Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
The writing on the wall
|
Despite educators screaming from the rooftops, it took an Aamir Khan to wake people up about dyslexia
|
For some of you, what ensues might seem to be yet another piece of writing stemming from “Taare Zameen Par”. The fact is, some issues need to be highlighted once too often. Learning Disability or LD has been discussed in the media, but it took an Aamir Khan film to grab people’s attention.
Like Lakshmi Ravindra, director of a multi-disciplinary assessment clinic (Hyderabad) admits, “I’ve been working in this field for the last 15 years with my team, trying to create as much awareness as possible. A film could make the difference that we couldn’t. The film has made people wake up from their slumber.”
Hyderabad-based Suruchi Bhargav, a special educator who equipped herself to teach children with LD after her son was diagnosed with the same, says, “Slow learning children can be born to intelligent, educated parents as well. The parents’ first reaction is ‘Why me? We both are academic hi-fliers. Our child cannot be dyslexic?’” Psychologist referrals are frowned upon. Even today, they resist saying, “My child is not mad.”
Lack of awareness among parents and teachers, she says, hampers the progress of children with LD.
“Even when parents identify the problem, teachers feel that the parent is coming up with excuses for the child’s lack of concentration. When both the teacher and the parent take longer to identify the problem, the damage is done. The child is coaxed, compared with others, resulting in loss of self esteem.” Suruchi says more than corporal punishment, psychological trauma can torment a child.
Younger children with LD can be easily moulded. In some cases the older children find it tough to adapt and in certain cases, they themselves are resolved and cooperate better.
She cites the case of a standard VIII student who was identified to be a slow learner only last year. What’s discomforting is that most schools do not have the mandatory special educator and a psychologist on board. Further, schools willing to admit LD children try to isolate the child or ask the parent to accompany the child to handle temper tantrums. Lakshmi Ravindra says parents are unaware that the education board has special concessions for such children – extra time to complete the exam, overlook spelling errors, more marks for oral tests, etc.
“The child can produce a copy of the board’s sanction. The evaluator will take this into account,” she says.
Archana Reddy, a mother of a nine-year-old slow learner, is now doing a course to teach children like her daughter. Shweta Srivastav, a mother of an autistic son says, “Teachers should have an open mind.” A leading school made her run pillar to post for documents and finally cited the change in board of directors and policies to not admit her son. Now doing a course to teach such children, she says, “I understand his temper tantrums and it’s easier for me to teach him now.”
Children attending regular schools can take up additional help from special schools where work is like play. They are first taught personal skills, then social and academic skills.
Children are at ease with special educators because they are not judged here. Suruchi adds, “It takes at least one year for the child to show improvement. In this time, some parents lose interest and discontinue. LD is a life long process despite showing improvement.”
* * *
* A child’s workbook can tell an expert whether he/she has dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia.
* The education board grants concessions for students with LD, which includes extra time, more marks for oral tests, overlooking spelling errors etc.
* Schools should have a special educator, a psychologist, and cannot deny admission or dismiss children with LD.
SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
