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Special Education

Notes (iv) The motor vehicle act should make ...................... accessibility an essential condition for
manufacture of public transport vehicles.
(a) wheel chair (b) pedals (c) sticks (d) backbone support

32.3 Government Efforts to Prevent the Disability

32.3.1 Prevention
Prevention must be the priority of any government in order to reduce the incidence of disability. The
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme was launched in 1975-76. Its objectives were
to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the 0-6 age-group, provide nutrition and
health education for all women within the age range of 15-44, and enhance the capability of mothers
to tend to the health and nutritional needs of children.
The National Health Policy (1983) incorporated the WHO-sponsored Expanded Programme of
Immunisation. The universal immunisation programme is a drive against diphtheria, pertussis,
neonatal tetanus, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and measles. The Pulse Polio programme has been
undertaken nationwide for all Indian children (0-5 years) irrespective of their immunisation status.
The target is complete eradication of polio.
The National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme of 1986 aimed to prevent occurrence of
goitre, mental retardation and hearing impairment.
The Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme (1992) educates communities about pre-natal,
peri-natal and post-natal care of the mother and infant in order to prevent infant mortality and
developmental disabilities. The government has also set up a network of Primary Health Centres in
the country.
Efforts for early identification of disability have been made both by government and non-government
organisations (NGOs). Government hospitals are expected to have the expertise and equipment to
screen and identify disability. Positive steps towards early identification of disability include the
organisation of eye camps, and the involvement of anganwadi workers (nursery teachers in rural
and urban poor areas), village communities and mass media.
Early intervention through infant stimulation, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and
language therapy, parent counselling and training, has been provided by many government hospitals
and clinics run by NGOs. But these services are located in major cities and large towns only.
The role played by the National Institutes (autonomous bodies functioning under the Ministry of
Social Justice & Empowerment) is significant in prevention, detection and early intervention. The
government has set up four National Institutes, one each for hearing impairment, visual impairment,
locomotor disabilities and mental retardation. A fifth is being considered for multiple disabilities.
32.3.2 Education, training and employment
The education of children with disabilities is offered through a variety of service models ranging
from segregation to full inclusion in a mainstream classroom.
More than 50,000 children with disability are enrolled in the Integrated Education for Disabled
Children, a government-sponsored programme.
A few schools have resource rooms and employ special education teachers to help retain children
with special needs in their system.
Since there are almost no special schools or special educational services in rural India, integrated
education for children with special needs is provided by default in the village schools.
Pre-vocational and vocational training is provided within the special educational centres. Besides
this, training and rehabilitation education is also available at Vocational Rehabilitation Centres (VRC)

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