Maha help for autistic students

Maharashtra has become the first state to grant concession to autistic students taking class X board exams. The state board has notified schools that eight need-based relaxations can be availed by such students in class IX and X, effective from this year.

The notification comes after a sustained campaign by the Forum for Autism (FFA), which had highlighted the problems faced by children with autism during exams.

“Since the last two years, we have been campaigning for concessions for autistic children. We finally met and presented the case to the board and submitted a list of concessions needed by these children to pass exams,” said Chitra Iyer, president, FFA. In Mumbai alone, there are nearly 80,000 children with autism.

According to the notification, students with autism can avail concessions such as 20 minutes extra per hour, 20 grace marks, computers if needed, oral answers during practical exams, lower level maths (class VII) instead of class X maths etc.

However, to become eligible, students will have to provide medical certificates for the disability, which can be collected from Nair Hospital and Sion Hospital in Mumbai, and Sassoon Hospital in Pune. “We plan to start the service by February 1. We will require a detailed letter from the school, with observations of teachers on the student’s behaviour,” said Dr Henal Shah, associate professor, department of psychiatry, Nair Hospital. At least three to four visits will be needed to assess a student, she added.
The state board has said that the medical certificate should mention the concessions required for a particular student.

“Since no two students with autism are the same, the concessions needed by each student will be different. It is good  that the state board has recognised this problem with such children,” said Shah.

The move comes as a big relief for parents who have been campaigning for the special needs of their children. “My son is in class V and these concessions will go a long way in creating a level playing field in the board exams. It will also help encourage such children to take admission in mainstream schools, as earlier they were not welcomed due to absence of guidelines,” said Dr Sharada Rao, whose son studies at St Agnel’s School, Vashi.