The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : “Inclusive education essential for children with special needs”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 10, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“Inclusive education essential for children with special needs”

Staff Reporter

It is the first in a series of rallies across the State
Rally aimed at creating awareness of need for education

— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

FOR A CAUSE: Participants at a rally organised in Chennai on Saturday to highlight the importance of education for children with special needs.

CHENNAI: It was exceptionally hot and perspiration and thirst were at their peak. But that did not deter children from 20 special needs schools from walking and being wheeled on the service road near Marina Beach.

Carrying placards describing education as an investment and its importance for the future, they took part in a rally to mark world literacy day and spread the message about the importance of education for children with special needs here on Saturday.

The rallywas organised by the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), West Asia Region, and the Tamil Nadu State Coordination Committee of Parivaar (TNSCC).

Commissioner for the Disabled V.K. Jeyakodi, who flagged off the rally, said inclusive education was essential for children with special needs.

District Governor of Lions District 324 A5 K. Gireesh said if mentally impaired children were given love, care and affection, they could develop and grow the same way as normal children.

ICEVI secretary general M.N.G. Mani said though many government schemes were available for the disabled, it was for the parents to make their children use them effectively. Many parents of special needs children did not send their children to schools.

“Invest in education”

“Parents should value education. They should think that an investment in education is an investment into the future,” he said. The rally was aimed at creating awareness among parents of disabled children about the need for education, he added.

The rally was the first in a series of rallies to be held across the state, said Parvathy Viswanath of TNSCC.

A meet for parents would be conducted soon to discuss education and employment for special needs children.

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