College students to spread awareness on learning difficulties among children

[rajoe]

College students to spread awareness on learning difficulties among children

College students are now being chosen to spread awareness of learning difficulties among children. As many as 700 National Cadet Corps
(NCC) cadets from leading city colleges will take part in a two-day workshop as part of their combined annual training camp from June 5 to 15.

"We adopt a theme every year in an attempt to get students involved in social service. We thought we would take up child rehabilitation this year and make students understand how they can identify early a child with special needs. Last year, we took up a Save the girl child' campaign. With 600 girls and 100 boys listening to talks on the topic the first day, we will invite about 150 parents and college teachers the second day so that we can reach out to them as well," said NCC Girl Cadets Instructor M Geetha, who is associated with the project. There were plans to take out rallies on this subject and create a human chain as well later in the year.

According to Resori Sharmila, occupational therapist, Child Rehab and Therapy Clinic, Mogappair, whose team will participate in the event, the aim is to emphasise on early intervention. "We will bring psychiatrists and paediatricians to speak to students. The idea is that if these students are trained to recognise early symptoms of learning difficulties in children, they can bring it to the notice of specialists. These symptoms could include mirroring of images while writing, omission of words or even low self-esteem. We are involving parents in the endeavour as well because a lot of them fail to recognise this is a neurological problem and dismiss the child as dull-headed. We want to make them aware of occupational therapy and how it can help children," she said.

Students remain enthusiastic about the initiative. Chandhni Manokaran, a second year School of Excellence in Law student involved with the NCC for the last four years, said, "Cadets in the NCC undergo camp training involving drill, firing and practice for culturals. We also have community service where we take out motorcycle or cycle rallies for a cause, organise blood donation camps on campus, plant trees or collect clothes for charity. Every college unit in the NCC is invited to give presentations on social issues depending on the theme chosen for the year. I think child rehabilitation, the chosen theme for the year, is important because it helps if learning difficulties are recognised at an early age. If it goes unnoticed, children might be discriminated against when they grow up. We need to try and prevent that from happening."

source:TOI