According to the India with Disabilities Act and Maharashtra State Law, a disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities related to education include, but are not limited to: walking, sleeping, eating, learning, reading, writing, processing, hearing, etc.
- REGN No : MAHARASHTRA/1263/DHULE
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Navjeevan Vidya Vikas Mandal, Nagaon
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- Faq's
An accommodation is an adjustment made to a policy and/or academic environment to ensure students with temporary or permanent disabilities have equal
access to course material, information, activities, programs, housing, and other campus facilities.
It is possible to teach such children within the limitations of the retarded condition to adapt to their surroundings and carry out activities essential for daily living (functional capacity). Professionals in special education are continuously developing ways of working with such children to enhance their functional capacities. Special Education has so far demonstrated that given a supportive environment and a programme of education, they achieve a measure of independence at the level of daily living. It is thus essential that parents seek advice at the earliest from agencies and institutions working in Special Education.
Mentally challenged persons are not mad, they have limited ability to learn and develop. They learn slowly in relation to their actual age. Madness on the other hand is a disease which shows up in abnormal behavior. Persons who have normal mental capacity can also suffer from mental health issues and demonstrate disruptive behavior. Similarly some m7.entally retarded persons may also suffer mental emotiealth issues for which psychiatric help is provided.
Most of the parents and other members of the family feel sad or depressed at various stages of the child’s development. There is also the worry about the child’s future. Sometimes social contact is restricted or severely curtailed, as though the retarded condition of the child is like a blot on the family. Families could face rejection and/or neglect from close relatives, as though retardation is the family’s fault. In fact, it is at such conditions that the family needs emotional, financial and physical support most.
When the couple has had a good marital relationship of caring and understanding before the birth of a mentally retarded child, the couple tends to come closer to face the situation. Some parents report an increase in their patience and humanistic attitude. Brothers and sisters of such a child tend to become helpful, considerate and caring. Some of them choose caring and helping professions as a career. In their dealings with others, they become more cooperative and tolerant.
Trained Counselors, Psychologists and Social workers are available at Kamayani to help parents deal with their emotional reactions. Parents have to maintain a positive and stable frame of mind. Our staff have both experience and expertise in dealing with a variety of cases. Parents do well to talk out their problems and share their concerns with these experienced professionals who can be trusted m provide right guidance to the parents. It is always good to face your problem without delay rather than running away from it.
Parents have to guard against marital problems that could result from the care of the mentally retarded child. First there is likelihood of one parent blaming the other for the retardation of the child. Second is the sharing of the additional efforts needed for the care of the retarded child. Third there could be disagreements regarding the line of treatment to be followed. Fear of producing another retarded child, fatigue and lack of privacy may also create sexual problems between the parents. Seeking professional help should not be delayed by such parents.
Special education for mentally retarded children aims at teaching adaptive living skills necessary to decrease dependence on others and to increase self dependence. Adaptive living skills are those functional abilities that are necessary for daily living in a particular regional context. Daily living may call for commuting, buying groceries and provisions, making phone calls, deposit and withdrawal of money and so on. The skills required for carrying out these kind of activities are categorized as follows;
- Motor skills: making coordinated physical movements, using simple instruments.
- Self care skills: personal hygiene, presentation and attire
- Social: following social norms in groups and public places
- Communication: expressing needs and requirements to others
- Functional Academic: reading, writing, counting
Most students benefit from training in adaptive living skills. Those with mild retardation can also learn basic academic skills and go up to the level of normal Fifth Standard students. Besides acquiring skills, these children benefit from regular monitoring of health and behavior. Participation in sports and cultural activities is beneficial from the point of view of Social and Communication skills.
There are four conditions that must be met for such education to be effective:
- First, the programme of education must be relevant to the child’s capacity and needs.
- Secondly, the education must be imparted in a systematic order.
- Thirdly, the family must take interest in educational activities and support the child fully.
- Lastly, the child must get opportunities to practice these skills both at home and in the community.