Special Children

In 1947, there were only two institutions for the special in Pakistan. There has been a remarkable growth of services since then and today, a vibrant interlinked system is available in the country. With the promulgation of Special Persons Ordinance, 1981, the services for special persons received a boost when a full-fledged Social Welfare and Special Education Division and four Special Education Centers, one for each disability, were established. 

Situation

• Special Education is an emerging subject in Pakistan and the main obstacle in the way of rapid expansion of services is the lack of trained manpower.
• The special persons still are not treated at par with the general public and have to face the curse of `sympathetic' treatment instead of their legitimate treatment.
• The Federal Government has approved special quota for jobs for special persons but there are some problems in its implementation in letter and spirit.
• Dissemination of information about special education through publications and reports of research still remains below of the required level.
• The supporting equipments for special children are quite costly and, sometimes, are inaccessible for poor children.

Initiative Taken By The Government

• Forty-nine Special Education Centers have been established in the main cities.
• Establishment of National Institute of Special Education.
• Master's degree level classes in Special Education at various Universities.
• Establishment of National Institute for the handicapped.
• Initiation of National Mobility and Independence training Center.
• Establishment of National Talking Book Center.
• Establishment of National Braille Press.
• Establishment of National Training Center for Special Persons.
• Introduction of Manpower Development on Speech Therapy Programme.
• National Council for the Rehabilitation of Special Persons.
• Establishment of National Trust for the Special.

What Needs To Be Done

• There should be a survey for assessing the exact nature of needs and requirements of the Special Children in Pakistan.
• There is a dire need for developing expertise of Special Education.
• Promotion of early detection of disability.
• Enhanced cooperation between the community, NGOs and the Government.
• Separate legislation for education, vocational training and rehabilitation. 
• Accessible environment to facilitate the special children in their mobility is required.
• There is a dire need of rapid service delivery for special children.
• Mobile Rehabilitation Units at the doorsteps of the community are required. 
• Mainstreaming of the special children in the education system.
• NGOs involvement in rehabilitation of special children.