Ready for life

At the end of their stay in school, students know how to present themselves and give their address and phone number if the need arises. 8220;Once they leave the school, most of them are self-sufficient,8221; says special educator B. Uma.

But even after the children have been trained, many of them would still have trouble speaking, handling money or travelling alone. Only a few of them have managed to get jobs.

The school8217;s special educators also counsel parents on how to deal with the problems of their children. 8220;Some parents are not able to figure out that their child has a disability,8221; explains occupational therapist Poonam Vig. Even those who are aware of their children8217;s disability don8217;t know to deal with it. 8220;They tend to be either too protective or to neglect the children,8221; says Vig.

The role of the family is something the special educators never tire of emphasising.