Special focus on children with special needs

Vijayawada: NTR District Education Officer (DEO) L Chandrakala has called for early identification of children with special needs and ensuring that they receive required support and facilities to pursue education on an equal footing with other children.

A training-cum-awareness programme on education and identification of Children with Special Needs (CWSN), besides government schemes and facilities available to them, was organised for MEO-1 and MEO-2 officials of NTR district at CVR Municipal High School in Vijayawada on Saturday.

Speaking at the programme, Chandrakala stressed the need for teachers to identify children with special needs at an early age. She directed MEOs to ensure that every teacher completes screening process through Prashasta app developed by NCERT and to closely monitor its progress.

She said children identified through screening should be enrolled in schools and encouraged to attend classes regularly. Officials from different departments should work in coordination to ensure that CWSN children receive education, medical care, rehabilitation and other support services effectively, she added.

Samagra Shiksha Additional Project Coordinator R Ramesh Babu said around 20 CWSN children were receiving various services at each Bhavitha Centre. Physiotherapy and speech therapy were being provided through the centres, he said. He added that steps were being taken to establish an autism centre for every five municipalities. More than 2,351 CWSN children had been identified in the district, he said.

District Inclusive Education Coordinator Narayana said Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, recognises 21 types of disabilities. The government was providing various benefits to children with special needs, including transport, home-based education and escort allowances of Rs 6,000 each, besides Rs 2,000 stipend for girls, he said.

Girl Child Development Officer, education department officials, inclusive education staff and MEOs attended the programme.

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