Role of Special School in Promotion of Inclusive Edcuaiton

1. Role of Special School in Promotion of Inclusive Edcuaiton Sharing of thoughts By Bhushan Punani Chairperson: ICEVI West Asia Executive Secretary: Blind People’s Association

2. Emerging Trends in Inclusive Education for Individuals with Visual Impairment • First Trend: Shift from Residential to Inclusive Education • First school for the Blind 1984: • 1784: in the world in Paris • 1954:Arthur Blaxall School for the Blind in South Africa • Journey - 232 years old in world • - 63 years old in South Africa

4. Special School

5. RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS • 1st School in the World – 1785 in Paris • 1st School in South Asia – 1954 Arthur Blaxall School for the Blind • Coverage - “Less than 5 % in Africa” • Focus – “Single category of disability”

6. RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS • Location • – “Mostly urban”. • Model • – “Charity & Welfare” • Funding • – “Mostly Govt & Public Charity”

7. RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS • Founders • – Missionaries, Blind Persons themselves, their Teachers & Parents” • Managed with • - Public Donations or Grants • – Department of Social Welfare

8. Resource Model

9. World over there is debate as regard Shifting from Residential to inclusive education • Salamanca and UNCRPD recognize inclusive education

10. Shift from Special to Integrated Two Prominent Models: Model 1: Itinerant Model – Teacher visits from school to school to provide support to CWSNs Model 2:Resource Model : A Resource Room is created at regular school for such children & Resource Teacher provides support

12. New Expectations from Residential Schools With expansion of inclusive education Special Educators required for child preparatory School readiness services and Braille teaching Orientation & mobility & use of assistive devices Class Teachers carries out regular educational activities

13. There is debate world over • Whether to promote inclusive education alone • And close down residential schools • In Developing countries, the right approach is • To continue both modes of education • Children with deafblindness, multiple disabilities do require residential or Home Based Teaching

14. The Residential Schools however need to change their role • To be complimentary to inclusive education • Emerge as Resource Centres • To provide support inclusion

15. Residential School to provide: • Accessible text books, assistive and educational devices • Orientation of Class Teachers

16. Setting Resource Centres & making schools accessible • Making campus accessible • Provide reasonable accommodation • Promote total communication in inclusive schools

17. PROMOTE USE OF Technology based devices Expansion of Braille production Open source screen reading software Internet based audio books

18. Screen reading & magnifying software Refreshable Braille Audio equipment & close circuit TV Transformed school into smart school Such student should be able: To store, retrieve and access material As effectively as sighted person

19. Use of technology & software • Magnifying capacity of computer • Affordable Braille display • To provide transport facility to child • provide impetus to inclusive education

20. Role of Inclusive Schools • Provide volunteers to special schools • Involve Special schools in inclusive sports

21. Roles of Inclusive Schools • Involve blind students in cultural activities • Provide writers and readers to students • Record and provide audio books • Implement student exchange program • Mobilize resources for special schools • Promote use of technology & software

22. Role of Teacher Training Institutes Government should appoint Special Educators as regular teachers Universities should modify curriculum of teacher training Included "Disability Studies" as a paper All class teachers to handle children with visual impairment also

23. Despite being a blind person, completed her schooling with science • Got admission through court intervention • In Degree Course in Physiotherapy • Now a practicing physiotherapist.

24. Advantages of Complimentary Approach • Advantages of socialization • Inclusive development • Building of self confidence • Promotes sense of competition exams • Appearing in National Administrative exams • Banking recruitment

25. National Civil Services • Combined Admission of Tests for Premier Management Institutes • Many of them appointed as: • Bureaucrat, Executives, Bank Officers, Physiotherapists, Lawyers, Public Relation Officers

26. To sum up • Inclusive education - mode of journey • Not final destination or last frontier • Empowers the people • Builds self confidence • Promotes social inclusion • Builds capacity of schools

27. Brings a sense of accomplishment, achievement & self realization • And self actualization as well • Let us make inclusion - a way of life • For people facing seclusion, isolation & segregation • Under pretext of they being "special" • And requiring "special education" • Let us not change them

28. But the change the schools • Change the system • Change the mindset and • Change environment • Such change would usher in • New hopes • Now aspirations

29. Now aspirations • New dreams and • New targets of achieving something • Which is their right • That is “ Complete inclusion in an inclusive mainstream of social life".