Understanding The Role Of Parents As Team Members In The Intervention Process Of Continuing Rehabilitation Education (Cre) In Special Schools Before Going To The Mainstream Inclusive Form Of Education

Change is the inevitable part of everyone’s life because life has to go on. Change is never easy especially when it involves too many people and an entire system. Yet it is an essential part of our lives especially when some innovation is required for influencing a person or society. This can be in the form of education for the handicapped or those with special needs. It is much more effective if started at the elementary level of education. According to the Kothari Commission (1964-66), the first education commission of independent India, observed : “ the education of the handicapped children should be an inseparable part of the education system.” From this observation came the first concept of Integration into teaching-learning process. Both parents and teachers are equally important in educating the special children and more emphasis given to the role of parents because they know their child from birth onwards till the time they are into schools and can assess them better. The special education means an educational intervention which refers to education of children with disabilities. Usually these are done in special schools outside the institutions of regular schools. Jean Piaget has propagated the theory of Cognitive Development and there are different stages of development of a child from infancy to adulthood. The implications of this theory can be of assistance to special child development as well. At present the new concept of Inclusive education has come about which means creating and planning curriculum within the regular educational settings with normal children. This is supposed to be much more beneficial and at the same time challenging too. Rehabilitation is a comprehensive term which means embracing all within a system. It also means to bring the disabled people back to normal by opportunities and self-help. The Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) is working for providing health care services, social services, education and vocation to different types of disabled people and children. Here our target group are disabled children starting from infants to adults. It further means not only keeping these children in normal conditions but also arresting further disability. Parents can participate as equal partners by realizing the needs of their child and their special abilities. A little effort can make a lot of difference at home itself only with a little awareness. Parents’ role is important not only at home but also at school by making their special children able to prepare themselves to receive the education with other children. This paper describes the objectives of Rehabilitation Education, planning of the special education, Parent Involvement and Improved Achievement, Home Environment’s Influence on Schooling, Parent control of children, effects of disabilities on families, Communication between parents and school personnel and parents’ empowerment.