As part of Dyslexia Awareness Month, the #Walk4Dyslexia event was held at The Heritage in Kohima on Saturday, October 19. Recognized globally, October is dedicated to raising awareness about dyslexia and other learning disabilities, with this year’s theme being “Go Red,” emphasizing the strengths and unique abilities of individuals with dyslexia.
The walk in Kohima was organized by the Department of School Education, Nagaland Board of School Education, Department of Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, SCERT, Samagra Shiksha, and the Office of the State Disability Commissioner. National and local partners, including the ChangeInkk Foundation, UNESCO MGEIP, Elder Line Kohima, National Helpline, and Beautiful Minds Center, lent their support. Several schools and institutions from Kohima also actively participated in the event.
Speaking at the Kohima event, Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, MLA and Advisor for School Education & SCERT, Government of Nagaland, served as the Guest of Honour. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that no child with a learning disability is left behind. Thavaseelan K, IAS, Principal Director of the Department of School Education, Government of Nagaland also made the concluding remark. Over 300 participants gathered to raise awareness, advocate for individuals with dyslexia, and pledge to build opportunities for every child to thrive.
According to an update received here, this year, more than 1100 walks are being conducted across India, including in most major cities including Kolkatta, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, as well as in the districts and blocks of Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.
Nagaland actively joined this national movement with walks taking place in every district, including Dimapur, Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Kiphire, Wokha, Tuensang, and Kohima. Led by students, teachers, special educators, school leaders, parents and policy makers, these walks saw thousands of participants united in their support for the learning disabilities community.
The update further stated that the Department of School Education in Nagaland, in collaboration with the Department of Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, the Nagaland Board of School Education, SCERT, and Samagra Shiksha, has ensured the importance of ensuring that no child with a potential learning disability is overlooked.
“This disability was formally recognized as one of the 21 disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016; however, significant efforts are still needed to ensure these students are integrated into mainstream schools and not left behind,” it added.
SLDs, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia, affect individuals with average or above-average IQs but hinder their ability to process language, both spoken and written. These challenges often manifest as difficulties in reading, writing, spelling, or math, and many individuals with SLDs suffer silently, misjudged as lazy or incompetent. However, those with SLDs often possess extraordinary strengths, such as creative and lateral thinking, which enable them to approach problems with out-of-the-box solutions. From Albert Einstein to Steve Jobs, dyslexic minds have left an indelible mark on the world, with an estimated 40% of self-made millionaires having dyslexia.
Under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the updated informed that the Nagaland’s Department of Education has partnered with ChangeInkk Foundation to mainstream the inclusion of students with SLDs in the state’s education system.
“This partnership, initiated in 2022, focuses on a comprehensive systems transformation, ensuring inclusive classroom practices, training teachers, and developing inclusive curricula and teaching-learning materials (TLMs). The goal is to create an educational environment where every child, regardless of learning disability, can excel. This initiative aims to create inclusive school environments where students are identified, screened, and supported, unlocking their untapped potential, thereby reducing dropout rates and enhancing learning outcomes,” it continued.