AP to expand autism support centres in govt schools

Vijayawada: As schools prepare to reopen soon, Andhra Pradesh is moving ahead with plans to strengthen autism support services through government schools, with district-level centres being readied as part of a wider statewide network under Samagra Shiksha and Bhavitha initiatives.Officials said two autism support centres, at Mangalagiri and near Bapatla, are already functional and continue to operate even during the summer break.State assistant inclusive education coordinator Mallikarjuna G said the next phase of expansion is being prepared district-wise, with civil works, tenders and infrastructure development already underway ahead of the new academic year.The autism support centres are being established within government school campuses rather than as separate institutions. Two dedicated rooms are being identified and renovated in each school to house therapy and learning facilities.Officials said the state has sanctioned 125 autism support centres and is simultaneously pushing infrastructure, staffing and monitoring systems. Recruitment is underway for 875 special educator posts to support children with special needs (CwSN) across the state.Each centre is planned with therapy and teaching-learning material, sensory-support resources and rehabilitation equipment. Officials said approximately Rs 27 lakh has been allocated per centre, along with additional funding of around Rs 5 lakh for equipment.Mallikarjuna said inclusive education for CwSN is already being implemented in the state, and the centres are intended to strengthen behavioural and educational support systems within schools.“Inclusive education means ensuring equal learning opportunities for CwSN in regular schools with the support they require,” he said.According to officials, the centres are expected to include multidisciplinary support teams comprising psychologists, speech therapists, behavioural specialists and trained educators to provide therapy and academic interventions suited to children’s needs.P Sunil, a special educator, said awareness and interventions at the field level have expanded considerably through Bhavitha and Samagra Shiksha initiatives.“Screening, speech therapy, physiotherapy and academic interventions are provided based on a child’s needs. Teachers and parents are also trained and counselled to create supportive environments,” he said.Officials said a dedicated monitoring mechanism is also being planned to track autism centres and strengthen implementation as the network expands across the state.