Team Herald

PANJIM: Caritas Goa Director Fr Maverick Fernandes on Friday urged the State government to recognise deaf blindness along with other new disabilities introduced in the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016.

Fernandes also said that Caritas Goa, after caring for the deaf blind through home based services, is now setting up a centre for the dead blind.

Addressing the media, Fernandes said, “I earnestly call upon the government to proactively recognise deaf blindness along with other new disabilities introduced in the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016 by framing rules for the effective implementation of the act in State policies.”

He added, “Caritas Goa, after caring for the deaf blind through home based services for the past six years is now setting up a centre at Saligao for the dead blind which will cater to children as well as young adults. The centre will be equipped with the latest amenities and technologies completely accessible across disabilities, besides all other relevant therapies.”  

He further said that many special educators face problems in planning early intervention services, along with how to assess, which area should be given importance, what goal to take, how to and how long to teach particular skills and keeping this in mind, Sense India through its partner organisation Caritas Goa has organised a two-day training on early intervention for parents from March 23 to 24.

“The main objective of this is to learn the importance of early intervention, role of family members in process of early intervention, to learn the techniques of assessing babies and young children with deaf blindness, to prioritise area, goals and objects and lastly to plan and execute early intervention services” Fernandes added.