Training in Special Education
VIDYA SAGAR (formerly, The Spastics Society of India, Chennai), the NGO working in the field of disability, offers various training programmes.
The first training course was started in 1991 with a postgraduate diploma in Special Education for People with Multiple Disabilities, filling a vital gap in training resource people to deal with cerebral palsy and other neurological impairments.
Sadiya Saleh, HRD coordinator, says the teaching methodology looks at the most recent techniques, and there would be interactive classes, debates and seminars. ``We also have a very well stocked library for reference and research. The alumni from our course have gone on to study in universities in India and abroad. Some of them have started their own organisations and a large number are working at our centre in various programmes."
In 2000, in partnership with Skillshare International (Cambridge, U.K.), the trans-disciplinary course began, in response to the demand for a large number of professionals and technical services to deal with neurological impairments. The trans-disciplinary approach to management results in optimum utilisation of human and monetary resources and is very relevant to the Indian context, he says.
Vidya Sagar also runs different awareness programmes. Short-term courses are held through the year for parents, volunteers and caretakers. Workshops are organised on request for mainstream schoolteachers, rehabilitation workers and professionals in related fields.
Current courses
PG diploma in Special Education for People with Multiple Disabilities (physical and neurological), which commences from July, is a one-year course. Graduates from any stream are eligible.
The course content includes:
Child development and developmental psychology.
Medical Aspects of Cerebral Palsy and other Neurological Impairments.
Therapeutic Aspects of Cerebral Palsy
Principles of Education
Community-based Rehabilitation
Special Education for the neurologically impaired.
Practice teaching in special schools.
Future prospects for students include opportunities in community-based rehabilitation, mainstream schools, special school, clinics and hospitals. Further studies in Indian and international universities can also be pursued.
Trans-disciplinary management
Tran-disciplinary management in the community to support people with cerebral palsy and other associated condition is a two-month course, which starts in January. This is meant for professionals with two years of work experience in the field of disability. The course covers physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and special education relevant to cerebral palsy and other neurological impairments. "This is very popular among foreign students, and our future plans include making the PG diploma course a global affair," Ms. Sadiya says.
The Foundation Course on Education of children with cerebral palsy from Bhoj University via the distance education mode for three months with three weeks of contact classes, thrice a year, is for any in-service teacher. The course focuses on ``developing a broad positive perception, understanding education, understanding early childhood development and intervention, development of adaptive skills, assistive devices ad special therapies and basic training for teaching children.'' Trained personnel can work in inclusive schools.
Various short-term modules that are available focus on Autism, Learning Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Reading, Parenting, among others. Please call Vidyasagar at 22354784 for more information.
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Karnataka
Chennai
Coimbatore
Hyderabad
Madurai
Tiruchirapalli
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
