1. Creating equal educational opportunity for pre-school Visually Impaired children Presented By- Gopal krishna Agrawal Director Shikshit Yuva Sewa Samiti, Basti, UP, India Early childhood intervention WA 026

2. Introduction Not only India but whole of West Asia region is facing the problem of sustainability pre-education/early intervention services for Visually Impaired children as well other special needs group. This problem has been more complex in rural context especially when the parents are illiterate, below poverty line and socially weaker section of society. Under these scenario we are working for VI children since last 10 years in rural area of district Basti, UP, India. We feel that only ICDS (Integrated child development services), who work for a village to cater the needs of 0-6 age group children, are only hope for creating pre-education services. ICDS programme has been implemented in whole India. In our district 1180 such worker who are all women having minimum qualification of secondary education has been recruited. So we plan a project to train these ICDS worker as a model in one block of our district and implemented it with support of ICEVI west Asia region under Lee Foundation Grant. My paper has been based on our experience and outcome of this project. Under this project we provide training to ICDS worker to prepare them for providing pre-school services to VI children, because they have already been performing this duty for all 0-6 age group children but due to lack of skill training and orientation the children with special needs are left out for quality and equal service, specially in education. So they are the instrument for providing equal opportunity to our children.

3. Objectives of training  To create permanent structure for early identification, early intervention and pre-school services for VI children.  To create awareness about prevention of early childhood blindness.  To fulfill the rights of equal opportunity at early childhood stage.

4. Methodology : Trainer resource  We implement Integrated Education programme with support of Govt. of India. Under this we have recruited 30 trained special educators of Visually Impaired children. These teachers are already engaged at village level primary/ secondary schools. Duration and contents of training-  The training has been provided to 120 ICDS worker of Kaptanganj Block in 3 batches. Every batch has 5 day time period. There are 120 workers and we divide them in numbers in 40 for each batch.

5. Contents : Ω Types of visual impairment, identification of curable and incurable blind specially cataract blind Ω Eye structure, identification and prevention of eye disease Ω Introduction, causes and prevention of other disability with visual impairment Ω Sensory training of visually impaired children Ω Vision stimulation of low vision child Ω Daily living skill training Ω Orientation and mobility

6. Cntd……… Ω Braille introduction Ω Braille practice Ω Introduction of tailor frame Ω Necessity of multi sensory training Ω Ice break game Ω Introduction of Abacus Ω Concession provide by govt. to VI children Ω Orientation and preparation of TLM Ω Orientation of other disability with visual impairment including deafblindness

7. Networking for training  Before initiating the training activity we sensitize the district level officer of ICDS to pass a order for reliving the ICDS worker for 5 day training in batches.  We also sensitize the Block coordinator of Education department for providing block resource center as a venue for above training at Block head quarter. Evaluation of trainees :  After completion of 5 day training we evaluate each and every trainees through practical and theoretical as well their plan of action for future.

8. Identification of VI children by ICDS worker :  The all trained ICDS worker after training identified the 44 blind children for providing pre-education services as well they identified 376 no. of cataract patient who need the cataract surgery and so many children who have eye problem. Follow-up for services to VI children :  Our special educators working under Integrated education programme has been providing regular follow-up at village level as well as at their block level monthly meeting.

9. Out come  We will be able to create a model for reaching the un-reached visually impaired children as well cover them under early intervention & pre-school services. In this way, we will also be able to contribute to the declaration made by ICEVI of “Providing education to all visually impaired children by 2015”.

10. Sustainability  The purpose of the project itself is to demonstrate the concept of sustainability. Through this training we aim to train and create a pool of trained resources with follow-up. Through this model we want to establish 100% coverage of visually impaired children and this will certainly lead us to increased confidence and self reliance of parents which is a real sustainability for us!