For more severely disabled children,
attending regular schools often may not
be possible, at least as schools exist
today. Yet, sometimes if you talk with
the teachers and other children, they will
become more understanding and make
special arrangements.
EDUCATION 499
For example, we know a boy with spina
bifida who lacks bowel control and
therefore never went to school. But after
his parents talked with the teacher and
Children with developmental delay get a ‘head start’
schoolchildren, an agreement was
in a pre-school program near Bangalore, India.
reached. Now the boy goes to school.
When he has an accident in his pants, he quietly gets up and goes home to bathe and
change. (Fortunately his house is very near the school.)
In cases where some disabled children cannot attend regular school, other
alternatives may be possible. In cities of some countries there are ‘special
education’ programs for children with certain disabilities. Such schools, if private,
are usually very expensive and if public, are often overcrowded or have long waiting
lists.
In the rural areas, with rare exceptions, there are no special education programs.
However, parents of disabled children may be able to organize and form their own
‘special school’. The group helps each child to learn at her own pace and in her own
way. An example of such a school is ‘Los Pargos’ in Mazatlan, Mexico, described briefly
on p. 517. Also, the Centre for Community Rehabilitation Development in Pakistan has
helped organize parent-run special education programs in many towns (see p. 520).
If no opportunity for regular or special schooling can be worked out—or even if it
can—perhaps some arrangement can be made for study at home. Children who do
go to school, either non-disabled or disabled, may be able to help teach the severely
disabled children at home after school. A community rehabilitation program can also
include a study program for disabled children and youths. Project PROJIMO has
arranged at the local village school for attendance of children with special needs who
have had difficulty in schools elsewhere. In addition, the disabled rehabilitation workers
assist the children who need special tutoring in the evenings.
Regular school
Extra help with a tutor
disabled village children