An interactive session organised by Wake Up India in association with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan on education and career opportunities for children with disabilities
Mumbai, February 6, 2017: Every child deserves a quality education. Education undoubtedly is one of the most valuable tools for the overall development of a child’s intellect and knowledge. The primary reason for sending children to school is to prepare them to become productive adults and valued members of the society. When it comes to families of children with disabilities, it is important for parents to be well equipped with the information on planning and opportunities to meet their child’s employment, educational, or independent living goals. ‘Wake Up India’ in association with ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ organised an interactive seminar today, to address and provide significant information on education and career opportunities, to the parents of children with special needs and disabilities.
The “Wake Up India Community” brought together a community of parents and experts to engage and guide on various educational and career planning opportunities, to secure the child’s future and help make them financially and socially independent. About 300 parents attended the seminar and actively interacted with the eminent expert panellists, which comprised of Mr. Anil Sable- Education Inspector North Zone Chembur and Mr. Gajendra Bansode, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan APO North Zone Chember , Special Educator - Sulabha Karunanidhi, Occupational Therapist – Chhaya Shah, Gynaecologist – Sasha Kothari, Special Educator – Kanika Kohli and Raman Shankar – an envoy who shared his journey in becoming a successful poffesional, actor model Sanjay Gajria and Career Counsellor - Narendra Shirke. The seminar covered varied topics ranging from nurturing, caring and upbringing of a disable child to the right to education, sex education, interactive learning opportunities and future career prospects.
Talking about the first-of-its-kind seminar on education and career for children with disabilities,Sonali Kelapure, Founder of Wake Up India project said, “I have been perusing the Landmark Curriculum’s Self Learning and Leadership Program since October 2016, and as a part of the course, I wanted to do something for the special kids. Being a successful working professional with disabilities myself, I clearly understand and relate to several matters relating to the upbringing, education and career prospects of children with disabilities. Therefore, I decided to bring together and form a community - a support group of parents and experts, via a seminar to address and exchange information on various opportunities to plan and secure their child’s future. The response that we have received is quite encouraging, and we do hope to organise more such seminars across the country to reach out and engage more such parents.”
Adding to this, Mr. Anil Sable Education Inspector North Zone Chembur said, “The core objective of the seminar was to influence and engage parents in quality education and career guidance for their children with disabilities. For many parents, education and career planning can be daunting. Some parents struggle to make it through the day-to-day challenges often posed by having a child with a disability and might not feel they have the time or energy to think about the child education and career planning. Others may want to plan but are unfamiliar with several opportunities that exist. Therefore, our objective was to bring together the core group of parents and experts and help them in planning a better future for their children.”