Round TablesA Symposium on Special Education

Round Table 1 - Understanding and Supporting Learning Disabilities

Theme: Integrating teaching and therapy for inclusive education
Focus: Role of teachers, therapists, screenings, signs to watch for, integrating with school systems.

Key Discussion Points:

1. How can early identification and diagnosis of learning disabilities be improved in school and community settings?
2. How can teaching methods and therapeutic interventions be combined to better support children with disabilities in learning environments?
3. What training and support do teachers and parents need to effectively work with children with learning disabilities?

Round Table 2 - The Role of Technology in Inclusive Education

Theme: Exploring current tools, innovations, and future needs
Focus: Indian contextual adaptation, Bridging the urban-rural divide, funding, and teacher training.

Key Discussion Points:

1. What technology tools—both current and emerging—are being used to enhance learning and development for children with hearing, vision, physical, or cognitive challenges?
2. Where do you see gaps or unmet needs that require technological solutions to improve inclusion and support for children with disabilities?
3. How can we ensure these technologies are accessible, affordable, and effectively implemented in diverse educational settings?

Ananya Child Development Center
Child development and early intervention clinic specializing in therapies and support services for developmental and behavioral challenges, including speech and language therapy, sensory and motor therapies, behavioral and cognitive interventions, psychological counseling, special education, and parent support.

Ashray Akruti
A not-for-profit organization working for people with disabilities with a focus on children with hearing loss.

Balavikas Education Society for Disabled Children
A special school focusing on education for children with disabilities, including hearing impairment, offering specialized programs, qualified staff, and an inclusive curriculum, and providing individualized attention to each student.

Choice Foundation
 A not-for-profit organization that strives to develop an ecosystem of doctors, donors, various NGOs supporting orphanages, facilitators, and other charitable institutions to provide intensive care and emergency treatment to sick children coming from socio-economically challenged families.

Devnar Foundation for the Blind
Enabling visually impaired students to achieve their full potential.

Exo-Suit
Sustainable, smart, light-weight, customizable, lower body wearable exoskeleton for rehabilitation movements with safety protocols.

National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID)
An autonomous organization functioning under the aegis of Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with the primary objective of empowering people with intellectual disabilities.

Nayi Disha
A not-for-profit organization that provides information, peer-support and hope to families affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities such as Down Syndrome and Autism.

Network of Persons with disAbility Organisations (NPdO)
An affiliate of the National Disabled Network, working to create sustainable and energized organizations, and individuals of persons with disabilities to raise the issues of persons with disabilities with a right based approach.

People with Hearing Impaired Network (PHIN)
Imparting quality education to the most marginalized and deprived children with hearing impairments in a child-friendly environment by establishing a model school which ensures full participation and equal opportunities.

Qualcomm
An American multinational corporation creating semiconductor, software and services related to wireless technology, championing social programs towards education in underserved youth.

Samarthanam Trust for Disabled
A not-for-profit organization providing education, accommodation, food, vocational training and placement-based rehabilitation.

Shankar Foundation
A NGO stiving to promote and assure quality rehabilitation services with a compassion to change the lives of people with special needs.

Yunikee
A leading social enterprise providing products and services to the deaf community that are accessible in sign language.

Zendalona
A not-for-profit organization providing free and open-source accessibility solutions for the visually challenged.