The Government has taken several steps to provide education to the autistic children.
Under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) steps have been taken to provide education to the autistic children. As per the Section 3 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, every child of the age of six to fourteen years shall have the right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till completion of elementary education. SSA has adopted a zero rejection policy wherein efforts are made to provide education to all children with special needs.
Under SSA, thus far, 21885 autistic children have been identified. Out of this, 18539 such children have been enrolled in schools.
625 children are being provided special training for mainstreaming and 1216 autistic children are being provided home-based education.
Efforts are made to provide education to the autistic children upto the elementary level with appropriate support.
In addition, the National Trust for welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities has taken several measures as follows:-
(i) Organising training and sensitisation programmes of teachers of private schools for inclusion of these children
(ii) Early intervention (day care school readiness) programme to train autistic and other children with neuro developmental disabilities and prepare them for school.
(iii) Capacity building programmes for organisations in the country registered with the National Trust running special schools for these children.
(iv) Gyan Prabha (Scholarship) Scheme for education and vocational training/skill development of such children.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri D.Napoleon in the Lok Sabha today.
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VLK/sl
(Release ID :75172)