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Special Education

Notes • The Ministry of Railways offers a discount of 75% on fare for all classes, and 50% on season
tickets to a person with disability on production of a valid Certificate of Disability.
• Blind literature and packages are exempt from postage and postal fees under prescribed
conditions. Persons with visual and locomotor disability get preferential allotment.
• The parent or guardian of a disabled person is entitled to a deduction up to Rs 40,000 in tax on
income. Deduction is also permissible to an individual or family member with respect to
expenditure incurred on medical treatment of a disabled person.
• Various agencies have been established to spearhead, maintain and encourage rehabilitation
efforts. The National Institutes provide direct services (e.g. assessment, early intervention,
training etc.), conduct human resource development programmes, engage in research activities
independently and in collaboration with voluntary agencies, and produce resource material
and equipment relevant to Indian needs.
• Most people believe that disability is either an irremediable medical condition or an act of fate.
In both cases the care must rest with the family of the disabled and not on the community.
• Prevention and early detection are important components of the medical model. However,
measures taken for these are insufficient.
• At times the process of availing of the benefits of schemes is so cumbersome and time-consuming
that most people prefer to by-pass them.
• The Persons with Disability Act (PDA) promises creation of facilities in almost all areas pertaining
to disability. But 'appropriate authorities' are directed to 'endeavour' or 'promote' integration
(of persons with disabilities) 'within the limits of their economic capacity and development'.
• Full inclusion of the disabled would mean removing the physical barriers of participation.
Conditions and regulations that actually build physical barriers must be changed immediately.
• To the stakeholders in the field, disability legislation in India seems progressive in spirit but
lacking in the strength to progress. On the other hand, a strong legislation might remove legal
barriers to participation but cannot ensure removal of social barriers against people with
disabilities.
• 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 Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme of 1986 aimed to prevent
occurrence of goitre, mental retardation and hearing impairment.
• 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.
• 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.
• The last decade of the 20th century saw the enactment of three legislations for the rehabilitation
and welfare of people with disabilities.
• The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation)
Act was passed in 1995. This is an important legislation that provides for both preventive and
promotional aspects of rehabilitation such as education, employment and vocational training,
reservation, research and human resource development, creation of barrier-free environment,
inclusion and independent living.
• The Rehabilitation Council of India Act 1992 led to the establishment of the Rehabilitation
Council of India (RCI).
• The National Trust Act 1999 provides for the constitution of a national body for the welfare of
people with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and multiple disabilities.

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