Shadow Corresspondent
jammu, Mar, 18
One-week skill course on Understanding and Screening Learning Disabilities organized from 10th to 16th March 2021 by the University Entrepr eneurship and Skill Develo pment Centre (UESDC), University of Jammu concluded with the distribution of the certificates among the participants by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Manoj K. Dhar. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dhar highlighted the need for building the skill sets of the students. He stressed the need of creating inclusive societies where the youth are sensitive to the needs of persons with disabilities. He stated that activities like these are a reflection of the earnest endeavor of the University to help its students gain skills that are required to succeed in the contemporary world. He also mentioned that in the future such courses shall also be open to others outside the University.
Prof. Rajni Dhingra, Dean Research Studies, JU was the Guest of Honor on the occasion. Prof. Dhingra appreciated the UESDC for organizing a skilled course in an area of emerging importance. She mentioned that Learning Disabilities is an invisible disability, the incidence of which is on a rise not only globally but also in India. She expressed hope that in the coming times the more such courses related to the vulnerable groups of the society will be conducted.
Earlier Prof. Alka Sharma, Convenor, UESDC in her welcome address stated that persons with disabilities are an integral part of our society and that even the NEP has provisions for special needs individuals. While presenting the report of the one week skill course she mentioned that the key areas covered during the course were meaning and types of learning disabilities, history and etiology of SLD, comorbid conditions- ADHD, processing disorders, and executive functioning disorders, holistic development of children, the concept of neuroplasticity and brain development, National and international organizations working for LD, early warning signs of LD, screening, and identification of LD through the use of formal, informal, and teacher based tools, behavior management of children with LD, the emotional impact of LD, classroom strategies for an inclusive approach, supporting families and parents, and referring LD for further assessment.
The key resource persons for the workshop were Dr. Anupma Sethi, Founder of Empower Kidz, a USA based freelance organization; Ms. Mimansa Popat, a well known Psychotherapist, special educator, and trainer from Mumbai, Dr. Santoshi Halder, Associate Professor in the Department of Education, University of Calcutta; Dr. Bharti Tandon, Associate Professor, College of education, MIER Institute, Jammu; and Dr. Nikhil Gupta, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Acharya Shri Chandra College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Jammu.
Dr. Sarika Manhas, Associate Professor, Department of Home Science (Human Development), JU, and course coordinator thanked the University of Jammu for running a course on Learning Disabilities. She mentioned that the skill course was designed in a three-fold manner as it helped the participants gain knowledge about the etiology and prevalence of Learning disabilities; its screening and identification in-home and classroom settings; and further its management in varied settings. She also presented the formal vote of thanks on the occasion.
Prominent among others who were present on the occasion were Prof. Shashi Manhas (HOD, Home Science Department), Prof. Sameer Gupta (HOD, TBS), Prof. Neeru Sharma, Prof. Vinay Chahuan, Prof. Samridhi Arora, Dr. Abid Hussain Parrey, Dr. Rachna and Dr. Farah Choudhary.
Ms. Vinish Malik and Ms. Arpana Langeh (Research Scholars from the Deptt of Home Science) conducted the proceedings of the function.
