Conclusion

CONCLUSION                                                                                

The SSA mission has been impressed with the strategic approach, awareness and commitment in the State towards promoting inclusive education as well as progress achieved. Important elements in the approach are: involvement of existing schools, VEC and communities in tracking children with disabilities, partnership approach with 40 NGOs contracted to appoint 2 special teachers (in addition to a physiotherapist) at each Block Resource Centre; professional guidance, materials and back-up support from two internationally reputed resource institutions; supply to each BRC of special TLM as well as basic diagnostic/therapeutic equipment; training of all regular teachers on how to handle differently-able (“disabled”) children, awareness raising activities for parents, VEC etc. The mission has been very positively impressed with the empowerment which the highly evolved SSA policy and funding framework has been able to bring about at the village and community level, including in traditionally less school-friendly communities. Furthermore, the SSA framework has equally been very effective in strengthening commitment and capacity towards supporting enhanced service delivery of Persons with Disabilities throughout the India as well as in building new and innovative partnerships with civil society organizations. The thrust of SSA will be on providing integrated and inclusive education to all children with special needs in general schools.