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"A majority of differently abled children go to special schools, away from their peers who go to regular schools. However, the Right to Education (RTE) Act, introduced in 2012 allows children with special needs to pursue mainstream education.
All students, irrespective of their impairment, should be educated in mainstream schools. "If you check Ch 2 (2) of the RTE Act, it says that a child with 'disability', as defined by the Persons with Disability (PWD) Act 1995 and the National Trust Act, has the right to free and compulsory education as per the provisions of Ch V of the PWD Act," informs Pallavi Lotlikar, project manager, Saraswati Mandir Trust. To put this very simply, children with visual impairment, low vision, hearing impairment, leprosy-cured, loco-motor disability, mental retardation, mental illness, autism, cerebral palsy and multiple disability have the right to study in a regular school environment till the age of 18 years. "The RTE rules for children without disability are till completion of elementary education or class VIII or 14 years of age but for children with disability is till 18 years of age," informs Lotikar.
Though some schools practice inclusive education, a majority of children with special needs still do not...