Though it is not rare to see institutions providing education to children with special needs while also catering to health and nutritional requirements, it is hard to see such efforts in the rural areas. Hence, many such children are deprived of basic education too. The Chamarajanagar chapter of Mobility India, a Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation, has emerged as a ray of hope to such people, particularly children, in the region. The vision of the organisation is to realise an inclusive and empowered community, where people with disabilities, their families and other disadvantaged groups, have equal access to education, health, livelihood and enjoy a good quality of life.
The Chamarajanagar chapter was started in 2007 with an objective of women empowerment through the formation of self-help groups and other community-centred programmes. Later, it took up the cause of children with special needs. The project was taken up in the villages of Chamarajanagar and Harave hoblis of Chamarajanagar district.
Education matters
The focus was on children in the age group of 6 and 14 and a programme under the title 'Education and Livelihoods' was designed for the purpose. The programme aimed at improving the quality of mainstream primary education while striving for the inclusion of children with special needs to be enrolled in and benefit from a full cycle of primary schooling. It also provided assistive devices, and facilitated livelihood opportunities and sanitation programmes. It was not easy to change the conservative mindsets of teachers who felt that it was impossible to teach these kids along with other children. Even parents were concerned about their children going to school as they felt that it would be difficult for them to get adjusted to the school environment.
In spite of the hardships, the organisation firmly believed that education is vital in breaking the cycle of poverty and social discrimination. Keeping these views in mind, the organisation decided to conduct classes after school hours for these kids. It was not an easy task. On one hand, every child's requirements were different while on the other hand they had to be taught the common curriculum. The organisation recruited postgraduates with BEd degrees and trained them with skills necessary for teaching these kids. This training also changed the perception of school teachers and they came forward to get involved in the project.
After the initial training, the organisation has been conducting monthly workshops for government school teachers and the organisation's teachers. Resource centres have been set up for the purpose. Trainings have changed their approach to teaching,and now they are more practical and have been using necessary equipments. For instance, while teaching air pressure to a child with hearing imparities, teachers use fans of different sizes. Children with visual disabilities are made to 'feel' the subject. After all these efforts, students here attend school like any other normal child.
The organisation has opened community education centres to facilitate effective learning among such kids. Right now, the programme has reached three hoblis and about 470 children have benefited from it. Along with studies, physical education classes are also conducted. It took about 2 years for the team to give a proper shape to the programme. "The kids are taught through child-friendly activities and attention is given to individual needs. As more kids got involved in the activities, the usual notions about their schooling got changed," says Ananda, coordinator of the project in Chamarajanagar.
Now the results of the efforts are visible and people observe a change in the lives of these kids. Education has given new hopes to these little ones. Fifteen kids who were initiated into education under the project have been enrolled to colleges too. Some of the kids have continued with the organisation as volunteers.
"Educational institutions are apprehensive to enrol these kids, fearing the school's overall performance. But this isn't true. Moreover, by doing so, they will be violating the Right to Education Act, which hails the concept of education for all. The schools should understand this and facilitate inclusive schooling. Governments and departments should work towards proper utilisation of the grants and allowances meant for these kids. This will help a long way in achieving inclusive education," says Ananda.
"We can bring about changes in the lives of children with special needs and make them enjoy schooling if we interact positively with them. It is possible to identify and encourage their interests when we spend more quality time with them," says Suvarna, a teacher at a resource centre in the district. For more details, visit www.mobility-india.org.![]( "happy faces Kids playing at a school in Chamarajanagar.")
Though it is not rare to see institutions providing education to children with special needs while also catering to health and nutritional requirements, it is hard to see such efforts in the rural areas. Hence, many such children are deprived of basic education too. The Chamarajanagar chapter of Mobility India, a Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation, has emerged as a ray of hope to such people, particularly children, in the region. The vision of the organisation is to realise an inclusive and empowered community, where people with disabilities, their families and other disadvantaged groups, have equal access to education, health, livelihood and enjoy a good quality of life.
The Chamarajanagar chapter was started in 2007 with an objective of women empowerment through the formation of self-help groups and other community-centred programmes. Later, it took up the cause of children with special needs. The project was taken up in the villages of Chamarajanagar and Harave hoblis of Chamarajanagar district.
Education matters
The focus was on children in the age group of 6 and 14 and a programme under the title 'Education and Livelihoods’ was designed for the purpose. The programme aimed at improving the quality of mainstream primary education while striving for the inclusion of children with special needs to be enrolled in and benefit from a full cycle of primary schooling. It also provided assistive devices, and facilitated livelihood opportunities and sanitation programmes. It was not easy to change the conservative mindsets of teachers who felt that it was impossible to teach these kids along with other children. Even parents were concerned about their children going to school as they felt that it would be difficult for them to get adjusted to the school environment.
In spite of the hardships, the organisation firmly believed that education is vital in breaking the cycle of poverty and social discrimination. Keeping these views in mind, the organisation decided to conduct classes after school hours for these kids. It was not an easy task. On one hand, every child’s requirements were different while on the other hand they had to be taught the common curriculum. The organisation recruited postgraduates with BEd degrees and trained them with skills necessary for teaching these kids. This training also changed the perception of school teachers and they came forward to get involved in the project.
After the initial training, the organisation has been conducting monthly workshops for government school teachers and the organisation’s teachers. Resource centres have been set up for the purpose. Trainings have changed their approach to teaching,and now they are more practical and have been using necessary equipments. For instance, while teaching air pressure to a child with hearing imparities, teachers use fans of different sizes. Children with visual disabilities are made to 'feel’ the subject. After all these efforts, students here attend school like any other normal child.
The organisation has opened community education centres to facilitate effective learning among such kids. Right now, the programme has reached three hoblis and about 470 children have benefited from it. Along with studies, physical education classes are also conducted. It took about 2 years for the team to give a proper shape to the programme. "The kids are taught through child-friendly activities and attention is given to individual needs. As more kids got involved in the activities, the usual notions about their schooling got changed,” says Ananda, coordinator of the project in Chamarajanagar.
Now the results of the efforts are visible and people observe a change in the lives of these kids. Education has given new hopes to these little ones. Fifteen kids who were initiated into education under the project have been enrolled to colleges too. Some of the kids have continued with the organisation as volunteers.
"Educational institutions are apprehensive to enrol these kids, fearing the school’s overall performance. But this isn’t true. Moreover, by doing so, they will be violating the Right to Education Act, which hails the concept of education for all. The schools should understand this and facilitate inclusive schooling. Governments and departments should work towards proper utilisation of the grants and allowances meant for these kids. This will help a long way in achieving inclusive education,” says Ananda.
"We can bring about changes in the lives of children with special needs and make them enjoy schooling if we interact positively with them. It is possible to identify and encourage their interests when we spend more quality time with them,” says Suvarna, a teacher at a resource centre in the district. For more details, visit www.mobility-india.org.
The Chamarajanagar chapter was started in 2007 with an objective of women empowerment through the formation of self-help groups and other community-centred programmes. Later, it took up the cause of children with special needs. The project was taken up in the villages of Chamarajanagar and Harave hoblis of Chamarajanagar district.
Education matters
The focus was on children in the age group of 6 and 14 and a programme under the title 'Education and Livelihoods' was designed for the purpose. The programme aimed at improving the quality of mainstream primary education while striving for the inclusion of children with special needs to be enrolled in and benefit from a full cycle of primary schooling. It also provided assistive devices, and facilitated livelihood opportunities and sanitation programmes. It was not easy to change the conservative mindsets of teachers who felt that it was impossible to teach these kids along with other children. Even parents were concerned about their children going to school as they felt that it would be difficult for them to get adjusted to the school environment.
In spite of the hardships, the organisation firmly believed that education is vital in breaking the cycle of poverty and social discrimination. Keeping these views in mind, the organisation decided to conduct classes after school hours for these kids. It was not an easy task. On one hand, every child's requirements were different while on the other hand they had to be taught the common curriculum. The organisation recruited postgraduates with BEd degrees and trained them with skills necessary for teaching these kids. This training also changed the perception of school teachers and they came forward to get involved in the project.
After the initial training, the organisation has been conducting monthly workshops for government school teachers and the organisation's teachers. Resource centres have been set up for the purpose. Trainings have changed their approach to teaching,and now they are more practical and have been using necessary equipments. For instance, while teaching air pressure to a child with hearing imparities, teachers use fans of different sizes. Children with visual disabilities are made to 'feel' the subject. After all these efforts, students here attend school like any other normal child.
The organisation has opened community education centres to facilitate effective learning among such kids. Right now, the programme has reached three hoblis and about 470 children have benefited from it. Along with studies, physical education classes are also conducted. It took about 2 years for the team to give a proper shape to the programme. "The kids are taught through child-friendly activities and attention is given to individual needs. As more kids got involved in the activities, the usual notions about their schooling got changed," says Ananda, coordinator of the project in Chamarajanagar.
Now the results of the efforts are visible and people observe a change in the lives of these kids. Education has given new hopes to these little ones. Fifteen kids who were initiated into education under the project have been enrolled to colleges too. Some of the kids have continued with the organisation as volunteers.
"Educational institutions are apprehensive to enrol these kids, fearing the school's overall performance. But this isn't true. Moreover, by doing so, they will be violating the Right to Education Act, which hails the concept of education for all. The schools should understand this and facilitate inclusive schooling. Governments and departments should work towards proper utilisation of the grants and allowances meant for these kids. This will help a long way in achieving inclusive education," says Ananda.
"We can bring about changes in the lives of children with special needs and make them enjoy schooling if we interact positively with them. It is possible to identify and encourage their interests when we spend more quality time with them," says Suvarna, a teacher at a resource centre in the district. For more details, visit www.mobility-india.org.
Though it is not rare to see institutions providing education to children with special needs while also catering to health and nutritional requirements, it is hard to see such efforts in the rural areas. Hence, many such children are deprived of basic education too. The Chamarajanagar chapter of Mobility India, a Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation, has emerged as a ray of hope to such people, particularly children, in the region. The vision of the organisation is to realise an inclusive and empowered community, where people with disabilities, their families and other disadvantaged groups, have equal access to education, health, livelihood and enjoy a good quality of life. The Chamarajanagar chapter was started in 2007 with an objective of women empowerment through the formation of self-help groups and other community-centred programmes. Later, it took up the cause of children with special needs. The project was taken up in the villages of Chamarajanagar and Harave hoblis of Chamarajanagar district.
Education matters
The focus was on children in the age group of 6 and 14 and a programme under the title 'Education and Livelihoods’ was designed for the purpose. The programme aimed at improving the quality of mainstream primary education while striving for the inclusion of children with special needs to be enrolled in and benefit from a full cycle of primary schooling. It also provided assistive devices, and facilitated livelihood opportunities and sanitation programmes. It was not easy to change the conservative mindsets of teachers who felt that it was impossible to teach these kids along with other children. Even parents were concerned about their children going to school as they felt that it would be difficult for them to get adjusted to the school environment.
In spite of the hardships, the organisation firmly believed that education is vital in breaking the cycle of poverty and social discrimination. Keeping these views in mind, the organisation decided to conduct classes after school hours for these kids. It was not an easy task. On one hand, every child’s requirements were different while on the other hand they had to be taught the common curriculum. The organisation recruited postgraduates with BEd degrees and trained them with skills necessary for teaching these kids. This training also changed the perception of school teachers and they came forward to get involved in the project.
After the initial training, the organisation has been conducting monthly workshops for government school teachers and the organisation’s teachers. Resource centres have been set up for the purpose. Trainings have changed their approach to teaching,and now they are more practical and have been using necessary equipments. For instance, while teaching air pressure to a child with hearing imparities, teachers use fans of different sizes. Children with visual disabilities are made to 'feel’ the subject. After all these efforts, students here attend school like any other normal child.
The organisation has opened community education centres to facilitate effective learning among such kids. Right now, the programme has reached three hoblis and about 470 children have benefited from it. Along with studies, physical education classes are also conducted. It took about 2 years for the team to give a proper shape to the programme. "The kids are taught through child-friendly activities and attention is given to individual needs. As more kids got involved in the activities, the usual notions about their schooling got changed,” says Ananda, coordinator of the project in Chamarajanagar.
Now the results of the efforts are visible and people observe a change in the lives of these kids. Education has given new hopes to these little ones. Fifteen kids who were initiated into education under the project have been enrolled to colleges too. Some of the kids have continued with the organisation as volunteers.
"Educational institutions are apprehensive to enrol these kids, fearing the school’s overall performance. But this isn’t true. Moreover, by doing so, they will be violating the Right to Education Act, which hails the concept of education for all. The schools should understand this and facilitate inclusive schooling. Governments and departments should work towards proper utilisation of the grants and allowances meant for these kids. This will help a long way in achieving inclusive education,” says Ananda.
"We can bring about changes in the lives of children with special needs and make them enjoy schooling if we interact positively with them. It is possible to identify and encourage their interests when we spend more quality time with them,” says Suvarna, a teacher at a resource centre in the district. For more details, visit www.mobility-india.org.