A Special Alma Mater

Getting into a school and passing out with flying colors may seem pretty “normal” for a child, being good or at least average at sports is a given. These normal things are a little more than tough for some. These people are called “mentally challenged” or “mentally retarded”, but none of those terms are considered politically correct. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has replaced the previous terms with “intellect disability” or “intellectually disabled” and it’s being accepted by the psychiatry fraternity all over the world. A person with an IQ (intelligent quotient) less than 70 is considered intellectually disabled and such people may find simple day-to-day tasks very difficult to perform. It is important to note that such special kids are not unable to learn things, but just slower at grasping or retaining what they learn.

Mentally challenged schools for such people are a wonderful gift to the society. Needless to say these schools are completely non-profit oriented. Parents of these kids face a hard time as it is, but these schools have clearly eased their burden by providing professional help to such kids in learning things they need to. Patients, kindness, love and willingness to contribute in their development is what keeps such schools so very important in the lives of the parents and the special kids. There are a few Bollywood & Hollywood movies made on this sensitive topic which compels the audience give an emotional thought.

The government and a number of NGOs have taken an initiative in establishing such thoughtful institutions across India, and what makes these schools so special is that, there is no rigid syllabus to be followed because each of these kids require separate and personal attention in overcoming whatever obstacle comes their way. Personal one-to-one conversations and counseling is a great way in which the school helps its students. Today where ordinary schools encourage rat race, competition here is thrown out of the window. The students here are not hungry for good grades instead they thrive on appreciation and applause once in a while.

A school for mentally challenged or intellectually challenged appreciates the things these kids can do rather than picking on the things they can’t. Unlike the normal schools these schools do not teach you about how to make a living, but they teach you how to live your life to the fullest when you are deprived of basic agility.