A Brief Note on the Number of Physically Challenged Students: We made an earnest attempt in 1980 to integrate blind children in to our regular high school. In 1981, a short-term course of eight weeks duration was organised for the teachers of special schools and upcoming integrated education programmes in the southern states of India. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of India, sponsored this course. The year 1981 was also unique in a way that the first national seminar on integrated education of the blind was organised by the Vidyalaya during March 1981. Eminent educators from different parts of the country participated and discussed the plan of action to augment educational services for visually disabled children. This national workshop was also used as a forum to discuss the syllabus for teacher preparation programme in the Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Education. Hence, since 1980, as part of the integrated education programme, students who are visually impaired also study along with normal students. During the school hours they attend classes along with regular students. During the evenings they retire to their specially allotted room and study their lessons with ‘Braille’ books.
They correct their lessons by typing them on Braille typewriters. They have also been provided with a tape recorder and cassettes called ‘talking books’. These facilities enhance their learning abilities to an appreciable degree. A special education teacher is also helping these students in teaching and coaching academic subjects. She takes care of their physical, mental exercises along with their academic needs.