New School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired Children
Commissioner for Disabled V.K. Jeyakodi switches on a computer at the Indian Red Cross Society’s new School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired Children in the city on Thursday. Collector Neeraj Mittal (third right) and Secretary of the society’s Coimbatore chapter Nandini Rangaswamy (second right) are in the picture.Voluntary organisations have a major role to play in supplementing the efforts of the Government in meeting all the requirements of the disabled persons, Collector Neeraj Mittal said here on Thursday.Inaugurating the School for Speech and Hearing Impaired Children of the Indian Red Cross Society, Coimbatore, he said: “It is heartening to see schools such as this one, opened by the Indian Red Cross Society.” The Collector also mentioned the contribution of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon V. Anand in organising free cochlear implant for poor hearing impaired children.
Mr. Mittal’s stress on the role of the private organisations preceded a call by Commissioner for the Disabled V.K. Jeyakodi to non-Governmental organisations to focus more on the rural areas where persons with disabilities needed to know about the welfare scheme the Government implemented for them. Mr. Jeyakodi presided over the inaugural.Mr. Mittal said the district had around 30,000 persons with various disabilities and Rs.13 lakh worth assistance was being provided to 330 persons. On every grievances day (Monday), at least five parents came up with requests for their children who had one form of disability or the other. As many as 1,264 people were provided free bus pass – an assistance worth Rs.12 lakh.
The Government provided a monthly assistance of Rs. 500 to persons with disabilities. It provided a self-employment subsidy of Rs. 3,000. Those who wanted to set up bunk stalls were provided Rs. 10,000. Other assistance included Rs. 3,000 for those who wanted to do a degree in law and Rs. 8,000 for orthopaedically disabled persons who needed to undergo a spinal surgery.The society’s Coimbatore Chapter Honorary Secretary Nandini Rangaswamy said a small centre with eight children had now grown into a school with classes from pre-kindergarten to Class X. Special education would be provided to speech and hearing impaired children from the age of two.Specially trained teachers would take classes for these children.A physical education teacher would also involve the children in games and exercises. Talent in painting would also be tapped and training in yoga provided. A weekly medical check-up would be conducted.
