Gurgaon: Making it a better place for the specially abled...
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Gurgaon: Making it a better place for the specially abled...

On the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, here's a look at how the concept of 'inclusive schools' has been adopted by leading educational institutes in the city.

Gurgaon: Making it a better place for the specially abled...

Gone are the days when parents of specially abled kids ran from pillar to post to give their children a decent education. 

Over the years, Gurgaon has become more adaptable and sensitive to the needs of the differently abled. There is a plethora of NGOs, schools and resident initiatives devoted to the betterment and welfare of children with special needs. Further, social networking platforms have provided an impetus to the movement and helped create awareness about this. Films such as Taare Zameen Par have also helped sensitise people to children with special needs. 

These days, parents no longer have to relentlessly pursue schools for their child's admission. The concept of "inclusive schools" has been adopted by numerous leading educational institutes in the city, in which specially abled kids are both provided with special educators and extra assistance, and also brought into the mainstream fold.

Schools such as Scottish High International, DAV Public School and Little Hands Play School in Greenwood City have led from the front in this regard and take pride in their many specially abled students.

“Our doors are open to all students, and we have an integrated set-up to impart quality education to them," said Bakhtawar Saini, Director (Operations), Scottish High International School, in Sector 57. "Apart from multiple therapies, we have a modified curriculum for them, in which they are taught life skills that range from cutting nails, wearing socks and tying shoelaces to cooking and ironing. Apart from this, these kids are also encouraged to participate in activities such as photography, horse riding, roller skating, swimming and music to make them more confident and physically active." 

 

 

Some individuals, such as Sangeeta Rathi, have started their own schools. When Rathi’s one-and-a-half-year-old son was diagnosed with autism, she decided to take the challenge head on. Dissatisfied with the education standards in mainstream schools, she decided to start her own — Umeed.

“Initially, like any parent would be, we were in shock when our son was diagnosed," recalls Rathi. "We wondered why it had to be our kid who had to go through this. We were worried about his future, but we were sure of one thing — that we would give him the best we could of everything. Unfortunately, I didn't find a school that could focus properly on my child’s abilities, and hence, I started Umeed four years back to help others like us. We have about 35 kids now and concentrate on the development of their life skills, so they can become self-reliable as far as possible.” 

There are other residents, too, who have been doing their bit for the cause.

Gurgaon Moms, a social media group with a Facebook page that has more than 5,200 members, not only donates cash and essential items to the organisations working for kids with special abilities, but also spreads awareness about them and their needs. 

Experts emphasise that the right idea for successfully bringing up a special child is to focus on his or her abilities, rather than the disabilities. While some may be intellectually gifted, others may be amazing singers, painters or have out-of-the-box creativity. Identifying and focusing on them is key, they say.

A case in point is Ranveer Singh Saini, an inspiration in himself. At the age of 16, this special needs child won his first gold medal for India in golf at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. Saini, from Haryana, has won three gold medals in the Asia Pacific Games and has been featured thrice in the Limca Book of Records. For his extraordinary performance in the field of sports and bringing laurels to the country, Saini was conferred the Bheem Award, the highest sports honour in Haryana, at Haryana Raj Bhawan, Chandigarh, on February 19.

 

Ranveer Singh Saini (in blue coat and beige trousers) receiving the Bheem Award from Professor Kaptan Singh Solanki, governor of Haryana