Need for mainstreaming persons with disabilities

 By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 21

Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Mrs. Geeta Bhukkal emphasized the need for mainstreaming persons with disabilities in general and persons with hearing impairment in particular.

          Mrs. Bhukkal was addressing the gathering after inaugurating a two-day National Conference on Empowerment of the Persons with Hearing Impairment here today.

          She also emphasized the need for training adequate number of resource teachers for meeting the educational requirements of the children with special needs. She was of the opinion that persons with disabilities should be encouraged to join mainstream education under Right to Education. She urged the parents to assume major responsibility for rehabilitation, education and training of hearing impaired persons. She also apprised the conference delegates about the initiatives of the Haryana Government in the area of disability.

          Speaking on the occasion Director-Principal, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, Dr. Raj Bahadur spoke about the roles of Medicos in identification, early intervention and rehabilitation of the disabled persons. He spoke at length about the anguish and pain experienced by the persons with disabilities, their parents and the society at large. He was of the opinion that the huge population of hearing impaired in the country needs mainstreaming in all walks of life for their ultimate empowerment.

          Head of Psychology Department, AYJNIHH, Mumbai, Ms. Alka S. Joshi, introduced the conference theme and highlighted the need for assessment and certification issues in hearing impairment, education and training of the deaf and economic and vocational independence of persons with disabilities. AYJNIHH, Mumbai is intensively involved in training professionals who are working in the area of hearing impairment. The prime objective of the Conference is to share the initiatives of AYJNIHH in the field of Research, Training and Services for Empowerment of the Persons with Hearing Impairment and also provide a platform to share the developments and learn from each other’s experience.

          Director, National Institute of Technical Teacher's Training and Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh, Prof. Dr. MP Poonia, welcomed the conference delegates and apprised them of the initiatives taken by NITTTR in the employment of the persons with disabilities. He was of the opinion that besides rehabilitation, education and training, placement of persons with disabilities needs to be taken up seriously. He mentioned that NITTTR has been instrumental in arranging employment for 157 persons with disabilities through a serious of job fairs organised by NITTTR in collaboration with CII, Chandigarh during the past three years.

          Professor and Head, Rural Development Department and Centre for Physically Challenged Persons, NITTTR, Chandigarh, Dr. J.S. Saini, and Head of SERD, AYJNIHH, Mumbai, Mr. R. Bhattacharyya dwelled upon the problems being faced by the persons with hearing impairment in pursuing education and thereafter getting proper employment. Dr. Saini requested the disability activists to remain prepared for facing all kind of odds while working for the welfare of the persons with disabilities. He was of the opinion that vocational training and employment opportunities for the disabled need to be given major thrust for ultimate empowerment of such persons.

          The Conference is being jointing organised by Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped [AYJNIHH], Mumbai and NITTTR, Chandigarh from March 21 and 22.       About 100 persons representing educational institutes, institutes working in the area of disability, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, social welfare departments and disability activists are participating in the Conference.