INTRODUCTION


    • INTRODUCTION


  • READS was established in 1987 by Dr. Ganga R. Singh Speech Pathologist Audiologist working in S.M.S. Hospital Jaipur. As there was no special school for hearing impaired children Mrs. Singh started Monsoon Anubodh School in a rented 2 room’s apartment in Bapu Nagar Jaipur. From then we now have 4 schools for underprivileged hearing impaired children. Monsoon Anubodh School has a new building which was donated by the Monsoon Trust U.K. We have 45 Hearing Impaired Children in the school, all the staff members are trained special educators. We have integrated till date 150 children in normal schools. Rajasthan had no training programme for teachers of the deaf therefore there was a dearth of trained staff to teach the Hearing Impaired Children.




    Monsoon Anubodh School




    We started Monsoon Anubodh School in 1987 with 3 Hearing Impairment children. We have 45 Hearing Impaired children in Monsoon Anubodh School today. The building of Monsoon Anubodh School was donated by Monsoon Trust U.K. We run classes from Nursery to Prep standard and integrate the children in 1st standard of normal schools.

    All our 8 teachers are trained as Special Educators. We have integrated more than 150 children in normal schools of Jaipur and Rajasthan. Bhumi Jain one of our ex students has done her graduation in fine arts and is now married to a computer programmer. They are also blessed with a baby girl. We hold regular parents /teachers meetings, individual therapy classes; we take the children for excursions, and celebrate festivals to help develop language and confidence in the children.

    What we emphasize in our school is Early Identification, fitting child with matched Hearing Aids, fitting ear mould and giving special Education by a special educator. The student child ratio is maximum 10 children to one teacher. We teach normal school syllabus and finally integrate the child in a normal school main streaming the H.I. child has been found most beneficial.

     




    		  
         



    Doorstep Schools



    READS started Doorstep School I in the year 2005 at the Amritpuri Kacchi Basti Ghatgate area of Jaipur.

    This concept was started as we found a large number of Hearing Impaired children in one slum area. They were all from very low economic status backgrounds so we started this school at their Doorstep with 10 children. We give the Hearing Impaired children free education free hearing aids, free ear moulds and free batteries. The Doorstep School I did very well. Now we have 28 children and 3 special educators. Seeing the success of Doorstep School I we have opened 2 more school for H.I. children we run Doorstep School II at the Chardarwaja Slum area. There we have 17 children and 2 special Educators. Both these school are funded by the Monsoon Trust U.K.

    We also have started Doorstep School III at the slum of Shastri Nagar Jaipur. There we have 20 children and 2 Special Educators. This school is funded by the Anber Trust in France. In all the 3 Doorstep Schools we take the children out on picnics, excursions to the Zoo, post office, etc to help develop confidence and personality, we also celebrate all the festivals. The children participate in Dance and Music programs. Special care is taken to see that regular audiological and speech and language evaluations are done. We also emphasize on regular parents teacher’s meeting so that the parent also participate with the therapy and parents are taught about causes and prevention of deafness.

     



    		  
         


    D. Ed. (SE) H. I.



    In the year 2002 R.E.A.D.S. started the "Diploma in Special Education (Hearing Impaired)" D.S.E. (H.I). The Director, Mrs. Ganga R Singh a senior working Audiologist and Speech Pathologist in the S.M.S Hospital, Jaipur felt the dire need for trained teachers, as there was no training program for the teachers of the hearing impaired in Rajasthan. R.E.A.D.S. is the sole organization to run such courses.


    This Diploma course is a 2 years full time programme and is recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India (R.C.I.), New Delhi. R.C.I. implemented revised curricula and nomenclature from the academic session 2008-09. Name of the course was revised as Diploma in Education Special Education (Hearing Impairment), D.Ed.S.E. (H.I.). R.C.I. has introduced semester scheme for D.Ed.S.E. (H.I.) from the academic year 2007 onwards for which Manipal University conducts examination and awards the diploma certificate.


    Currently R.C.I has allowed us only 25 seats intake for each year. In accordance to R.C.I. Directive the admission to this course is done via online entrance test. There is no upper age limit for admission.

     



    		  
         


    B. Ed. (SE) H. I.



    With an aim to meet the growing demands and needs of the trained manpower in the field of special education, The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) New Delhi under in department of multimedia (DME) jointly started a degree distance learning course B.Ed. in special education for Hearing Impairment B.Ed. (SE) H.I. in the year 2001.

    This course is conducted through the correspondence mode. The duration of the course is minimum of 02 years which may be extended maximum up to 05 years, which means that if any candidate is unable to complete this course (Due to any reason therefore) within the stipulated period of 02 years then he/she is allowed to complete maximum up to 05 years. This course is divided into 02 academic years and in each academic year there are 02 contact programmes for theory as well as for practical. The practical examinations are conducted before the final examination of theory.

    The advertisement for the admission to this course is published by IGNOU New Delhi in the month of April – May.

     



    		  
         


    Till now READS has trained at least 500 special educators. All of them are working in Rajasthan and India, helping Hearing Impaired Children to lead a life of dignity.

    READS has always aimed at doing quality work.

    The three free Doorstep Schools being run in the slum areas of Jaipur are also doing very well.

    We are very thankful to the Monsoon Trust and Anber Trust for sponsoring the Doorstep Schools. We provide free hearing aids, free batteries, and free education.


    It was a proud moment for READS when the Director Mrs. Ganga R. Singh was felicitated with the following awards.

    1. The 11th Red & White Bravery Awards in 2002.

    Conferred the Special Social Award to READS for its unique & exemplary contribution to Hearing Impaired Children for speech language classes and integration to normal schools and providing training by conducting R.C.I. recognized courses to train faculties for such Hearing Impaired Children.

    2. HONORARY DEGREE, DOCTRATE OF HUMANE LETTERS -2003.

    Dr.Ganga R. Singh was given the Honorary Degree, Doctorate of Humane Letters by the State University of New York and the College at Oneonta U.S.A. on may 17, 2003 for her selfless work in educating the underprivileged children of Indo International School at Dundlod, Distt. Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan).

    3. PANNA DHAI AWARD 2002-2003.

    Dr. Ganga R. Singh was awarded the Prestigious Panna Dhai Award at National Level on 9th March 2003 by the Maharna Mewar Foundation, Udaipur. This was in recognition of her ventures beyond the call of duty and for setting an example in society of permanent value.