Institutions

Jammu

Mumbai

Organizations working with the disabled in Jammu

Tackling the problem of a handicap is gigantic - a challenging task indeed -as it has multi-dimensions like economic, social, physiological, educational, vocational, medical treatment, rehabilitation and empowerment aspects. Various factors, natural or man-made can lead to handicaps of various types.

Vijay Gupta of the Association of Deaf laments that the Government and other agencies are not putting in sufficient efforts for welfare of the handicapped who are an integral part of the society. BL Verma, President of the National Federation of Blind, pinpointed that unemployment is a major problem among the visually handicapped and urged the State Governments to ensure a reservation quota of one per cent in employment opportunities.

He asked that the Disability Act be implemented for the welfare of the handicapped. He informed that two kanals of land have been allotted by the JDA at Roop Nagar in Jammu for construction of a decent school and hostel for disabled students. A handicapped individual is an integral part of the community at large and his interests are intrinsically bound with those of the community.

Welfare services for the handicapped essentially fall into two categories: first, services aimed at helping a handicapped individual to gain the maximum degree of economic self-reliance and second, services aimed at providing minimum support system for living with self-respect. They need support and help of the society to help themselves.

Post - Independence, various schemes have been brought out for the persons with physically disability and some have also got tangible results but the problem is so gigantic that much more remains to be done. Ram Lal and majority of the students at the Deaf & Dumb School in Jammu empathetically demanded for boarding facilities.

This is all the more essential for those hailing from far-flung areas of the Jammu region. They also demanded more staff and special teaching aids. Basanti Gupta, another student, complained that special schools should have a bus service, as it is very difficult for them to travel daily.

Rajnish Sharma, a student from Jammu who undertook vocational training in motor winding had high praise for the Samaj Kalyan Kendra for arranging such courses for the handicapped through the government Polytechnic.

Although he did ask that the certificates to successful candidates should be awarded promptly so that they do not have any difficulty in seeking job opportunities. National Federation of Blind J&K Branch is working for the visually impaired. They are managing a Louis Braille school, which provides free boarding and lodging for sightless girls.

Sankalap, a multi-therapy centre for education for the handicapped at Nanak Nagar is rendering useful service to the handicapped people. Home for Physically Handicapped, was set up in Jammu by the Red Cross for helping the handicapped in education and rehabilitation but it is now functioning under a Non-Government organization.

The Samaj Kalyan Kendra's High School for Deaf and Dumb at Shaheedi Chowk in Jammu is imparting education and also arranging short-term polytechnic courses. Jammu has a Leper home (Kusht Ashram) at Bhagwat Nagar serving persons afflicted by leprosy.

Source: Handicapped by hurdles. The Excelsior, Jammu, 8th January 2006.

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Learning Foreign Languages

A School for the blind at Tardeo is teaching its students German and French so that they can get jobs at call centres and as interpreters in private firms, embassies, universities and IT companies. The Victoria School for the Blind believes that this teaching will make their students independent.

According to school authorities, the visually impaired have mostly been restricted to jobs as telephone operators. However, these jobs do not pay enough. The school zeroed in on German and French since it realized that these languages were what most companies wanted.

They claimed that some call centres had already approached the school too see what progress their wards were making. Radha Subramanian said that they had set SSC, HSC and knowledge of English as the basic requirement.

No modifications will have to be made to workplaces to accommodate these students since they are being trained for tasks that will largely require listening to customers or talking to them. As interpreters, they will deal with very little paperwork. The student's French teacher said that they may not have vision, but their hearing is very sharp.

Although at first it is difficult to learn a new language, once it has been practiced enough, they acquire proficiency. Lata Umaraliya, a student said that this was a good opportunity for them. When they go for interviews, they can proudly claim that they know foreign languages. She has already landed a job at Shaman Ford, Prabhadevi.

Rahul Shirsat said that he wants to make a career in music and he also wants to go abroad. Learning the languages will help him realize his dreams. He finds pronunciation a little difficult but he knows he will master it.

Source: With a job in sight, Mumbai Mirror, Mumbai, 9th January 2006

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A 'Special Gym'

While all gyms in Mumbai are making money, Ms. Anahita Cassinath's gym - founded in 1986 - is creating a fitness routine including special children. Children with cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, neurological disorders, muscle dysfunction and hyperactivity can come here to follow a fitness regime.

Ms Cassinath says that training children with special needs requires time, attention and energy. It is not an easy task. One needs to be careful, understanding and patient while dealing with special children as they are more sensitive and they all have their own special needs.

She also said that when she was younger, she wanted to learn gymnastics, but in those days it was not easy since there were hardly any places that actually taught this sport. Moreover, not many women were into gymnastics in Mumbai. Her gym helps her to fulfill her dream of teaching gymnastic to those who are interested in learning the sport.

Gym Club is not a creche for children. Therefore, she has different class timing for different age groups. The gym is a platform for those who want to take part in gymnastic competitions. 'Mallakhamb', the Indian form of rope and pole gymnastics, is also taught here. This exercise is very useful for the growth and muscle function.

The team of instructors at Gym Club is friendly, experienced and patient and they can deal with the needs of all. Their aim is integrating special children into regular classes with other children. It needs them to be very patient but each step is a triumph for the child, teacher and the parent.

Source: Gym trains children for Special Olympics. Asian Age, New Delhi, 8th January 2006.

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