Dealing with disability

Curriculum Based Test For Educational Evaluation Of Learning Disability by Rukhshana F. Sholapurwala. Published by the author, 808, Boman Lodge, Khodadad Circle, Dadar, Bombay 400014. Pp: 240. Price: Not mentioned.

"My child is the very best. My child is the smartest, My child is no 1,” are some of the remarks one hears from proud parents every day. With results exceeding 95 percent these days, there is almost no place for anyone but the best.

Unfortunately all parents wish for the very best, but many have to face the harsh reality of accepting that their child could be suffering from LD or learning disability.

A few years ago, many children would merely drop out of schools due to their poor performance in academics and be labeled as "backward or not intelligent enough.”

Thankfully, times have changed and sufficient research has shown that learning disability could be one of the causes for such academic backwardness among children.

But what exactly does one understand by the term "learning disability?” Simply stated, learning disability is a life long disorder that affects the manner in which individuals with normal or above average intelligence select, retain and express information.

There are three types of learning disability commonly referred to as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. While dyslexia relates to disorders affecting reading, spelling and listening, dysgraphia relates to disorders affecting writing and dyscalculia affects calculations or mathematics.

Today LD is detectable through scientific, measurable, standardized tests and remedial education helps achieve quantifiable improvement in such children.

However, the real challenge is in the early detection of the problem, and effective remedial education to overcome these drawbacks.

The author, Rukhshana Sholapurwala, a qualified special educator who has been in the field of special education for almost three decades, shares her vast knowledge and experience with the readers.

In fact the author is pleased to state that she would be happy to personally visit schools opting for her book to hold training sessions for teachers and school counselors in the correct methodology for administering and scoring the tests to get accurate results which she has specially designed keeping the Indian population in mind.

The first edition of her book is a real boon for teachers and school counselors, as it provides simple methods to test children from the first to the 10th grades. The book explains in easy to understand language the concept of LD, provides ready made tests and also the scoring pattern.

The book is also extremely useful to modern day parents who wish to take a bold and proactive role in understanding exactly why their child may not be performing to regular standards.

To summarize, a well written manual on the subject with accurate tests to identify and grade children with learning disability and imparting remedial education where required for improving their academic performance. A must have for all schools and a must read and administer for all teachers and school counselors.

PAREECHEHER DAVIERVALA