National, 15th July 2022: Balavidyalaya, established in 1969, one of India’s first early intervention center for children with hearing impairmentfrom birth to six years old helps children with hearing impairment develop language skills so that they can join mainstream education system, and theydo it free of cost. The school creates a platform for the children to develop verbal language skills by making the best use of residual hearing, which is the ability to hear some sounds in spite of hearing loss.
Balavidyalaya follows a special curriculum that focuses on preparing each child to join mainstream education system at the earliest possible age. These children enter regular schools latest by the age of 6 years, when they acquire the necessary skills needed to compete with others of their age. A unique teaching methodology called DHVANI, which stands for Development of Hearing, Voice, and Natural Integration, is used andworks towards the holistic development of a child’s personality at an early age. The school does not use any formal textbooks and all learning is activity based.
Balavidyalaya Institute of Teacher Training offers a one year training program called – Diploma in Early Childhood Special Education Hearing Impairment. The course trains teachers to help infants and young children deaf or hard of hearing acquire speech and language skills and join the mainstream by the time they are five years old.The Diploma is recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India and the Government of Tamilnadu.
The main goals of the Institute are to train graduates in Early Intervention techniques and be instrumental in starting Early Intervention Centres in other places, especially in rural areas, so that hearing impaired infants and young children get an opportunity to acquire early verbal language skills and get integrated into mainstream society.
The training is open to anyone who have completed their plus two with more than 50% aggregate. Preference is given to graduates. The candidate should understand English as the medium of instruction is English. The teachers after completing the course can set up their own centres in any part of the country, or work in other centers. Balavidyalaya will provide all the technical support and guidance in running the centres. The diploma course fee is 25,000/- Interested candidates should write an all India entrance examination conducted by Rehabilitation Council of India. Admissions are open till the 21st of July.
";