Recently I came to know that another centre for L.D. certification has been opened at Nair Hospital, which is right next to Bombay Central station! Now I wonder how many parents who want their child tested for L.D., know about this new facility at a convenient location. Till a few months back, L.D. testing was available only at Sion Hospital(Lokmanya Tilak Hospital) for entire Maharashtra. Parents had to wait for days on end for an appointment to get their child tested for LD. and get the all-important certificate. I hope that with this new centre, now things will be a bit easier for parents.
To minimize the trauma of the parents, I feel that both these centres need to disseminate relevant information; about the steps and procedure of testing to parents and inform the schools about the concessions to be given to students ... What happens at present is that the child is tested by professionals like psychologists, special educators etc. and other child guidance clinics. But as these test results are not recognized by Sion hospital the child has to undergo testing once again for certification. After certification , the parent is still not sure about what is in store for his child from the school’s side.
A major flaw of the system is that the child is made to undergo tests time and again; secondly, the unclear procedures and guidelines about the concessions make life hell for the parent.
I have expressed my views about LD in my Editor's note also and attached a news clipping. It will be interesting to know the parent's point of view and to hear the school authorities speak.
Moreover this is just the Diagnostic part. What about the therapeutic part, i.e. Remedial Education? Both the certification centre and the schools hardly do anything about it. What should the parent do? What is the use of diagnosis if there is no therapy? Giving concessions is one of the ways to help the child with LD but not the only way.
I am quite concerned about this state of affairs. So I plan to hold a lecture series and a dialogue between the professionals, school authorities and the parents. What do you feel ? Let me know.
6 comments:
I fully agree with you Kavita....please let me know if you are planning some lecture series for parents of mentally handicapped children also.
right now i wanted to know whether the concept of individual education plan (IEP) is familiar in India and if there is any special educator who draws such plan for special children....
thanks for starting this blog
Sneha
Dear Sneha
Right now I am not thinking of any lecture series for children with mental handicap. May be sometime in future........
Special Educators are aware of IEPs. They are taught how to form IEPs during their Special Education course. After the Assessment, any special educator should be able to draw an IEP with Short term & Long Term Goals for the special child.
Any specific query, do let me know & Keep communicating.
Kavita
Dear Kavita,
Thanks a lot for replying. I will surely let you know in case of any
specific query. Your website www.childraise.com is a great resource for parents and teachers.
Wish you all the best in whatever you do !!
Sneha
Hi kavita
I am a special educatorit is great that Nair hospital has also started a centre for LD certification. But wat abt the childrn from suburbs I am running a centre at kandivli west and der are so many students living beyond kandivli. they have to go upto south Mumbai. One thing can be done is to open a centre at Suburb side in any Govt. hospital or IQ test done by psychologist in suburb area shd be accepted.
I hope some thing wil be surely done
Thanking You
Jinisha Chheda
SOL's ARC
Dear Mrs Kavita I am Dr Gai from Dharwad (Karnataka). I have come to Mumbai for my son's check up with Dr Nathan. I tried your no but not getting through. DO you have any other contact number. If possible I can call you today & meet you while I am in Mumbai.
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