Translate The Content in Your Local Language

Sunday 23 June 2013

Nagpur Municipal Corporation summer camp helps special kids

Ten-year-old Ketan Vayukar, who had been suffering from locomotor disability (lack of development in his knee) since early childhood, was declared 'physically challenged' by the doctors.

Ketan, who is presently attending the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's summer camp, is full of life and is as good as a normal student of a regular school. He has displayed his skills at various crafts, can sing songs and even kick a football.

Ketan's is not an isolated case. Children with learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism and dyslexia among others, have a chance to gain from the summer camp and an opportunity - at least to a certain extent - to overcome their disability.

Under its Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan's Inclusive Education for special children, the NMC's education department has brought hope to several such children by enabling them to compete with normal students.

For Ketan's parents - Kavita and Kiran - the success story of their only son, has been incredible. "The world came crashing down on me, when I realized that my son had an acute knee problem. He could not even get up from his bed and I had to help him with doing everything. Even doctors failed to provide him treatment," said Kavita. "Looking at Ketan do all these things now is surely a big achievement for him and a joy for us," said Kavita with pride.

The month-long camp, which started on June 2, is providing activities like toy making, art and crafts, indoor sports (callisthenics, aerobics, kinesiology), outdoor sports (cricket, soccer, basketball, basketball), music and dance and storytelling.

Apart from 26 special teachers, physiotherapists and psychiatrics, the education department has also hired dance and music teachers.

Municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane on Saturday made a surprise visit to the camp and was elated to see the good response the camp evoked. "Success of the camp can be gauged with the fact that around 85 children (30 girls and 55 boys) from 3-18 year olds are attending the camp," he said.

Additional municipal commissioner Hemant Pawar, deputy municipal commissioner Sanjay Kakde and assistant municipal commissioner (Dhantoli zone) Mahesh Morone also took special effort to make the camp a success.

"We have no criterion for admission. Children who play together, learn together and then go on to live together. We ensure a safe, child-friendly environment which is free of attitudinal and environmental barriers," said assistant education officer Sushma Mankar.

"This is the time when they can learn, hone certain life skills and have fun at the same time. We have small groups so that we can give focused attention to each kid in each activity. If they are enrolled in summer camps organized by mainstream schools, they lag behind in activities and are unable to mingle. In our camp, siblings and friends are also welcomed," said Abhijeet Raut coordinator for Inclusive Education for Special Children in the NMC.

It is for the first time that the NMC had organized such a camp for special children. "Generally, family members of special children do not have an idea about the way such camps can be of help. They try to do everything for them, without realizing that these special children can be taught to be independent," Raut said.



Source : TOI , Nagpur ; 23rd June 2013

No comments:

Post a Comment