This special school is building bridges

This special school is building bridges

The Amar Jyoti Charitable School is a school with a difference. It was established with the aim to bring special and physically challenged children into the mainstream so that they feel confident and become successful in their lives. Today a number of success stories testify the faith and efforts of the school in the unique endeavour.
The school was started in 1981, which was celebrated as the international year for the handicapped by the WHO. The school integrates special children with other children for their mutual benefit. The school however has separate sections for normal and differently-abled students. The reason for the separation is that these children can't cope easily in all fields so they need time and attention. "There is no doubt that one has to be patient while dealing with these students. For example, in the section for the hearing impaired we make them learn sign-language which takes time. But our motto is to make them realise their strengths instead of focussing on their weakness only. Here we have classes till VIII standard with nine sections for normal children, two for physically impaired and one for the visually impaired. These classes are taken by trained teachers," says Mini Sharma, principal of the school.
Birbala Rastogi, head of Social Works Department, Amar Jyoti Trust says, "We make sure that those special children who are performing well get a chance to join with other students. For example, if the child is performing well in Maths then we make him attend Maths classes with other children. Similarly, we integrate in music, dance or any other subject classes wherever they are performing well."
Mini says they even change the rules in sports to make sure that all children participate in them.
Asha, who teaches the hearing-impaired students says, "For the convenience of these children we make sure that the lessons are short and the children know about the chapter before they read the book."
What about the fees of the school? Mini explains: "Most of the children come from the lower sections of society and that's why the fees is minimal. Also, we don't expect any cooperation from their parents so both the class work and the home work are completed in school itself. We have arranged for vocational courses which are a must for every child after class III. These courses like weaving, painting, art and craft, jewellery making and stitching give them exposure and confidence to stand on their feet in the future. We also teach them computers.

Special building
The school building has been designed specially keeping in mind the needs of the differently abled students. Instead of stairs a ramp has been built. Presently the school runs classes from nursery to VIII standard. Children from adjoining areas in east Delhi and as far as Jama Masjid area in old Delhi come here.

Exposure to international events
As far as exposure to international events is concerned, students of Amar Jyoti do not lag behind. The principal says, "Our students went to China and participated in an archery event. In the UK, US and Canada the students gave a number of performances at various places and were greatly appreciated.

The school motto is to make special children realise their area of strengths instead of working on their weakness only. The teachers here make sure that those children performing well get a chance to gel with other normal students in respective classes.