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GIAST | April2, 2024
GIAST organized a field trip at the Ashtavakra School for Bed II Year students. The recent visit to the rehabilitation centre was scheduled on 2nd April, 2024 & 4th April, 2024. It was undertaken in reference to the Bed Course practical task of Creating an Inclusive School lead by Ms. Neha Bajaj, Assistant Professor at GIAST. It provided a thorough insight into the diverse learning needs and disabilities of students. The purpose of the trip was to gain a firsthand experience of the unique learning environment and dedicated educators who work with students with special needs and to understand the real dimensions of inclusivity.
Many of the teachers also had disabilities. The sign language educator were using canes to commute. Another teacher was also an inspiration as she was deaf and mute but she could understand lip-synching. She graduated from the school itself and was a certified sign language educator. The school had excellent teachers with long-term experience which helped them connect with the children.
The school housed children with Down syndrome and various intellectual disabilities but they didn’t let their difficulties hinder their learning. Both negative as well as positive reinforcement should be given to the children and the students should be taught the difference between the sense of right & wrong. Poonam ma’am gave many anecdotes regarding her life and the difficulties she faced. It was truly motivating and heart touching to hear her life experiences.
There were many interns who were very hands on and helpful in nature. They were given safety protocols like no dupatta or scarf was to be worn, no big earrings, hair should not be open etc. These were for safety reasons for the trainees as some children were a bit hyper in nature.
There were children with hearing and visual impairment. They were using braille as well as sign language for communicating. It was truly a sight to behold. Many students were making beautiful rangoli designs and dancing to their heart’s content. Lastly, several students were also there who had autism. They were slow to react but they had their own way of putting their point across. They had their vocational class where the teacher was teaching sewing but they all were really polite and forthcoming with their name and various thoughts.
The visit really provided a deeper understanding of the behavior of children with special needs and the difficulties they face in their daily lives. It also highlighted the importance of inclusive education and the diverse needs of students with disabilities. Moreover, it was really a lesson taught as to how to embrace the students & their respective strength and to adapt teaching methods accordingly. This experience was a reminder to be more empathetic and inclusive educators. The field visit is reported by Ajita BEd II B.
