In 1982, Amar Jyoti started a school with a pioneering concept of educating children with and without disability in equal number from nursery to class VIII. Having started with an integrated group of 30 children under a tree, the school has about 450 children with and without disability studying together in equal number today in Delhi and 275 children in Gwalior.
The pathbreaking venture of inclusion & integration at Amar Jyoti has been a big success. What makes it more challenging is the inclusion of children with all types of disabilities. While some of the mild cases of hearing impairment are integrated into regular classes with a provision of hearing aid, the profusely impaired are being educated in a special class in the same premises. Similarly the visually impaired, physically challenged and intellectually delayed are being given opportunities for full participation and a life with dignity.
The sports and cultural activities also have the non-disabled and children with disability exhibiting their talent. The regular message being conveyed is that ?We are second to none?. The holistic approach of providing medical care, vocational training and inclusive education makes Amar Jyoti School an exemplary institution
The mentally challenged and profound deaf have special sections and are socially integrated. The orthoepaedically handicapped and visually impaired are integrated with the non disabled in regular classes. Mild and moderate cases are trained and included as per special educator's advice. All the teachers are trained in special education. The parents are also involved for various programmes.
Inclusive education has become a reality at Amar Jyoti Delhi and its branch in Gwalior because of the necessary infrastructure, trained teachers, inter-disciplinary team of required professionals and provision of necessary assistive devices. Vocational training, sports and cultural activities are a part of the school curriculum. There is a well equiped library for audio-visual teaching, science lab to give practical training in science subjects and a language lab fitted with linguaphones to enhance English language skills of students. Provision of LCD Projector in the Computer lab facilitates the training. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment supports the education of children with disability at school.
Special sections: There are nine Special Sections for 107 children with special needs. They are put in separate sections only for academic purpose, for all other activities like games, music, assembly and vocational training they are put together with other children. This interaction raises their confidence level so much that to some extent they do well in studies also. For academics also they go to regular classes for different subjects according to their performance. This year eight children of these sections have passed VIIIth class from National Institute of open Schooling (NIoS). Four will be appearing in class Xth and two in class XIIth. over the past ten years about 50 special children have passed class VIIIth & class Xth from NIoS. It has been a big achievement for these children with special needs.
Special olympics was another occasion where these children showcased their talent in different competitions.
The Library of Teaching Learning Materials (TLM) is being used effectively. The TLM has been further enhanced by the addition of Montessori equipments. Hearing and speech impaired children are given basic training in lip reading and sign language, after that they are integrated in different classes as per their performance. Children with visual impairment are initially trained in Braille, and then are integrated in regular classes. This year some of these children were integrated in I, II, III and IVth Standards. Some of them are good in vocal music also.
A big milestone in the history of Amar Jyoti School was the establishment of a language lab to train our students in spoken english. Spoken english training begins from Nursery.
Empowering through vocational training?Besides academics, vocational training also forms an important part of school curriculum. This training is specially beneficial for children with disability.
National Institute of Open Schooling
Amar Jyoti is an accredited study/examination centre of NIOS. Accreditation has also been granted for IIIrd, Vth,VIIIth Xth & XIIth standards for academic courses and for a few vocational courses like Beauty Culture, Cutting/Tailoring, Bakery and computer Training. These courses are also open to children from the community those who are unable to go to any regular school. Students who cannot cope with CBSE syllabus have the option to continue their studies under NIoS. Amar Jyoti is accredited for IIIrd, Vth, VIIIth, Xth and XIIth standards by NIoS. This has been granted keeping in view that some children are unable to commute daily to school.
SUMMER HOBBY CLASSES are held every year to provide an opportunity to children to make the best use of their vacations. Not only do they keep themselves occupied but many of them hone their skills in arts like painting, dance, vocal music, tabla, keyboard, clay modeling, computers, jewellery making beauty culture, and martial arts like judo.
