‘Inclusive education, need of the hour’

A team of students from AMM Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai High School, Kotturpuram and Vidya Sagar planned and conducted the event. Director of Disability Rights Imitative and Human Law Network (HRLN) Rajiv Rajan, who was the chief guest for the day, said that inclusive education was the need of the hour and that had to come from within the classrooms.  He shared his journey of inclusive education through Deputy Director of Vidya Sagar, Dipti Bhatia, who is visually impaired, and translated his inaugural address. 

“When I think of inclusive education, I am reminded of my school days in Vana Vani located in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus. On my first day of class 11, people from Vidya Sagar had come to help me in my initial days of school. But soon after first period, I asked them to leave because my new friends already made me feel comfortable. Later, I found that my teacher had told class leaders to support me in what I do. I also remember being afraid of going for a picnic from school because I knew there would be so many physical barriers. But my classmates told me that they wouldn’t go without me. This is inclusion. While they help me with notes using carbon copy sheets, I used to help them with accounts,” he said. 

A student of AMM school, Preethi Prabha said, “We created the logo with five benches and a wheel chair. Despite our economic background, religion and disabilities we must be together.” During the group discussion, the students were made to give their feedback on how to communicate with the students with disabilities and if they have to be cool or to show pity on such students.