Of education and different needs
Author :
Sangitha
Blog :Life and Times in Bangalore
Date: 6/11/2012 5:14:12 AM
Saw Satyameva Jayate and again think it is an issue that needs to be worked on in our country. The caveats are that it was only about physical disabilities – a much easier issue to handle, all one needs to work on is mobility, cognitive abilities are mostly not impacted. That we haven’t done even this is eggregious because it is as simple as just choosing to do it.
Yet, inclusiveness in education is much more than that. I liked that they mentioned the need to treat people the same – not with pity/disgust or elevating to godly status. That is inclusive philosophy. I was disappointed to not see even one instance of different needs from the brain development side. Forget Autism, not even ADHD or learning issues. Maybe there’s another show dedicated to LD. Maybe because Taare Zameen Par spoke about dyslexia, it is considered as spoken about.
Yeah, they can’t take up every issue in the world and should focus on those that hit a majority of folk. I hope civic sense is one of those, giving bribes included. If this means people who can’t depend on their limbs to take them places (elders included – high, irregular pavements, walk signals that are a few seconds in duration don’t help!) will get the help a civilized society needs to give, it will be a good first step.
Let’s not think it is inclusive in the entire sense.
P.S.: The statistic that every college in India is not disabled friendly is not true. I know of a few that voluntarily got lifts installed, classes changed to the ground floor when they couldn’t fix infrastructure majorly, aids, teaching styles changed to include the unsighted, etc.
