Maharashtra has two centres to certify learning disabled

Though the concessions provided to students with learning disabilities in the state board exams have levelled the field, the presence of only two authorised centres across the state — Sion Hospital and Nair Hospital —  which can issue learning disabilities certificates is proving to be self-defeating. Other boards such as the ICSE, IGCSE and the CBSE accept certificates from any disability-related registered organisation, and even the school psychologist.

A student diagnosed with a learning disability is entitled to several concessions such as extra time, choice to drop a language, provision for a reader or a writer, 20 grace marks, option to choose lower-level maths. etc, during board exams.

In the run up to the board exams in April, the number of students queuing up outside Sion Hospital and Nair Hospital is at an
all-time high, resulting in a sizeable backlog. “Since nearly 5 to 15% of entire school-going population has learning disabilities, there is a need for more certification centres which can provide speedy diagnosis and certification,” said Dr Henal Shah, associate professor, Department of Psychiatrics, Life Centre for Learning Disabilities Memory Clinic, Nair Hospital.

The assessment clinic at Nair Hospital has certified 250 Std X and Std XII students in the last two months alone. It should be noted that, on average, of the 10 who apply for learning disabilities certificates, only two are found eligible.

“Besides, we also get applications from students of the ICSE and CBSE boards who want to shift to state-board junior colleges. We have to give top priority to the board students as they have a tight deadline to submit the certificates to avail the concessions,” Dr Shah said.

Last year, the Delhi-based ICSE board had increased the number of centres which can provide certification to students with learning disabilities. The board had sent circulars to city schools intimating that four organisations, namely, Maharashtra Dyslexic Association (MDA); Ummeed, an NGO; Sion Hospital, and Nair Hospital can certify such students. “Even the school psychologist’s report is accepted by the ICSE board. However, the students need to visit the prescribed centres to take admission in junior colleges,” said Seema Buch, principal of ICSE-board Gundecha Education Academy (GEA), Kandivli.