Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 27, 2007

More students reporting with learning disability, still a lot left out

A dearth of LD counsellors has made way for quacks who are making money

With a large number of students seeking learning disability (LD) certificate, the only clinic in the city that is authorised to certify it is running a backlog of students for three to four months. This, experts say, is a pointer to better awareness among parents and schools.

''Every year, over a 1000 referrals come from schools across the city and almost 60 to 70 per cent students are diagnosed as learning disabled," said Dr Madhuri Kulkarni, Dean, Sion hospital. She was speaking at the inaugural session of a day-long programme on learning disability called 'Tata Interactive Learning Disability Forum' on Monday.

In spite of the awareness, it is the lack of recognition of learning disabled as disabled that keep the students away from special accommodations within the framework of school curriculum and recognition to LD therapists as compared to therapists working with mentally retarded.

"Since the disability is not recognised, many quacks start their clinics and promise to help the children. There is a serious dearth of LD counselors in the city schools," said Kate Currawalla, president of Maharashtra Dyslexia Association. Contrastingly, the US and other developed countries follow the 'No child left behind' mandate and every school takes up the issue very seriously as the local media keeps a tab on the overall performance of the school.

“We have full support of the government and tests are a mandate for children. If, for example, there is a bunch of children from an underdeveloped country this will affect the overall performance of the school. The counsellor has to bridge the gap," said Polly Bayrd, Consultant, LD Clinic, USA. Even in India, efforts are taken even at the public school levels but experts say that the government is just taking baby steps to the ultimate goal. "Under Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyan, it is stated that every child has to be educated, which means even the slow learners have to be educated. However, many are left out as they are not referred to us in spite of being diagnosed," said Dr Kulkarni.

According to Currawalla, other problems apart from LD that impact learning specially in BMC school students or any other government school students are malnutrition, child abuse or neglect in the family. These, however, can be taken care of if the teacher gives special attention. "But the need of the hour is to get legal aspects right in place to differentiate who have dyslexia and need provisions and accommodations in class rooms which will in turn decide on the role of counsellors to guide children," she said.

Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 28, 2007
Section & Page: News, Pg. 3

Nair Hospital seeks to start LD certification centre

Learning disability forum addressed several issues faced by children, parents and schools

With over six lakh children appearing for SSC exams every year almost 5 to 15 per cent them are dyslexic, say experts. Sion Hospital, the only government -run LD centre in the city, is not able to cope with the huge influx of children seeking LD certification prior to the exams.

Speaking at a learning disability forum organised by Tata Interactive Systems on Tuesday Basanti Roy, director, Jawahar Bal Bhavan said that there was an urgent need for certification centres. "Certificates sometimes reach children in February, just a month before their exams," said Roy. The conference was attended by school principals, child psychologists, parents, and special educators.

If the State Education Department accepts the proposal to start a second government-run certification centre at Nair Hospital, the duration to seek certification will decrease, as will the load at Sion Hospital. "We have sent a proposal to the state education board in Pune. Once it gets clearance, we can take up cases for certification," said Dr Alka Subhramanyam, psychiatrist at Nair Hospital. Nair Hospital is running a remedial centre where dyslexic children from schools--civic and private-are being given remedial treatment. "We wanted to first start with a remedial centre and work towards becoming a certification centre. Now that we have over a 100 children coming for assessment tests every month, we can look forward to certification," said Subhramanyam.

Children availing special concessions have increased. "Four years ago only 95 children appearing for SSC exams availed concessions, now 285 children from Mumbai, Thane and Raighad availed the same," said Roy attributing the increase in number of students to growing awareness.

Many counselors found assessment difficult as children, especially those from regional mediums, found it difficult to answer tests in English. However, SNDT college has now come out with a series of tests in regional languages. Speaking about government initiatives Roy said, "Government has taken few steps under the Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyan sensitising principals, and involving teachers in identifying slow learners. It has issued several instructions to include LD-related issues in parent teachers association meetings."

However, the counselors and special educators think the government can do much more than just sensitising principals. "The government has to clearly chalk out concessions and then come down heavily on principals who shun these children," said a special educator from the audience.

A success story

Vineet Shetty(21), who was detected with dyslexia when he was in standard I, not only completed his graduation in mass media with flying colours but went on to start a creative company of his own. Having made two documentary films on the Railways and traffic in Mumbai with noted film personalities, Shetty said that he was determined to be part of the mainstream despite his shortcomings. He is thankful to his teachers and principal who after learning about his problem of learning disability advised his parents to get him tested at SNDT COllege."' was dyslexic in school but chose not to bear the stigma attached to it. During school, I enjoyed the benefits given to me for instance; l was exempted from maths and science papers and was given optional subjects of EVS and commerce. But in college, I chose to appear for my French paper despite the exemption, said Shetty.