Maharashtra: GMC Aurangabad to start new learning disability centre

Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) is going to start a state-run learning disability centre where testing and certification of LD will be carried out. This brings an end to the travails of parents of Aurangabad and nearby areas.

Earlier, they had to go to Pune or Mumbai to get their children tested for learning disability (LD) and get necessary government certification.

The State’s High Court after this initiation has asked for setting up such centres all across Maharashtra. The current facility has been set up at the GMHC's psychiatric department.

Pradeep Deshmukh, In-charge, GMCH psychiatric ward said that the learning disability centre team would have as its head a clinical psychologist, who would be assisted by a team of psychiatrist, paediatrician, ophthalmologist and ENT specialist among other doctors.

"The centre has come as big relief for parents from Aurangabad as assessment and certification of LD would be possible at the same time. The LD, if not detected and attended timely, can pose several challenges before children and their parents as well. The children certified with LD can avail a range of educational benefits that ensure level playing field for them to compete with other students on educational front," he said, speaking to TOI.

The centre would attend to Children, 7-year-old and above, and will operate on every Wednesday between 8am and 1pm. Sadeq Qureshi, Consultant, GMCH psychiatric department said earlier parents had to make frequent trips to Pune or Mumbai for LD assessment and certification for their children.

"Our society at large has lack of awareness about LD and therefore getting it assessed and certified is tough challenge before parents. We had seen some parents who had given up hope of getting government certification due to inconvenience associated with earlier procedure. The new centre at GMCH would make entire process hassle free," he said.

10% children suffer from LD in India . Psychiatrist, Mangesh Kadam said the centre at GMCH would benefit many a children suffering from Learning disabilities.

"It is good to see the much-needed facility finally coming up. Authorities should ensure it operates in most children-friendly and effective manner, catering to maximum parents. It should not happen that such important initiative gets reduced to mere compliance measure towards judiciary," he said.

The initiative taken by Haresh Shetty, a psychiatrist from Mumbai who knocked the doors of high court, seeking direction for the government to help children suffering from learning disability, that led to the setting up of the present initiative at the GMCH and the various others that are now to come up,reports TOI.