Special children, normal needs

Raunak Singhal, 16, won three medals, one each of gold, silver and bronze in walking and ball throw events but was least bothered to receive them. Joyeeta Ghosh reports.

Raunak Singhal, 16, won three medals, one each of gold, silver and bronze in walking and ball throw events but was least bothered to receive them. He was instead eyeing the green and yellow packets of chips, which were to be distributed after the medal giving ceremony. "He is not abnormal, just different. He did not want the medals around his neck, it makes him uncomfortable," said Pinky Singhal, his mother.

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Singhal who suffers from cerebral palsy and 30 other students who suffer from autism, Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and other related disorders participated in a sports event organised by Protection of the Rights of Differently Abled Children (PORDAC), an NGO, on Sunday.

A group of 40 parents are part of PORDAC, which was set up in November 2009 and is seeking to redefine inclusive education in schools. "It all started when eight schools rejected my son Auronyo who suffers from autism," said Manjir Gupta, president of PORDAC.

What PORDAC is seeking to do is conduct detailed assessment for each child registered with the organisation and identify their interest areas to help them integrate with other normal children.

As a first step, it will begin a learning centre at the JD Tytler School in Munirka with 15 children between the age of 8-14 years from March 22. Special education, language therapy, occupational therapy, dance/ drama therapy, vocational training and physiotherapy are some of the facilities that will be provided at this centre.