गाँव कनेक्शन-एक आशा

जूते फटे पहन कर ,आसमान पर चढ़े थे
सपने मेरे हरदम औकात से बड़े थे....

हिंदी के बेहद लोकप्रिय और नवगीतों के जाने माने हस्ताक्षर मनोज मुंतिसर की ये पंक्तियां मुझे एक चेहरे की तरफ खींच ले जाती हैं,जो इन दिनों मेरी चेतना के सहयात्री हैं जी हाँ मैं बात कर रहा हूँ नीलेश मिश्रा की। एक ऐसा नाम जो आज की पत्रकारिता में बहुत प्रासंगिक हो गया है।
नीलेश जी को मैंने पहली बार रेडियो पर सुना 'यादों का इडियट बॉक्स' एसा प्रोग्राम जो मेरी व्यस्त दिनचर्या के बाद रात को बेहद सुकून देने वाला होता है।मिश्रा जी कहाँनियों को जिस शैली में प्रस्तुत करते है वो आपको एक सैर पर ले जाते है। आजकल कहानियों से भी ज्यादा मुझे जिस चीज ने बेहद प्रभावित किया है वो है उनकी पत्रकारिता। एक ऐसे दौर में जब पत्रकारिता को सुपारी जर्नलिज्म की संज्ञा दी जाने लगी है ,भक्तिकाल अपने चरम पर है,पत्रकारिता संस्थानों की बुनियाद बेहद कमजोर हो गयी है,ऐसे समय में अपनी जमा पूंजी को दॉव पर लगाकर ' गाँव कनेक्शन' नाम के एक ऐसे संस्थान की स्थापना की है जो एक उम्मीद की किरण है।समाज के सबसे महत्वपूर्ण तबके को एक आवाज देने का काम यह संस्थान कर रहा है।मैं बहुत आशान्वित हूँ और बेहद बल मिल रहा है कि आज भी हमारे देश मे लोग सच्चाई और ईमानदारी का साथ देते है जिसकी मिशाल है गांव कनेक्शन!
हाल ही में पाँच साल पूरे होने पर में इसकी समस्त टीम को बधाई देता हूँ और उम्मीद करता हूँ कि पूरा देश इस चेतना का सहभागी बनेगा।
जय जवान, जय किसान
जय हिंद
आपका
प्रवल यादव

दिव्यांगजनो को समर्पित मेरी कविता

अंतरास्ट्रीय दिव्यांगजन दिवस के अवसर पर ,मेरे द्वारा रचित एक कविता सभी दिव्यांग साथियों को समर्पित ✍✍✍✍✍✍👇
                   
                  【मेरे हिस्से का आकाश】

मैं जो भी हूँ जैसा भी हूँ अपने बजूद को पहचानता हूँ,
आपको भी मेरी पहचान का सम्मान करना होगा|
मेरे हिस्से का आकाश मुझे देना होगा||

मेरे पैरों में भी ऊंची उड़ान का हौसला है,
माँ-बाप और देश को गौरवांवित करने का इरादा है|
विस्वास दिलाता हूँ, मैं भी कुछ कर दिखलाऊंगा ||
मुझे कोई खैरात नहीं ,मेरा अधिकार देना होगा|
मेरे हिस्से का आकाश••••••••

मेरे प्रयास हो सकता है कुछ धीमे से लगें,
पर अनवरत चल आगे बढ़ने की ठानी है|
बनकर मेरा हमराही,मुझे बस हौसला देना होगा,
मेरे हिस्से का आकाश•••••••

सब पढें, सब बढें
फिर मेरी राह में ही क्यों रोडे अड़े
मेरे स्कूल की सीढ़ियां मुझे डराना चाहती हैं|
सरकारों सुनो!मुझे भी शिक्षा का अधिकार देना होगा,
मेरे हिस्से का आकाश••••••••

गर कुछ करना ही है,
तो मेरे लिए ये सारी बंदिशे हटा दो|
शब्दावली से लंगड़ा,गूँगा, पागल जैसे शब्द मिटा दो,
सुगम्य समाज, समान अवसर ,रोज़गार का अधिकार देना होगा|
मेरे हिस्से का आकाश मुझे देना होगा||
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
©प्रवल यादव
   विशेष शिक्षक

क्या सचमुच आज का शिक्षक असंवेदनशील हो गया है?

कल से एक खबर ने बहुत परेशान किया हुआ है,दिल बैठ सा गया है।ऐसी रिपोर्ट्स आ रही हैं कि रेयॉन स्कूल में एक छात्र प्रधुम्न की निर्मम हत्या के बाद शिक्षिकाओं ने यह सोच कर उसे उठाने से मना कर दिया कि उनकी साड़ी गंदी हो जाएगी। मैं जितनी बार भी इस खबर की रिपोर्टिंग टीवी चैनलों पर देखता हूँ अपने आंशू रोक नहीं पाता।एक माता-पिता जो अपनी आँखों मे हजारों नवीन सपनों के साथ अपने कलेजे को स्कूल तक कितनी उम्मीदों के साथ छोड़कर आये होंगें ।उनके सारे सपने विद्यालय प्रशासन की एक लापरवाही के कारण एक पल में ही चकनाचूर हो गए।उस माँ की हालत को कैसे देखा जाए जो बिलखते हुए सिर्फ यही बोलती है कि 'मुझे बस न्याय दिला दो'। शिक्षक होने के नाते मैं यह बिल्कुल भी विस्वास नहीं कर सकता कि हम इतने असंवेदनशील हो सकते हैं।लेकिन इतना तो जरूर है कि जब से शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में इन पूंजीपतियों ने कदम रखा है,शिक्षा सिर्फ एक बाजार बन के रह गयी है,आज इसके दाम तय होने लगे हैं। निसंदेह बाजार की इस परंपरा ने शिक्षकों के स्तर को भी गिराया है।आज शिक्षक बाजार के अधीन होकर अपने कर्तव्यों की बजाय स्कूल चलाने वाले उस बनिये के प्रति ज्यादा जबाबदेह हो गए हैं। शिक्षा और स्वास्थय सेवाओं का बाजारीकरण हमारी नपुंसक सरकारों की विफलताओं का परिणाम है।जो काम केंद्र और राज्यों की सरकारों का है ,जिनके लिए इन निकम्मी सरकारों को सीधे तौर पर जबाबदेह होना चाहिए उसे इन लोगों ने शिक्षा के कथित दलालों के हवाले कर दिया है।कहीं न कहीं सीधे तौर पर इस्से इन नेताओं के हित जुड़े हुए हैं।

हमारे देश में गुरु-शिष्य की एक पावन परंपरा रही है।एक बच्चा अपने माँ-बाप से ज्यादा अपनी टीचर की बात पर भरोसा करता है।वह बच्चा टीचर के अंदर भी अपने माता-पता जैसा ही दुलार एवं अपनत्व देखता है और इस परंपरा की अनगिनत मिसालें आज भी देखने को मिलती हैं।आखिर फिर किन बजहों से हम ऐसे होते जा रहे हैं। जरा गौर से सोंचें कि हमारे देश के टीचर्स ट्रेनिंग संस्थानों की क्या हालत है?क्या ये संस्थान एक अच्छे शिक्षक को तैयार कर पा रहे हैं ? अगर कुछ एक प्रतिशत निकाल दें तो क्या ये संस्थान मानसिक, भावनात्मक, बैचारिक, शैक्षणिक तौर पर एक सशक्त अध्यापक का निर्माण करने में सक्षम हैं? मुझे लगता है कि एक राष्ट्र को अपनी सारी सक्ति एक अच्छे शिक्षक समाज को बनाने में लगा देनी चाहिए तभी वे किसी राष्ट्र के भव्य निर्माण की आधारशिला रख पाएंगे और सच मे राष्ट्र निर्माता होंगे। अपनी लोगों  को सर्वश्रेष्ठ शिक्षा और स्वास्थ्य सेवाएं प्रदान करने की सीधी जबाबदेही इन चुनी हुई सरकारों की होनी चाहिए।

इस घटना को प्रतीक बनाकर हमें इस भ्रस्टाचारी सिस्टम पर नकेल कसनी होगी। एक शिक्षक के तौर पर भी हमें अपना लगातार मूल्यांकन करते रहना चाहिए तभी हम एक आदर्श समाज का निर्माण कर पाएंगे। ऐसी घटनाओं की पुनरावृत्ति न हो इसके लिए जरूरी है कि दोषियों को कठोर से कठोर सजा दी जाए और कम से कम शिक्षा और स्वास्थ्य के क्षेत्रों से इन दलालों की छुट्टी की जाए।

"हालत आज की देखकर आँख मेरी भर गई,लगता है मेरे देश को किसी की नजर लग गयी"

Inclusive Education and Role of Teacher

Inclusive Education

The philosophy of inclusion is a paradigm sift and a move from segregation through mainstreaming and integration to inclusion.thus the journey of inclusion indicates a process rather than an event;the process reflecting occurrence of significant changes brought about by new ways of thinking,new ways of operating in the classroom,and adapting to constantly changing thinking attitude and social conditions.

Inclusion as a social and educational philosophy believes that all people are valuable members of mainstream society,whatever their differences and diversities may be in education

"Inclusion means full inclusion of children with diverse abilities in all aspects of schooling that other children are able to access and enjoy. It involves regular schools and classrooms genuinely adapting and changing to meet the needs of all children, as well as celebrating and valuing differences. This definition does not imply that children with diverse abilities will not receive specialized assistance or teaching outside of the classrooms when required, but rather that this is just one of many options that are available to, and infect required of all children."            (LOREMAN AND DEEPLER  2001)

• Inclusion means young people and adults with disabilities/or learning difficulties being included in mainstream society.
• Every student has an inherent right to education on the basis of equality of opportunity.
• Inclusive schools help the development of communities where all people are equally valued and have the same opportunities for participation.(Today's students might be the parents of 8-10% children with special needs in coming future).
• Inclusion is an on-going process,not a fixed state.

In India inclusion is the current trend and it is possible to have inclusion if there is a coordination between various government departments, parents, education systems and professionals.

Education System as Problem

• Teacher's attitude
• Rigid curriculum and method
• Inaccessible environment
• Many dropouts,many failures
• Teachers and schools not supported
• Parents are not involved
• Lack of teaching aids & equipment
• Poor quality training 
• Lack of support services. 

Role of Teacher in Inclusive Education

Ms.Gupta is a class teacher of class-II in a school.before coming to this school she was working in another school in a class that had students with special needs.She had some experiences of teaching a class that accommodated students who had unique characteristics,abilities,interests and learning style.She strongly believes that all students are capable of success.she understood ,more involved with her students,had more patience and valued all kinds of skills that her students exhibits. She believed in providing daily success for all students and helped other students to understand the children with special needs of their counterparts.

She used number of cooperative learning activities,arranged social activities among all students,welcome support services from special education personnel.She understands the diversity and individual differences.

In another class in the same school is Mrs.Kapoor's fourth class .Mrs.Kapoor has taught in the school for a number of years and used methods that according to her are the best methods as they have been tried for so many years.her students sit in neat rows and she expects work to be neat and on time.She does not appreciate the idea that the CWSN should be studying with other children and agrees with parents of other children when they voice their disapproval.She often encourages these parents to go to the authorities  regarding this.she does not want to collaborate with any special educational personnel who sometimes advise her about the teaching methods to be used as she feels she is the oldest and best teacher of the school.Children with special needs in her class are not doing well and falling behind other children.She does not want to give any extra time and wants these children to go to special schools.

What are the basic differences between Ms.Gupta and Mrs.Kapoor's approaches to teaching children?

Who is the best teacher  for Inclusive Education? Think.....!!!!!!

In my experiences in the field of disability rehabilitation and inclusive education ,i could hardly find few teachers like Ms.Gupta.I believe that teacher must respect the individual differences among learners and it's their responsibility to reach out every child in the classroom.they must have a natural love for children. Ennis William Cosby stated "I Believe teachers need to bond with students. when i reflect on my favourite teacher in my life ,they were teachers who were my friends,too.I see teachers wearing many titles besides TEACHER. I see psychologist,mother,father,friend,and adviser.I believe students react to my behaviour .The more I give myself,the more they will give back to me"

Teacher who is the most decisive elements in the classroom plays a significant role to make the process of inclusion a reality.It is her/his personal philosophy that creates the climate of the classroom.Teacher is the constant source of inspiration for children to achieve success. It is their manner,attitude,beliefs and values which project their behaviour and interaction style with the learners ultimately affecting the learner's self esteem and their success. It is the  teacher whose responsibility is to provide learner friendly environment that stimulate and motivate the children to use their potentialities to maximum.

To reduce or remove the barriers to learning and participation of students requires insight into where these barriers may come from and why and when they arise.In addition to the above the general teachers shall be sensitized with regards to the basic principles needed for facilitating the inclusive education:

• Every child has a fundamental right right to education,and must be given the opportunity to achieve and maintain an acceptable level of learning.
• All student can learn and benefit from education.
• School adapt to the need of students,rather then students adapting to the needs of the school.
• Individual differences between students are a source of richness and diversity and not a problem.

Successful Inclusion Requires:

I-Infrastructure

N-National Policy

C-Changing attitude/capacity building

L-Leadership/Legislation

U-Understanding

S-Sensitization/Awareness

I-Initiative/Involvement of all parents

O-Optimism

N-Networking with different organization.

References

Towards inclusive Education,2011.SCERT,New Delhi.

Teaching from the Heart,Ennis William Cosby.

Inclusive Education,Dr.Anupriya Chadda.

Independent Living for Persons with Intellectual Disability

      Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who work  for self determination, equal opportunities and self-respect. Independent Living does not mean that we want to do everything by ourselves and do not need anybody or that we want to live in isolation Independent Living means that we demand the same choices and control in our every-day lives that our non-disabled brothers and sisters, neighbours and friends take for granted. 

    “Intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. This disability originates before the age of 18.”

Current trends in the services for PWIDs-

•      Inclusive Education 
•      Community Living
•      Vocational Education 
•      Employment. 
•      Independent Living.

What is Independent Living?

       Independence to some meant a wheelchair to move around with ease and dignity as the respondent were forced to drag themselves on the ground to get around.

     Some said it meant the ability to communicate easily through sign language or communication boards.

    Akshi [name changed] has bowel control problem and cannot live or move out to work or participate in any social events since 30 years. Independence to her meant just being able to get out of the house.

•      as opposed to living in an institution
•      have the same range of choices as everyone else
•      participate in the social, economic and political life of their communities; 
•       have a family
•     live as responsible respected members of their communities with all the duties and privileges that this entails, and,
•      unfold their potential.(Bruce, 2000, p17)
• 
  

Philosophy of Independent Living

•      All human life is of value.
•      Anyone, whatever their impairment, is   capable of exerting choices.
•      People have the right to take control over their lives.
•      Disabled people have the right to participate fully in society.

"In India, Independent Living is covered under Chapter 3 of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 (NTA) whose objectives are to enable and empower persons with disability to live as independently and as fully as possible within and as close to the community to which they belong."

Program of Independent living for person with Intellectual Disability

•      Provision of information and referral
•      Peer counselling and advocacy
•      Independent living skills training
•      Housing
•      Technical aids
•      Personal assistance
•      Transport and access.
•      Individual and Systems Advocacy 
•      Social Inclusion and Civic Participation.
•     Well-being (includes emotional well-being/mental health; physical health and personal life satisfaction.

 A Model for IL

•        Give power to the persons with disabilities
•        Make sure all disabilities are involved ( cross disability)
•        Make sure that 4 ‘core programs’ are always included so that the Centers function in a way which undoes the damage which happens to persons with a disability living and growing in a hostile environment created through the ‘Great Misunderstanding of Disability’ which exists in the “non-disabled” world which unfortunately embraces the notoriously flawed medical model of disability. 
•     Independent living empowers people with ID and helps them achieve their maximum potential.
•        Independent living for people with ID builds self-esteem and helps people help themselves and their peers. 
•      Independent living empowerment programs enable them to acquire the special skills they need to join the general community and be productive and self-sufficient. 
•       People with  intellectual disabilities can have a better quality of life if they take advantage of the services offered by independent living centers in their communities 
•      These include independent living skills training, job placement, making homes accessible, and advocacy for benefits and civil rights.

      "although much has been done, more efforts are needed to ensure that persons with mental health problems and persons with intellectual disabilities have more choice and control over their lives and are included in the community on an equal basis with others. Most efforts to date have focused on deinstitutionalization, but to achieve true independent living they should be accompanied by a range of social policy reforms in the areas of education, healthcare, employment, culture and support services."
     
     Martin Luther King has stated that, "Freedom has always been an expensive thing." We must be ready to pay the price. We are responsible to millions in this and future, who rely on us for access to a life of quality. Available to us are the vast economic, technological and human resources of the richest culture in the history of mankind. We have no excuse to fail. We cannot afford to fail. We must unite to establish the principles of independent living in the consciousness and in all the processes of our society generations.

References

Bruce, A. (2000) Independent Living: Towards the New Millennium, Dublin, Center for Independent Living, pp.17-25

Bradley, V. J. (2000) . Changes in services and supports for people with developmental disabilities: New challenges to established practice. Health & Social Work, 25(3).

Felce, D., Perry, J., Romeo, R., Robertson, J., Meek, A., Emerson, E., & Knapp, M. (2008, March).Outcomes and costs of community living: Semi-independent living and fully staffed group homes. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 113(2), 87-101

         Stancliffe, R. J., & Keane, S. (2000). Outcomes and costs of community living: A matched comparison of group homes and semi-independent living. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 25(4), 281-305.

         Wolfensberger, W. (1972). The principle of normalization in human services. Toronto, Canada:National Institute on Mental Retardation.