Our Learning Lab Provides Solutions for Students with Special Needs
Monday, April 26, 2021
It hurts knowing that people don’t understand the difficulties my son faces day-to-day. He struggles and fights much harder than other kids his age. And it makes me sad when I see others looking down on him instead of appreciating his courage.
My son, S, is a third-grader at Kopila Valley School. He has a condition that means his eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements. This hinders his learning and makes it laborious for him to concentrate on his studies. Doctors said his condition is incurable, and only regular medications help. As a father, it breaks my heart to see my child suffer. If I could take the pain away, I would do so in a heartbeat.
But we cannot always protect our children from painful experiences. Neither can we turn away from parental responsibilities. So, even though I didn’t graduate secondary school, I still make efforts to understand my son and his needs. However, the journey has not been smooth sailing.
When I first learned about my son’s disability, I stopped dead in my tracks. My emotions were in turmoil and my mind was filled with questions. Remorse, guilt, and fear overcame me. How did it happen to my child? Why did it have to be my son? What did I do wrong? Í did not know what to do next.
It’s difficult living with a disability in a poor village. Education wasn’t easily accessible to everyday people in my generation. So, most of us in this community are unaware of the potential of people with learning difficulties and disabilities. A lack of awareness and education can lead to hurtful insults. It’s a harsh reality. But we can do something about it. We can hold discussions among ourselves, acknowledge that our views are faulty, and educate ourselves to become more empathic people.
As a product of the community I was raised in, I also had narrow views on the topic. I was instinctively biased towards people with disabilities and didn't understand that we are all human beings that deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and given the chance to achieve in life. It all changed when Kopila Valley School selected my son for its Learning Lab, a program specifically dedicated to fulfilling the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
SEND teachers from the Learning Lab have boosted my understanding of children with learning difficulties and disabilities. With my son’s admission into the program, I realized that children with learning difficulties and disabilities don’t need our pity or to be treated differently. All they need is the same unconditional love and understanding of their unique needs, that all children do. With this support, they can then go on to achieve their full potential in and out of the classroom. It was a big eye-opener for me.
Two other students from the Learning Lab also live in our neighborhood. They visit S sometimes to study together, and I offer them all the help I can give. And sometimes, when I don’t understand the questions, I call their teachers and ask for clarifications. That way, I can better help the children and enhance their learning.
Having a child with learning difficulties in the family has opened my mind and my heart. At first, I was sad, confused and worried for S. But now I am more aware of his needs. I understand my responsibility as a father to support him and help him realize his potential. It has been a truly fulfilling experience for me.
A guardian, Kopila Valley School, Based on a conversation with BlinkNow Foundation