Education for children with different needs has been prioritized just recently. In India, about 2.2% of the population has special needs. Though the government has initiated multiple programs in these few years, parents of a special needs child have to go through a lot to provide a decent life for their child. It is also important to mention, besides formal education special needs children also need life-skill training approaches to live, tools that can enable them to live an autonomous life as much as possible.
This is only possible if they receive a trained support system. Both parents and teachers can provide for the needs of the special children and help them receive education just like others.
Challenges India is facing currently in Special Needs Education?
Political Challenges – While over time India is now observing government is taking initiatives, however, Indian policies for special needs children is still unclear. The lack of a centralized body to form guideline which is why, even if special children are able to complete their high school degree, in collages biasness prevails and often students are declined of admission.
Social Challenges – Although, people are becoming aware of inclusion and its importance. Nonetheless, India as a collective has a long way to go. There is still a lot of stigma and biases around accepting special needs children as part of society. These stigmas prevent them from getting proper education and jobs to have a career of their own with freedom.
Economic Challenges – Indian parents with their special needs children often face multiple economical issues. To begin with, raising a special needs child can be expensive. Regular checkups, medications, and other necessary expenses can be something parents struggle to afford.
Parents whose child has been diagnosed as special needs child frequently feels unsupported. The key to overcoming the everyday challenge is to be prepared and make a long-term plan to keep things in alignment. This way both parents and the child can manage their life to find better approaches to live and to maintain a balanced life.
What parents can do to support their Special Children?
Get Educated
First thing first, know your child. Which spectrum he or she falls into. Speak openly with the health care provider. As parents, it can be hard to manage a healthy balanced life, especially if there is too much emotional or behavioral stressor for the kids. Try to be as much resourceful as possible.
Parents of special need child also need to be well equipped with legal rights. Get informed about the government initiatives. By law, no school has the capacity to reject the admission of a special needs child. Make sure the school you picked for your child has appropriate teachers with specialised teaching and learning and other supportive assistance to meet the needs of your child.
Encourage sustainable approaches at home
As parents, you can develop and maintain few sustainable strategies for an overall healthy atmosphere at home. To start with, you can reinforce the lessons that are followed in school. Life-skill training approaches are extremely important. Besides, the academic skills parents can also assist their child in developing life skills.
Parents should also be conscious about when to help the child, and when to play the role of a silent observer. As parents, it is natural to provide for children, especially if they need extra support. However, it should not be overlooked that, as much as possible parents should promote autonomy.
Education is the birthright of all children. Children with learning differences are equally deserving of getting a proper education. Many parents choose to take up Special Education courses to provide better support to their children. This approach is modern and needs to be a prevailing method to get equipped as parents.
With the support of parents, the right resources, teachers with specialised teaching and learning, students with special needs can be well educated.
Furthermore, India needs teachers who have the skills and proficiency in supporting children with special needs. Above all, in order to bring a visible change educational sector, educational institutes need to promote inclusivity. This is the ultimate way to actively take participation in reforming what has been practiced so far.
Written By : Animesh Sarkar
