The Hindu Business Line : Ensuring <I>bachpan </I>

Visually-impaired Rajiv learnt not only to feed himself and wear his clothes but also to read the Braille. We were able to integrate 10 children in our first year.

There were celebrations in Shakeel Ahmed's house when his daughter Sadia was born. But 10 days after her birth, Ahmed realised that his beautiful daughter could not hear.

Thinking that Sadia would never be able to communicate, Ahmed did not even consider sending her to school. Hope bloomed in his heart five years later when he heard about Bachpan, a new school that admitted children with hearing deficiency.

"Bachpan was born because we felt challenged children had the right to school just like other children. We also wanted the parents of these children to start believing that being different did not mean they had no future," says Sushil Kumar, Director, Handicapped Welfare Department, Uttar Pradesh.

What makes Bachpan unique is that it is the only pre-school programme in the State that admits visually-impaired, hearing-impaired and mentally-challenged children in the age-group of 3-7 years. Run under the aegis of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan since October 2004, this school provides free audiometry, speech therapy, physiotherapy, and the requisite aids and appliances that facilitate integration of these children into mainstream schools.

Specially trained teachers use yoga, games and even music to help these children develop sensory and life-skills required in their daily lives.

The school considers counselling of parents and siblings an important component of its programme. Its counsellors and psychologists hold regular meetings to sensitise parents on the importance of their continuing support and maintenance of discipline at home.

Since a majority of its students are from economically backward families, Bachpan, located in Lucknow, also provides free transportation.

"When Divyansh came to our school, he was unable to speak clearly although he was four years old. Being autistic, his concentration levels and discipline were not very good. But in two years his vocabulary and motor skills improved tremendously. This positive development led us to believe that he could be integrated into a normal school. Divyansh is now in Study Hall, a popular school in Lucknow," says Vijay Lakshmi Misra, Chief Coordinator, Bachpan.

She says that Sadia too has gained admission in a reputed public school. "Visually-impaired Rajiv learnt not only to feed himself and wear his clothes but also to read the Braille. We were able to integrate 10 children in our first year," she adds.

As news of Bachpan's success spread, the number of admissions began to increase. Beginning with 30 students in 2004, the number more than doubled to 64 in the next academic year.

Bachpan has now branched out to seven more districts in the State, and is also considering expansion of its existing centre in Lucknow.

"My elder son Talah, who was hearing impaired, studied here for two years. I saw the positive changes in him. Had he not studied here, I would never have dreamt of sending him to Kidland School, a popular private school. This is why when my younger son also had a hearing deficiency, I didn't think twice before bringing him to Bachpan," says Mukhtarullah.

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