The scheme IEDC was meant to cover all classes in the school education stage. With the coverage of children with special needs in the elementary stage under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the scheme of IEDC was replaced by IEDSS under which children with disability in the secondary stage (classes IX to XII) are covered.
Students took out an awareness rally under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to prevent differently abled children dropping out of schools in Salem.In addition to this, the rallyists also asked the parents of these special children to enrol the youngsters in schools immediately, so that they could benefit from education.
It has been said often enough but let it be said again. The conversion of difference into disability is as much man-made as the consequences of droughts and floods. It is in our attitudes and laws; it is in our thinking and actions that we put up barriers that create disability.
The community at large is often unaware of the potential of children with special needs. In the popular mind, special needs are usually identified with very low expectations.