Satya recently took the first steps toward a long-time dream—that of a truly inclusive school system where children with disabilities can study, play, and grow along with other children.

Satya Special School’s Inclusive Classrooms project—the first of its kind in the country—was inaugurated recently. The M.L.A of Lawspet Mr. M Vaidyanathan was the chief guest for the event, and Ms. P. Padmavathi, Director of Welfare, Mr. Rudra Goud, director of School Education of Pondicherry, and Mr. Nadanasabapathi, Deputy Director of Women Education, graced the occasion with their presence.

The classroom, situated within the Colacara Arangasamy Govt. Middle School, will provide children with special needs, children with learning disabilities, and slow learners with the tools and resources required to work in an inclusive classroom setting including physiotherapy, remedial education, and speech therapy, based on the students’ requirements.

The inclusive classroom comprises:

• Interactive / digital Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs)

• Equipment and infrastructure for therapeutic services

• Improved accessibility of the school premises with ramps, rails and school-specific requirements

• Painted classroom

Satya Special School will depute a special educator to the school to prepare children with special needs on the school curriculum. Satya has developed the Minimum Level of Learning Objectives for the school curriculum. Satya team has developed participatory tools for teaching the content for CWSN with different levels of learning, and will impart the school curriculum based on the abilities of the children. The special educator of Satya will ensure that children with special needs get the minimum marks required to be promoted to the next grade.

For better sustainability of the project, Satya will capacitate government school teachers on communicating with CWSN and handling CWSN children with hyperactivity and behavioural issues. In keeping with the National Education Policy, Satya will also enable teaching of Indian Sign Language to teachers and students of the school.

Furthermore, Satya will also create inclusive events and activities—academic and co-curricular—so that the future citizens of India experience inclusion in action.