601)266-4978

2) Statistics

It is estimated that there are more than 4, 25,000 deaf-blind children in India.

3) Helpline

18002337913

4) Institutions

Helen Keller Institute for Deaf & Deafblind
Municipal Secondary School , South Wing,Ground Floor,
N. M. Joshi Marg, Near 'S' Bridge,
Byculla (West),Mumbai - 400 011.
Tel: 2308 7052 / 2301 9215 ,
Fax: 2301 8211

THE EDUCATION AND AUDIOLOGY & RESEARCH SOCIETY
Municipal School,2nd floor, Topiwalla Lane,
Off Lamington Road, Mumbai 400 007.
Also at:
#62, Gulmarg, Napean Sea Road,
Malabar Hill, Mumbai -400006
Phone: 022-23691705

Sense International(India)
2nd floor, Admin block,
opp. Indian Institute of Management (IIM),
Vastrapur, Ahmedabad-380015
Phone - 91-79-26301282,
Fax- 91-79-26301590

5) Useful Links

1) Helen keller Archival collection-American foundation for the blind
http://afb.org/info_documents.asp?collectionid=1

In her will, Helen Keller bequeathed her papers and memorabilia to the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). The Helen Keller Archival Collection contains The Helen Keller Papers, The Helen Keller Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection, The Helen Keller Photograph Collection, and Books from Helen Keller's Library. Of particular interest are Keller's writings on a variety of topics that illustrate her intelligence, her positive disposition, and her passion for worthwhile social issues. For more general information, follow the link to the AFB homepage American Foundation for the Blind (http://www.igc.apc.org/afb) for additional blindness resources.

2) Leraning guide to "Miracle workers"
http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/miracle-worker.html

An excellent way to introduce the life of Helen Keller to students is with the 1962 film The Miracle Worker, which relates how Helen Keller's teacher, Anne Sullivan, was able to reach Keller and teach her how to communicate. This site, which recommends the film for children ages ten and up, offers background on the historical context of the film, provides numerous examples of discussion and essay questions, and recommends several books about Helen Keller and the triumph of other individuals over their disabilities.

3) A-Z deaf blindness
http://www.deafblind.com

This very complete Web site is the work of James Gallagher, a citizen of the United Kingdom who is deaf-blind. Here, you will find information about all aspects of deaf-blindness, including the deaf-blind manual alphabet, the various causes of deaf-blindness, contact information for various support organizations, and dates and times for conferences. Gallagher also includes information on deafness, including the two-handed manual alphabet commonly used by sighted deaf people in the U.K., the cochlear implant, and a description of American Sign Language. Some of the topics related to blindness include information on guide dogs and a comparison of Braille and Moon-a lesser-known alternate reading method for the blind. Of particular interest are the sections that discuss various technological devices that aid deaf-blind people in utilizing computers, telephones, and fax machines.

4) Deaf blind children homepage
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/5939/index.html

This site contains several stories, written by parents of deaf-blind children, illustrating the wide range of causes, degrees of impairment, and coping strategies that surround the issue of deaf-blindness.

6) Additional Resources

Articles and video Clips
:: Google: MSNBC Peter Alexander and Sister Deaf-Blind
:: Google: Tampa Bay Superwoman Deaf-Blind
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Triplets Texas
:: Google: Six Friends Deaf-Blind
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Poetry
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Artists
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Performers: Deaf-Blind Theatre and Jag Einhorn (FL)
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Athletes

7) Inspiring Lives

The life of Helen Keller
http://www.hki.org/helen.html

Check this site for a complete, yet concise, biographical sketch of Helen Keller.

Life of Anne Sullivan
Born - April 14, 1866
Feeding Hills, Massachusetts
Died - October 20, 1936 (aged 70)
Queens, New York, New York Spouse(s) John Albert Macy
(1905-1932)

Anne Sullivan was the oldest of five children, born in Feeding Hills, a subsection of the town of Agawam, Massachusetts. Her parents, Thomas and Alice Sullivan, were impoverished cooks who left Ireland in 1847 during the Potato Famine. Her mother suffered from tuberculosis and died when Anne was eight years old. Her father was an alcoholic farm hand who abandoned his three surviving children after his wife died. Although her sister Mary was sent to live with an aunt, when Annie was ten, she and her brother Jimmie moved in with other relatives, who later sent the two siblings to the Tewksbury Almshouse (today Tewksbury Hospital).Annie spent her time there with Jimmie, in hopes that they would not be separated; however, his condition resulting from a tubercular hip weakened him and he died three months later.

When Anne Sullivan was three she began having trouble with her eyesight as a result of the eye disease trachoma,a bacterial infection that often causes blindness by scarring. Sullivan underwent a long string of surgeries. Doctors in Tewksbury had made a few vain attempts to clean her eyelids. Later, Father Barbara, the chaplain of the nearest hospital, took it upon himself to arrange a procedure. This operation failed to correct her vision. Still more attempts were made. Father Barbara took her to the Boston City Infirmary (today Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary) this time, where she had two more operations. Even after this attempt her vision remained blurry. Sullivan returned to Tewksbury, against her will. After four years there, in 1880, she entered the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind in Boston, where she underwent surgery in 1881 and regained some of her sight. After the improvement of her eyesight, and graduating as class valedictorian in 1886, Michael Anaganos, the school's director, encouraged her to become a teacher for Helen Kellerand she received special training to do this. In 1887, Sullivan had an additional surgery which restored more of her vision.

Sullivan with an 8-year-old Keller while vacationing at Cape Cod in July 1888

When Helen was six years old, in 1887, Anne moved in and acting as her governess started teaching her. Sullivan began by teaching Helen Keller nouns using the sign language alphabet signed into Keller's palm that had been developed by Spanish monks in medieval times. After its adoption by French educators, it was adapted by British and American educators including the founder of the Perkins Institution, Samuel Gridley Howe

On May 2, 1905, Sullivan married a Harvard University instructor and literary critic, John Albert Macy (1877-1932), eleven years her junior, who had helped Keller with her publications. The three lived together. However, within a few years, their marriage began to disintegrate. By 1914 they had separated, though they never officially divorced. In the early years after their separation, John Macy wrote and asked for money; however, as the years progressed he appears to have faded from her life.

Sullivan Macy and Keller were lifelong companions who lived, worked, and traveled together. In 1932 they were each awarded honorary fellowships from the Educational Institute of Scotland. They also were awarded honorary degrees from Temple University. By 1935, Sullivan Macy became completely blind. She died after a coma at age 70, with Keller holding her hand. When Keller herself died in 1968, her ashes were placed in the Washington National Cathedral next to Anne's.

Source - wikipedia

Celebrating 63 years of Independence

This month on 15th August we will be celebrating 63 years of Independence. And we have a reason to rejoice. India is coming of age. There have been some path breaking initiatives like RTE-Right To Education  act passed in 2009.

The Right To Education  for children to Free and Compulsory Education Act came into force from  April 1, 2010. Without doubt this is a historic day for the people of India as from this day the right to education will be accorded the same legal status as the right to life as provided by Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. Every child in the age group of 6-14 years will be provided 8 years of elementary education in an age appropriate classroom in the vicinity of his/her neighbourhood.

 

According to the UNESCO's 'Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2010', about 135 countries have constitutional provisions for free and non-discriminatory education for all. And now India is one of them.

The children with disabilities belong to disadvantaged groups and all private schools shall be required to enroll children from weaker sections and disadvantaged communities in their incoming class to the extent of 25% of their enrolment. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been mandated to monitor the implementation of this historic Right. A special toll free helpline to register complaints will be set up by NCPCR for this purpose..

 

The salient feature of the RTE Act is that the Children with Disabilities will also be educated in the mainstream schools.

JAI HO !!!!!

'ये रे येरे पावसा तुला देतो पैसा'

'ये रे येरे पावसा तुला देतो पैसा' अशी आळवणी करत जून महिन्याचे आगमन होते. हा महिना म्हणजे पावसाळ्याची सुरुवात आणि शाळा नव्याने उडण्याची सुदधा. पावसाळ्याची छत्री, रेनकोट, पावसाळी बूट - चपला यांची जमवाजमव तर शाळेसाठी नवीन कंपास पेटी, नवीन गणवेष! या दोन्हीच्या खरेदीसाठी दुकानामध्ये बालक - पालकांची अलोट गर्दी उसळते.

कुठल्याही गोष्टीची नव्याने सुरुवात म्हटली कि त्यासाठी 'पूर्वतयारी' हवी. आता ही पूर्वतयारी फक्त वस्तूंपर्यंतच मर्यादित नसून मानसिक तयारी ची सुद्धा गरज असते. त्यातून जर एखादे मूल विशेष/खास/ अपवादात्मक  असेल तर अशा तयारीची जास्तच गरज असते.

विशेष गरजा असलेल्या आपल्या मुलासाठी जर नव्यानेच शाळेत प्रवेश घेत असाल तर खालील गोष्टींची मदत होऊ शकेल.

• शाळा सुरु होण्यासाठी मुलाला अनौपचारिक रित्या शाळेचा फेरफटका करून आणा.
• शाळेच्या वेळेची सवय करा. मुलाची आंघोळ, झोप याचे वेळापत्रक शाळेच्या वेळापत्रकाप्रमाणे काही दिवस आधीपासून आखा आणि पाळा.
• शाळेमध्ये नवीन मित्र - मैत्रिणी मिळतील, तिकडचे मजेदार अनुभव याबद्दलचे कुतूहल निर्माण करा.
• मुलांच्या प्रतिक्रिया तीव्र असू शकतील तरीही नवीन दिनक्रम अंगवळणी पडेपर्यंत धीर धरा.
• ह्या सर्व प्रक्रियेमध्ये घरातल्या सर्वांना सहभागी करून घ्या. मोठे भावंड असेल तर त्याचे अनुकरण करत हे धाकट खास मूल लवकर शिकते असा बहुदा अनुभव येतो. तसेच वडिलांचा सहभाग असेल तर ही प्रक्रिया फारच सुकर होते.
  

वडिलांवरून आठवलं... जून महिन्याच्या तिस-या रविवार म्हणजे २० जूनला 'पितृदिन' (Fathers Day) आहे. तसेच ह्या महिन्यामध्ये Helen Keller यांचा जन्मदिन सुद्धा आहे. खास करून हेलन केलर ची आठवण करून द्यावीशी वाटली कारण अंध, मूक आणि बहिरे पण असून सुद्धा त्यांनी जे काही कर्तृत्व दाखवले आहे त्याला तुलना नाही. नेहमीच त्यांच्या आयुष्यावरून प्रेरणा घेऊया आणि आपले आयुष्य पूर्वतया कारणी लावण्याचा प्रयत्न  करूया.

Editorial : June 2010

June is the month of new beginnings and fresh starts. In India, the month of June usually opens with the first welcome showers of rain which helps to cleanse the body, mind & spirit of all dirt,lethargy and exhaustion. Everything appears new and fresh.

June is also the month of school re openings. After a rather long vacation, the child eagerly waits for the school to begin as he is eager to show off his/her new pencil box, bag etc. and keen  to reunite with friends or make some new friends. However, with the new academic year, come new challenges, which could cause stress or anxiety. There are numerous ways in which a parent can prepare the child for his/ her school  reopening.

• Plan a visit to the school before it opens officially;
• Show the child his classroom, canteen or take a walk on the playground.
  
• Plan his day as per his school timings a few days earlier.
• Prior to school reopening, schedule his daily activities as per school schedule like his play time, sleep times etc.
• Motivate him with positive stories about school experiences.
  

Do involve fathers,also the entire family in befriending the school. It becomes easier if the father also takes an active interest.

This reminds me that June 20th is the father's Day! A day to remember his contribution in our lives. This month we are also acknowledging another great personality 'Helen Keller' whose birthday falls on June 27th. She needs no introduction.She inspires not only  people with disabilities but sets a remarkable example to all.

 She wrote, "A person who is severely impaired never knows his hidden sources of strength until he is treated like a normal human being and encouraged to shape his own life."
How many of us have really tapped our hidden sources of strength? On her birthday let us  pledge that we will try to utilise our potential to the fullest & make use of our energies very constructively.

Dialogue with Kavita

I have been associated with special children, their needs and rehabilitation for last 17 years. My foray into the special Education field, brought about by a personal situation led me to do a B. Ed in special education in 1995 from S.N.D.T. university, Mumbai at the age of 34, when I was a mother of two. I have passed Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a first class in 1981, majoring in Psychology.
:: Kavita Shanbhag - www.childraise.com

९ मे मातृदिन - 'माँ तुझे सलाम !'

'स्वामी तिन्ही जगाचा आईविना भिकारी' असे म्हटले जाते. अगदी हल्लीच्या फिल्मी भाषेत जर सांगायचे झाले तर शशी कपूर म्हणतो तसं - 'मेरे पास माँ है !' आपल्या समवेत आई असेल तर त्रिभुवन प्राप्त असल्या सारखेच आहे. ह्या वाक्याची प्रचीती मला दरदिवशी येते.

मे महिना माझ्यासाठी खूप धावपळीचा असतो. सर्व पालकांची अशी इच्छा असते कि मी त्यांच्या पाल्याचे अभ्यासाचे / सुधारोद्देशी उपायांचे जास्तीचे तास घेऊन उणीव भरून काढावी. अशावेळेला बहुतांशी आईच आपल्या मुलाला माझ्याकडे घेवून येते तसेच वेगवेगळ्या थेरेपी साठीसुद्धा घेऊन जात असते. एक थेरेपी क्लास दादरला, तर दुसरा वांद्र्याला तर तिसरा प्रभादेवीला. न थकता, न भागता घरची सर्व कामे आटोपून, कधी कधी तर धाकट बाळ सोबतीला घेवून आपल्या बाळाचे आयुष्य मार्गी लावण्यासाठी हि आई मुंबई उलट - सुलट पालथी घालत असते. हे माझे आजचे संपादकीय अशा ह्या प्रत्येक आईला ह्या अद्वितीय मातेला अर्पण केलेले आहे.

Editorial : May 2010

Celebrate Mothers Day this 9^thMay !

Hi Folks !
We are in the midst of a very warm summer and in the month that warmly celebrates Motherhood and honours Mothers all over the world. This year, we shall celebrate it on 9th May. I humbly dedicate this editorial to all mothers.

MAY is also a happening and busy month for me, with vacations in full swing and parents requesting me for extra coaching/remedial sessions so that their children can make up for the lag. During the course of my teaching sessions I have come across so many wonderful mothers. Childraise takes this opportunity to salute them through this piece. It is moving to see them struggling & juggling with their daily chores, taking their special chld from one therapy session to another which hardly leaves them with any time for themselves. A mother gives up her independence, freedom, so that her child can be an independent adult. She casts her aspirations and desires aside....yet her child's smallest achievement, development fills her with pride. She is ready to go that extra mile just to see her special one smile.

So true are the following lines written in praise of them:
"The mother-child relationship is paradoxical. It requires the most intense love on the mother's side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent".

"A mother is not a person to lean on but a person to make leaning unnecessary...".

Editorial : April 2010

World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD)

Friday, 2^nd April- World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) & April-Autism Awareness Month & this month WE Are Lighting Up It BLUE to shine a bright light on Autism.

April 2^nd 2010 will mark the third annual celebration of WAAD-World Autism Awareness Day. We want to do our little bit to raise awareness about Autism –a Global Health Crisis. I would like everybody to go through UN Resolution on WAAD