Learning Disabilities and Teacher Training

LEARNING DISABILITIES

You all must have heard the term “Learning Disabilities”. They generally occur due to genetic or neurological factors that alter brain functioning in a manner which affects one or more cognitive processes related to learning.

These processing problems can interfere with learning basic skills such as Reading, Writing and Math.

Children who have been diagnosed with such disabilities find it hard to keep up with their syllabus or their school curriculum. They feel alienated from the rest of the world as they get taunted or bullied because of their disabilities. In such a situation we all expect the teacher to come to the child’s aid. A teacher’s behavior towards a mentally challenged child can actually leave a deep impact on his/her mind. All the mentally disabled children need a certain amount of nurturing and care to cope up with their studies. The only person who can provide this kind of care to the children is a teacher.

But we have to keep in mind that these cases are completely different. Most of the teachers are not used to handling mentally disabled children. In order to ensure proper education for the mentally disabled children detailed analysis of learning disabilities should be a part of teacher’s training.

What are the challenges faced by the teachers when they deal with mentally disabled students and how can those problems be resolved?

CHALLENGES TO DEAL WITH STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES:

In this case we require teachers with high competencies of teaching. When the teachers do not have adequate competencies they might have more stress.

Two major issues that cause teacher’s stress and burnout are:

1. Behavior problems

2. Inadequate teaching competence to provide an appropriate education program for all students.

Most teachers are not used to deal with such problems as they don’t have any knowledge about learning disabilities. They all end up being angry and rough which further pushes the child into the depths of despair.

But if the teachers know what the learner expects from them they can exactly deliver what they need. By having a deeper understanding of the students the teachers can approach them like a friend and guide them like a mentor to make them change their behavior and attitudes.

CONCEPT OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

When we speak about teachers being mentors for mentally disabled children we come across a term called “Inclusive Education”.

Inclusive education means all children in the same classrooms in the same schools. It means real learning opportunities for groups who have traditionally been excluded – not only children with disabilities, but speakers of minority languages too.

BENEFITS OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION:

1. Social benefits:

Research has shown that the benefits of inclusive classrooms reach beyond academics. When students with disabilities are taught only in special education classrooms, they are not given any opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people. This helps to improve their social skills and their behavior by having appropriate examples in the general education of classrooms.

2. Individualized instruction and academic achievement:

Often, in special education in classrooms, teachers can be forced to stray away from the curriculum due to fear that their students will not understand the important concepts and will not be able to master the material. In an inclusive setting, students with special needs are being exposed to age appropriate curriculum and are receiving individualized instruction to support them in the general education classroom. This can lead to students feeling more confident in themselves because they are being given important work that is easy and feeling like their accomplishments are minimal.

3. Collaboration of faculty and staff

All of the teachers and staff that are in inclusive classrooms need to be committed to the idea of inclusion and be willing to work together to make it successful. The faculty needs to work as a team to make sure that the needs of every student is being met and that all students are being supported in reaching their maximum potential.

CONCEPT OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN INDIA:

In 1947 the government of India began an initiative in the education and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

India is a multi lingual, multi cultural and multi religious country. Hence the road to achieve inclusive education is a long and varied one on which challenges and opportunities will arise.

UNICEF’s Report on The Status Of Disability in India (2000) stated that there are around 30 million children in India suffering from some form of disability. The government has created numerous policies around special education since the country’s independence. There could be many challenges for educating children with disabilities within regular classrooms.

There are particular challenges around negative attitudes and behaviour, on the part of both teachers and parent, in relation to the ability of disabled children to learn.

MEASURES TAKEN FOR INTRODUCING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN INDIAN SCHOOLS:

1. The Right To Education (RTE) must apply to all citizens of India. State and Central governments as well as the other social actors should recognize the importance of a broadened concept of inclusive education to all diverse neds of learners.

2. A policy of inclusion needs to be implemented in all schools and throughout Indian education system. Schools need to prepare all kinds of children especially the disabled ones to get the maximum benefit of this critical area of education.

3. The preparation of teachers for rural special education programmes should be planned differently, as the aim of these programmes would be to integrate disabled persons in their own environment and community.

We all need to stand against the stereotypes related to learning disabilities. You need to stand up against them and join us in this movement. It is our responsibility to gift them a happy and peaceful life when it comes to education.