Inclusion of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities.

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasises on "Equitable and Inclusion: Learning for All” in line with the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act (RPWD) 2016. The RPWD Act 2016 recognizes Specific Learning disabilities (SLD) is an umbrella term that indicates a number of difficulties faced by a person that may affect the acquisition, organization, retention, understanding, cognition or use of verbal or nonverbal information. Typically, children with learning disabilities will experience difficulty coping with school work in spite of their best efforts. SLD may interfere with one or more of the following:

• 1. Expression in Oral language (e.g. listening, speaking, understanding etc.);
• 2. Reading (e.g. decoding, phonetic knowledge, word recognition, comprehension etc.);
• 3. Written language (e.g. spelling and written expression etc.); and
• 4. Mathematics (e.g. number estimation, computation, problem solving etc.);
• 5. Organization (e.g. sorting, categorization etc.);
• 6. Social Skills (e.g. communication, collaboration etc.)

Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder. It is characterized by difficulties faced by persons with dyslexia in reading, writing, vocabulary, poor spelling and decoding skills, issues with precise and/or fluent word identification, and tasks that require hand-eye coordination. It is the result of a specific difficulty in processing phonological information. People with dyslexia may struggle with recognizing and decoding letters, which can lead to difficulties in connecting sounds to written words. This can manifest in various ways, such as letter reversals, difficulties with word recognition, and challenges with fluent reading. It's crucial to understand that dyslexia does not indicate a lack of intelligence or potential. Many individuals with dyslexia possess unique strengths in areas such as problem-solving, creativity, and visual thinking. With the right support, strategies, and interventions, individuals with dyslexia can thrive academically and lead successful, fulfilling lives.

In this regard, the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) and NCERT have planned five days of online training on inclusion of students with learning disabilities including dyslexia to observe dyslexia awareness week from October 14th to 18th October, 2024. These sessions will be telecast live on DTH TV channels for classes 1 to 12 under the PM VIDYA and Jio TV apps, with a simulcast on NCERT’s official YouTube channel and NCERT Events YouTube channel from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. The sessions would be bilingual (Hindi and English), accompanied by an Indian Sign Language Interpreter (ISL). The aim is to promote inclusivity, access to education, and awareness regarding the implementation of effective strategies to support individuals with dyslexia in their learning endeavours. The key takeaway is “addressing the special needs due to SLD within the inclusive classroom, is possible”. Consequently, the impact of interventions for children with specific learning disabilities including dyslexia can be maximized only if all stakeholders work harmoniously towards a common goal.

Who Can Participate?

Students, Teachers, Teacher Educators, Parents, Administrators, General Public, Anybody and every one interested in learning about SLD