Education of persons with intellectual disabilities in India

Abstract

Historically in India, persons with disabilities enjoyed co-existence, though at different times, the treatment and attitudes were at variance. Out of all the types of disabilities, an intellectual disability poses greater challenges than the other types.

The National Trust: A viable model of care for adults with intellectual disabilities in India

“…It organizes annual national conferences for parents to identify needs and discusses these needs with the government to inform the development of policy. Parental movements have contributed significantly to self-advocacy (Rao, 2008; Rao and Reddy, 2004). However, parents still require a policy that guarantees that their adult offspring with intellectual disabilities live within their community independently and with dignity.…”

Intellectual Disabilities: Public Policy and Resources

“…During the 10 th Five Year Plan, the outlay was 14,541 million Rupees, and the 11 th Five Year Plan will focus on early intervention, education, and employment, and aim at a barrier free and inclusive society. 10 Recently, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has come out with National Policy on Disability. In addition, there is a National Program for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (NPRPD) .2 However, till now, the care for persons with intellectual disability has largely been limited to the area of social and educational services and social welfare.…”

“…However, constraints involved in implementation may require provision of special setting for more severely disabled children. 10 The programme elements of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan include: early detection and identification, functional and formal assessment, educational placement, provision of aids and appliances, support services, teacher training, resource support, individualised education plan, parental training and community mobilization, planning and management, strengthening of special schools, and removal of architectural barriers. A revised plan for Inclusive Education of Children and Youth with Disabilities (IECYD) will target persons with disabilities in the age range of 14-18 years.…”

“…A revised plan for Inclusive Education of Children and Youth with Disabilities (IECYD) will target persons with disabilities in the age range of 14-18 years. 10 The establishment of the National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped led to improvements in availability of trained personnel, models of service, and resource materials adapted to the needs of intellectually disabled individuals; and the consequent growth of special schools for children with intellectual disability. About 200,000 intellectually disabled people have been helped through various programmes of the National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped.…”

“…aimed at non-discrimination and the latter at enabling and empowering persons with disabilities to live as independently and as fully as possible within or close to the community to which they belong. 10 In keeping with the Persons with Disability Act, the central government and several states in India have begun providing many social security measures like disability pension, family pension, scholarships for special education, travel concession, income-tax relief and special insurance policies. The National Trust Act has provisions for parents to obtain guardianship (either partial or complete) for their adult offspring's with intellectual disability.…”