The study was an intervention study in which grass root level workers were trained on preventing, detecting and learn ways of managing children with disabilities in the anganwadi. To achieve this, the anganwadi workers were trained on a module which was specifically developed for this purpose. The trained workers screened in their area all children in the age group of 0-6 years and identified amongst them, those who were ‘at risk’ of acquiring a disability, had an impairment or a disability. CWD were referred for medical intervention by the workers. Parents were encouraged to send CWD to AWCs, so that they could be a part of the ECE program of the AWCs.

PART A: METHOD

SAMPLE

(A) 100 anganwadi workers (AWW) drawn from 4 ICDS rural and urban projects of Delhi were part of the study. The sampling was purposive and the ICDS projects were assigned by the Directorate of Social Welfare. These 100 AWWs were interviewed on their views on including CWD in the anganwadis, the factors which could influence inclusion and their preparedness for Inclusive ECE program in the anganwadis.

(B) Out of these 100 AWWs, 26 AWWs were provided a 5 day training on detecting CWD in their area and acquiring skills on managing CWD in the AWCs. The trained workers closely worked with more than 20,000 population of which they surveyed all 0-6 year old children, 2254 children in their area. Further, out of the 2254 children, the ones who were screened as having signs of disability (about 81 children and their families) received special early input to arrest the disability from deteriorating. Further, an attempt was made to enroll them in selected AWCs for benefiting from the early childhood education programme.

PROCEDURE

Phase 1: Exploratory

1. Contacted Dept. of Social Welfare, Delhi Government for assigning 100 AWW from 4 rural/urban ICDS projects of South Delhi to be part of the study.

2. Got in touch with the AWWs.

3. Prepared interview schedules and interviewed 100 AWWs to explore their beliefs and attitudes about CWD and find out from the AWWs the barriers and facilitative factors in including CWD in the preschool programme.

4. Prepared interview schedule for parents and interviewed parents on their views on sending CWD to AWCs.

Phase 2: Intervention

1. Adapted and upgraded ‘The Training Module for Early Detection of childhood disabilities’ (Chopra, 1997; Chopra, 2002) for current usage.

2. Prepared new material for explaining the concept of Inclusive Education, abilities of CWD, material for community meetings and parent education. Posters were also prepared for management of CWD in the AWCs. Finalised the Innovative Training Module for Anganwadi Workers on Prevention, Early Detection of Disabilities and Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in AWCs.

3. Imparted a 5 day training to 26 AWW on the Innovative Training Module for Anganwadi Workers on Prevention, Early Detection of Disabilities and Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in AWCs. The AWWS were explained that the rehabilitation of CWD in no longer a ‘charity’ issue, but it is their ‘right’.