Bhubaneswar: The Orissa Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA) has decided to open a state-level resource centre to provide training and therapy to children with special needs. The centre will start functioning at Government Boy’s High School in Unit-IX here very soon, official sources said Friday.
As per the proposal, four units will be opened at the centre—physiotherapy & occupational therapy, speech & audiometric, Braille & low vision and psychological assessment & vocational counselling.
The centre will be managed by OPEPA in association with different line departments, institutions for providing therapy and training to the kids, they said.
The government would provide all the therapy equipment, materials for the centre.
The children with special needs and parents of 30 districts will attend centre in a phased manner.
The state will provide necessary accommodation and logistic facilities at the venue as per need. Ramps, handrails, disabled-friendly toilets pathways will be made accessible to the students.
For success of the programme, the government would conduct awareness programmes for the parents on inclusive education, the source said.
PNN