The Tata Interactive Learning Disability Forum Promotes Special Deeds for Special Needs
Global learning solutions provider, Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) will host their third annual conference on learning disability – the Tata Interactive Learning Disability Forum (TLDF) – on November 29th in Mumbai and December 2nd, 2008 in Kolkata.
Tata Interactive Systems has played an active role in the remediation of learning disability (LD) since 2001 and, in association with the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General (LTMG) Hospital – which houses the first LD certification clinic in Maharashtra, India – has hosted the annual TLDF conferences since 2006, with national and international medical experts and educators, and state government representatives, among others, from the field of LD.
The TLDF 2006 and 2007 aimed at increasing awareness about LD and bringing people together to encourage, enable and empower students with special education needs. In 2008, the forum will be working towards accelerating the pace of research to gain a deeper understanding of the cause, and promoting concrete remedial action. TIS is facilitating research at organizations including the LTMG Hospital’s LD clinic to explore and analyze various aspects of LD – including medical findings and the life of LD students after certification.
According to Mr. J.C. Mistry, who spearheads TIS’ LD initiatives, “Over the years, our association with the LTMG Hospital has been on multiple levels. TIS’ LD activities centre around creating leverage points for each progressive step: starting with people, to the creation of software, the development of books, annual events and now, material for schools and changes in syllabi. As an outcome of TIS’ initiatives, in 2007 alone, 924 LD children have received certification and 225 new schools have registered for LD certification, with a total of 4300 students and 654 schools so far. In addition, LD has now been made a part of the MBBS syllabus in Maharashtra.”
He further adds, “The TLDF has always received an overwhelming response, from speakers and attendees alike. This year our honorary speakers include Dr. Madhuri Kulkarni – Former Dean, LTMG Hospital; Dr. Kenneth R. Pugh – President and Director of Research, Haskins Laboratories, US; Ms. Tricia Murphy – Former President of North Lincolnshire NAHT and Dr. Swaroop Sampat Rawal – Educational Consultant, Mumbai and Gujarat, to name a few. Some of the topics to be discussed this year include the neuro-psychological basis of LD, a case study on supporting children with LD and using drama to enhance life skills in children with specific learning difficulties. We are hoping that the exchange of ideas and information at the TLDF will grow over the years, and lead to attitudinal shifts in social, educational and governmental systems.”
Incidentally, TIS had received the Reader’s Digest Pegasus CSR Gold Award 2007 in the category “Contribution to Society – Imparting Education” for their efforts in the field of LD last year.
For more information on the TLDF log on to http://tldf.tatainteractive.com
© 2008 Tata Interactive Systems