IMPORTANCE OF MEETINGS OF PARENTS/TEACHERS/HEAD MASTERS IN AN ITINERANT TEACHING METHODOLOGY FOR INTEGRATED EDUCATION OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN

The itinerant plan of teaching method that is adopted by many voluntary organisations implementing integrated education for visually impaired children, envisages clear cut roles for the significant others, namely, sighted children, parents, regular teachers, head masters and community volunteers. Organising periodic meetings of these different groups have the following major objectives :

• To bring them together to exchange views and ideas regarding the programme
• To help them realise their respective roles in promoting integrated education
• To train them in the techniques and methodologies involved in teaching visually impaired children
• To share success stories of visually impaired persons in their own fields of work
• To seek their co-operation and involvement in the integrated education programme

These meetings have to be organised separately for parents, regular teachers and head masters because their respective roles and the nature of their work vary quite widely. Apart from meetings with parents, teachers and head masters, it is very important to organise meetings of selected sighted children from each class where the visually impaired children are enrolled, to promote child-to-child learning. The involvement of sighted children in educating visually impaired children has a tremendous impact on the learning ability of the latter in terms of academic and co-curricular activities. Hence periodic workshops, maybe on an annual basis, involving sighted and visually impaired children to promote learning, caring and sharing would contribute towards better integration of visually impaired children. Similarly, the contributions of other family members, neighbours and community volunteers is equally important.

In conclusion, the success of an itinerant plan of teaching method in an integrated education programme depends on how best the integrated education units can make use of community support and seek their involvement in the programme.