TEACHERS' DAY OUT IN THE SHOES OF LEARNING DISABLED CHILDREN

TEACHERS' DAY OUT IN THE SHOES OF LEARNING DISABLED CHILDREN

- Sunita D’Souza

The theory on Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner has inspired a generation, and it continues to impact the lives of educators and students alike. The ‘Inclusive Education Programme’ is one such system that identifies and educates students with specific learning disabilities. Fr. Edward D’Souza, sdb, was here at St. Joseph’s to present this topic to the staff (Pre-Primary, Stds. I to VII) on 10^th January 2013.

Rev. Edward D'Souza began the morning session - after the prayer and introduction by the Principal, Fr. Bernard Fernandes - by placing us the teachers in the shoes of students faced with specific learning disabilities. Through the intelligence curve, the teachers got a chance to figure out the difference between slow learners and students with learning disabilities. The term 'Learning Disability' was coined by Dr. Samuel Kirk in 1962. The teachers were given special information based on the cause of learning disabilities (determined by the functions of the right and left hemisphere of the brain as detected in the medical tests with respect to sounds, sights and words). We became more aware of the symptoms of students faced with learning disabilities, their learning difficulties, and the facilities and concessions made available to them to sail through school life joyfully!

The power-point presentations highlighted the examples of famous personalities in art, music, science, etc. all over the world (who were learning disabled in their childhood) thus proving that they did not have an intelligence problem. Learning Disability is merely a neurobiological disorder. We gained deeper insight into the reasons behind the student's learning difficulties.

SETS (Special Education Teachers' Support) is a system to gradually compensate the concessions given to the students with learning disabilities over a period of time as they become better equipped to stand on their own feet and tackle their learning difficulties head on!

 After a sumptuous lunch break, the model of the Continuum of Alternative Placements for the students with learning disabilities was discussed with the participants. The display on the screen enabled us to get a clearer view of the comprehensive plan (that records the student's progress every year based on the teacher's observations) to help these students in different ways - general education class, resource room, separate class, separate school, residential facility or homebound/hospital environment - depending on the nature of the disability. This was to be done with the guidance of special educators.

Emphasis was also placed on ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The characteristics, criteria, symptoms, assessment and treatment of these students too came up for discussion. The information thus accumulated was indeed thought-provoking. We recognized that the discrepancy between the student's potential and achievement was the basis of all learning disabilities! This was motivation and inspiration enough for us to do what it takes to make life easier for the learning disabled children. The checklist provided to us teachers by Rev. Fr. Edward D'Souza furnished us with a deeper insight into the world of the learning disabled students.  We got to see a clearer picture of the potential ability of a student with a learning disability!

The day’s session complete, Fr. Edward was thanked by one of the teachers on behalf of the Management, Staff and students of St. Joseph's, and was offered a token of love and appreciation. For us teachers, walking in the shoes of students with learning disabilities (for a day)  paved the way for a whole new approach to teaching and learning, where the students with learning disabilities will feel at par with the other students and believe that they can and will accomplish greater heights!