School trains special kids for mainstream

LUCKNOW: Anchal, a 17-year-old class X student of Lucknow Public College, is preparing for her board examinations. She is aiming to improve on her average score of 60%. Though that score may appear low to most, her teachers point out it is as good as that of a topper, Anchal being visual challenged with partial hearing impairment.Anchal spends over six hours on oral and braille lessons at home besides attending school with a reader and special study material. “The special training she got at Bachpan Day Care, a government supported, free-of-cost learning centre for specially-abled kids, has not only helped her join mainstream school but also keep pace with other children at school,” said Anchal's mother Seema Saini, adding, “Initially I was worried how she would cope in class. Today, she aspires to work in a bank,” Seema said. “Bachpan centre is aptly named because it is protecting the bachpan (childhood) of our kids,” she added.Over 150 visually challenged, hearing impaired and mentally retarded children trained at Bachpan have joined mainstream schools in the past 10 years. Starting with children at the age 3-6 years, teachers groom them as per their specific needs. Visually impaired students are taught how to perceive sensations. Those with hearing disability are taught the sign language and those with mental ailments are taught to deal with it in the best possible way. Amanah is studying in lower prep at Christ Church College. Though the girl is visually challenged since birth, “she is good at imitating people, in fact she has also acted in several skits at school level. She was part of a function held at Indira Gandhi Pratishtrhan last year,” said her father Rashid.Meanwhile, the teachers working with these specially-abled children are more than delighted to be able to do their bit, if only the government would do its part too. “Funds are not enough. We have written to the Chief Minister several times for help but to no avail,” rued Vijay Laxmi, coordinator of Bachpan Day Care center.