Learning disability not a handicap for bright kids

Sakina Mehta, 16, a student of Alexandra Girls English Institution, Fort, was overjoyed on learning that she had secured 84.91% in her Secondary School Certificate Exam (SSC), results of which were announced on Wednesday. Unlike other students, Sakina had learning disabilities —she was unable to read, spell, calculate or comprehend diagrams. However, with her indomitable spirit of fighting all odds and constant encouragement from her teachers and parents, Sakina became one of the success stories of this year’s SSC results.

“I never imagined that I would score so well. My school and teachers helped me a lot. My teachers created sums to suit me. I learnt through a play-and-learn method which also improved my concentration,” Sakina told DNA. She said some years ago, she did not have the confidence to appear for her exams. All that changed because of support from her parents and teachers.
Many others with learning disabilities passed the board exam with flying colours. This year, 4,386 handicapped students appeared for the SSC exam. Of the 825 dyslexic students, 762 cleared their SSC with a majority of them scoring above 80%.

The figures are a sharp contrast compared to the previous years when students with learning disabilities got little or no attention from schools and the state board. The board has also contributed to their success by offering them concessions such as 30 additional minutes for their papers, testing them with standard VII-level maths and giving them the option of swapping languages with subjects like typing and screen printing.

Experts said the encouragement and timely support from parents and teachers is the most important reason for the improved academic performance of such students. “Thirty million children in India suffer from dyslexia. Over the last few years, intervention in the form of remedial education, occupational therapy and counselling from professionals has resulted in such good scores. The certification and provision by the state board has also helped,” said Dr Samir Dalwai, developmental paediatrician, LD Clinic, LTMG Sion hospital.

He said parents and teachers accepting and acknowledging the learning disabilities of students improved their self-esteem. “Despite their learning disabilities, we always knew that these children had the potential and intelligence to do well. It was being suppressed all these years,” Dalvi said.

Vandan Nirmal Trivedi, a slow learner, scored 62 in Hindi. His teacher, Rajesh Pandya of the Fatimadevi English High School in Malad, said it is important to build confidence among such students. “I made him practice a lot. We took extra classes for him and included him in all class activities. This made him more confident before the SSC exam,” he said.

Aashav Morakhia, also a slow learner, and a student of Swami Vivekananda International School, secured 83% in his SSC exam. “The teachers did not discriminate against my son ever. They prepared him for the exam by giving him a lot of practice and by improving his concentration. Now that he has done well, he can pursue his dream of working in the film industry by studying BMM,” Aashav’s father Sanjay told DNA.

Clinical psychologist Nita Mehta said most of the children with learning disabilities have a problem in solving sums in maths.