Those diagnosed with autism to be treated at six centres
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is planning to complete the distribution of supportive aids to 14,500 differently-abled schoolchildren in the district by August.
A.K. Abdul Hakkeem, district programme officer, SSA, said here on Sunday that hearing-impaired and visually-impaired children were given special attention this time. “They were broadly categorised into four groups – fully deaf and partially blind; partially deaf and fully blind; fully blind; and fully deaf,” he added.
Some of their problems could be cured through corrective surgeries. “As many as 7,500 students will be distributed spectacles. Those having hearing problems will be subjected to audiogram tests and will be given hearing aids,” Mr. Hakkeem said.
Those diagnosed with autism will be treated at the six autism centres in the district. Students who are suffering from cerebral palsy will be given special chairs. Another area of concern, Mr. Hakkeem said, was community mobilisation. Awareness campaigns have been planned for parents of such children. “The parents of normal children should be made aware that differently-abled kids too are part of society. They need empathy, not sympathy,” he said. Success stories and orientation programmes will be held to stress the point that they too have their rights.
Mr. Hakkeem pointed out that normally the identification and distribution of supportive aids used to get delayed because of various reasons. “This year, we started the survey to identify special children soon after the academic year began. Our resource persons identified 14,500 differently-abled school-going children between Class 1 and Class 8,” he said. “Medical camps to diagnose their problems are on now in association with the Health Department, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, and the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences. We hope to wind it up by July 10,” he added.
Parents of normal children should be made aware that differently-abled kids too are part of society. They need empathy, not sympathy
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