Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Mukul Wasnik inaugurates workshop on “Inclusion and Inclusive Education” organized by National Trust on “world Autism Day” here today. Speaking on the occasion Shri Mukul Wasnik said that the Government is committed to provide all sorts of facilities for the development of people with Autism. He said that as per the estimates, there are about 10 million people in India with Autism and there are many myths and misconceptions in our society concerning autism. And it is therefore necessary that we have to create awareness on the condition through mass media: print, electronic, social and other forms. Shri Wasnik also said the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Human Resource and Development will discuss elaborately on every issues of special education so that there would be no confusion in the 12th Five year plan.
On this occasion the Chief Guest, Shri Anand Sharma,Union Minister for Commerce & Industries and Textiles stressed on the need of providing vocational education to students having Autism so that they will become engrossed in their creative work. He further said that the educational institutes should become more committed to accept students with special need.
There are many myths like about Autism, like it is a result of bad parenting or emotionally dysfunctional mothers .To clear such doubts and to Create Awareness about the possibilities of inclusion of children with autism in mainstream schools, and the communities, a workshop on “Inclusion and Inclusive Education” was organised. National Trust organized this workshop to create awareness and to clear doubts and to answer various queries of parents, teachers and professionals
The Right to Education Act mandates that all children have a right to attend the neighbourhood school. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) which is the vehicle for the RTE ensures support to children with Autism, through the resource teachers, teacher aides. In many states, students with autism get a one on one support with care giver or aide in the classroom.
Those who were present during the meeting included Shri K.M. Acharya, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,Smt Poonam Natarajan,Chair Person, National Trust and other senior officials of the Ministry and the National Trust.