Project for Dyslexia and other LD
PATH BREAKING ACTION – of ROTARY CLUB OF NAGPUR EAST
Five years back Rotary Club of Nagpur East took a sankalp and formed a committee to take forward this vision. Members realized that we can achieve desired results if we could be solution-focused, far-sighted and willing to convert the vision into action. With the conviction that we must proceed with the assumption, that solutions exist and all we have to do is to work in a proper direction. The project was carried forward each year, resulting in the following programs:
Beginning in 2008 a very informative lecture was delivered by Dr. Mrs.G.Shashikala, developmental neurologist, to members of the club. This helped in chalking out the road map for the project.
Two seminars for primary school teachers and principals were addressed by Dr. Rajiv Mohta, paediatrician and Dr.Mrs.Jaya Shiwalkar, another paediatrician, working with children with learning disability.
A one day workshop on ‘Diagnosis and Management of Dyslexia and other LD’ was organized in March 2009 for teachers and principals. This workshop was conducted by experts from Mumbai – Prof. Madhuri Kulkarni, Mrs.Rukshana Solarpurwala and Mrs.Usha Borse. Different sessions were simultaneously conducted in three halls of Udyog Bhavan. It was attended by 175 school teachers, parents and psychologists.
June 2010 saw the opening of ‘LATE MRS. KHADIJA IQBAL MAIMOON MEMORIAL LIBRARY’ for books on Dyslexia, where latest editions of informative books on the subject, by renowned authors, are available to the readers free of charge.
In 2010-11 our monthly magazine ROTIT devoted one page in every issue for articles on Dyslexia by various experts.
In September 2010 we formed the DYSLEXIA STUDY CIRCLE – ROTARY EAST which gives opportunity to Rotarians and professionals to interact and discuss aspects of and remedial measures for dyslexia. This circle guides our project.
In October 2010 our club commenced distribution of ‘Dyslexia Screening form’ to primary and middle schools. This questionnaire is designed by Dr.Mrs.Sofia Azad, occupational therapist, and is to be filled in by class teachers after assessing their pupils.
The series of very successful programs included a Workshop on Teaching Learning & Assessment Strategies for Dyslexia – held on 17th. And 18th. December 2010, for School Teachers, Tuition Teachers, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Special Educators and Parents of Dyslexic Children—this workshop was inaugurated by DG Rtn. Dr. Prafull Mokadam and was conducted by Mrs. Chetana Keni & Ms. Apoorva Deshpande of The Chetana Keni institute for Remedial Education, Bangalore. The participants included 38 teachers and 4 parents of Dyslexic children. This workshop was of the highest standards held anywhere in the country. Our clubs efforts were highly appreciated by DG Dr. Prafull Mokadam.
In continuation, on 19th.December 2010 a workshop entitled ‘Helping Dyslexics – Role of Assessment, Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and Counseling’ was organized for psychologists and practicing special educators. 20 psychologists and other professionals participated in the workshop. Each one was thankful to Rotary for bringing the highly talented faculty to Nagpur. During the second part of this workshop, several School Principals also joined in and topics like- Creation of Resource Room and Setting up of Parents Support Group were elaborated upon.
On 1st. May 2011, Rotary Club of Nagpur East DYSLEXIA STUDY CIRCLE organized a free Parents Open Forum. This forum had seven experts from Nagpur as panelists and was coordinated by VP Rtn.Dr. Suresh Jain. Twenty parents of Dyslexic Children benefited by interaction with the experts.
VISION OF A PIONEER – Late Mrs. Khadija Iqbal Maimoon
The vision that Dyslexia is not a disability, but a difference in the learning process, and remediation is possible was given to Rotary Club of Nagpur East by PP Rtn. Iqbal Husain Maimoon. He realized that his better- half and PP of Inner Wheel Club of Nagpur East, late Mrs. Khadija Maimoon had worked for the benefit of Dyslexic children, almost alone, collecting information from wherever possible and obtaining books on this less known subject. This was much before the well known film Tare Zameen Par was made.
OUR COLLABORATORS-
COMMUNITY FEED BACK
Amongst school teachers and principals who attended the workshops, we see a better understanding about dyslexia and dyslexic children. They have noted that such children need some accommodations in the class room and they would also require Resource Rooms in schools or Resource Centre that may be run by special educators, after school hours. The Psychologists attached to schools as well as those in private practice commended Rotary’s initiative.
Most important - all participants have realized that Dyslexics are highly gifted persons and that once they overcome their problems either in reading, writing or mathametics, they can surpass most. Thus the first step in our journey to help dyslexics that began with a sankalp had been well taken. It took us four years to feel satisfied with our efforts. Thus enthused, we proceeded to set up a Resource Centre.