I'd like to express my sincere thanks to Assisi Vidyaniketan School, Kochi, for their incredible commitment to inclusion and their wholehearted embrace of the RPWD Act. It's truly inspiring to see schools like this take the initiative, and it all starts with the management's willingness to support their teachers, who, in turn, empower students and parents. Together, we can bring about a positive change in our educational practices. The National Education Policy emphasizes flexibility and positions teachers as agents of change, equipping them with the skills needed to create individualized education plans. Let's hope this vision becomes a reality. I want to give a big shoutout to schools that not only talk the talk but also walk the walk when it comes to inclusion. My utmost respect and admiration go out to Assisi Vidyaniketan School. On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which falls on December 3rd, the students and teachers of class 6 put together a video celebrating individuals who overcame challenges in life and served as a source of inspiration to all. This initiative beautifully aligns with this year's theme, "Building back better: towards an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 world by, for, and with persons with disabilities." The Innovative Learning Lab at Assisi Vidyaniketan Public School organized a teacher empowerment webinar on Inclusion, highlighting the importance of fostering an inclusive culture within the school community. The event was graced by the Director, Rev. Jacob Baiju Ben, Associate Director Rev. Fr. George Mathirapilly, Former Principal Ms. Helen Joyce Job, Principal Ms. Suma Paul, and 50 teachers ranging from Kindergarten to higher secondary. We were also honored to have Rev. Fr. Jaison Vadassery, Secretary International Catholic Migration Commission, Rome, as a guest of honor. The webinar kicked off with a prayer invoking the patron saint of the school, St. Francis of Assisi. Mrs. Sumi John, Counsellor, stressed the uniqueness of every child and the importance of unconditional acceptance without judgment. As the resource person, I, Dr. Seema Girija Lal, a Psychologist, Special Educator, Co-founder of Together We Can, and a researcher in Mental Health, Inclusion, and Diversity, began the presentation by addressing the question: "Why Inclusion?" I highlighted the significance of the National Education Policy 2020, which places teacher training at the core of enhancing the quality of education, with equity and inclusion as the cornerstones of all educational decisions. It asserts that all children should thrive within the education system. I also underscored the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, which mandates the training of all professionals and staff to support inclusive education at all levels of school education. Schools are obligated to provide reasonable accommodations and individualized support in academics and overall development to fulfill the goal of inclusion. Furthermore, I emphasized that IQ test results or a diagnosis should not limit a child's abilities. As teachers, it is our duty to identify a child's strengths and work on them while nurturing their self-esteem. I explained how to recognize challenges in children across various developmental areas and introduced the acronym 'Every Child is a Special and Fine Creation, Let's All Strongly Believe So' to encompass these domains. It was made clear that the key is for children to learn at their own pace, and schools can adapt the curriculum to suit each child. Lastly, I concluded by explaining the Learning Hierarchy. The session included a question and answer segment and concluded with a vote of thanks by Mrs. Rosy Nidiya, Special Educator.
