Educating. Enlightening. Empowering.
Please feel free to contact the Principal of the Physiotherapy
College for the Blind, on the details given below for any
further details.
Mukesh.Patel School for the Deaf Mutes Society
Physiotherapy College for the Blind,Navrangpura,Ahmedabad 9.
E-Mail: [email protected] Office Phone: +91 79 64502666
CHAPTER 1
PROJECT BACKGROUND
1.1
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
Physiotherapy College for the Blind is a unit of “School for the Deaf Mute’s Society”.Through this document, the College is seeking to enlighten the reader about the efforts of the college to provide education to the visually impaired in a scientific manner to enable them to make a living in a dignified and independent way.
We believe that in order to provide a chance of dignified existence to the visually impaired in these extremely competitive times, the first basic requirement is to provide them with a sound and scientific education on
the same lines as made available to the general society.
We hope that you will share our vision and come forward to be a part of this effort and help us bring the light of scientific education into the lives of those who need it and want it.
1.2
ABBREVIATIONS USED
a. PCB Physiotherapy College for the Blind. b. CBR Community Based Rehabilitation. c. TOT Trainer of Trainers
d. VIPT Visually Impaired Physiotherapist e. VI Visually Impaired
1.3
MISSION OF PHYSIOTHERAPY COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND
To train VI as VIPTs, which results in the empowerment of the VIPTs and enhancement of their image and integration in society for a better tomorrow.
1.4
BACKGROUND OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN INDIA
In India, the VI have been trained as masseurs since 1952. They were then employed in the recreation industry of hotels and recently health parlors.
In 1982 a new course was launched by an NGO, which specialized in the field of trainingof the VI. This new course was designed to suit the needs of those times. It offered a certificate in Physiotherapy after 2 years of study.The students having a SSC qualification were admitted to this course. Till date there have been about 200 candidates who have completed this course and of them about 50% have managed to find employment in the field of Physiotherapy. This course was last upgraded in 1995.
The reasons for such a low success rate are many, the most important ones being content of the course, post training support, the advent of the new colleges for the sighted bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy, etc. A couple of other NGOs in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have started similar courses modeled on the same lines.
Hence it is obvious from the above that the existing courses should be redesigned or a new syllabus should be put in place, which would give the VI the necessary tools to compete in this fast changing world.
The Deaf Mute’s Society has started for the first time in India, a full time diploma course in physiotherapy for the visually impaired.
This course which was started on the 1st of August 2005 has been specially designed to meet the demands of the modern day physiotherapist. It endeavors to enhance the career of the visually impaired candidate, and transform him into a complete profes sional who would be ready to meet the challenges of the
society.
CHAPTER 2:
THE NEW PHYSIOTHERAPY COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND – BASICS
2.1 POTENTIAL OF EXPECTED BENEFITS
In India this type of paramedical training has not gained momentum. So far as VI persons are concerned, we will hardly find them working in this field. We aim for trainees from all over India in order to create wider job opportunities since at present blind persons have a very limited choice for jobs. In absence of these types of courses the scholar blind student has to opt for a branch, which is not fit to his intelligence. By experience we have learnt that a blind person can work successfully and independently in this paramedical branch.
The government has also been giving due importance to this field.
2.2 BENEFICIARIES TARGETED
Every year a minimum of 15 students will be benefited on completion of this three year diploma course. They may get a permanent job in a government institution or start their own clinic or may be employed by various NGOs working in this field.
The College will also cater to the training and knowledge upgradation needs of about 300 VIPTs currently practicing in the country through bi-monthly training workshops and seminars conducted at the college.
2.3 OBJECTIVES
• Imparting scientific education through planned programmes that are practical, needbased,and job oriented.
• Creating job opportunities for the trained cadre through continuous dialogue with various funding / placement agencies in the urban areas and with agencies like NABARD for similar employment opportunities in rural areas.
• Creating an organisation that is financially sustainable. • Influencing policy and practice.
• Social activism, advocacy and awareness about the potentials of VIPTs.
• Preparing cadres of trained professionals and caregivers in the field of physiotherapy. • Initiating and promoting appropriate innovations.
• Capacity building of stakeholders and professionals.
• Developing models of good practice.
• Promoting research in various aspects related to physiotherapy development. • Networking with other organizations across the country.
2.4 AIMS OF THE PHYSIOTHERAPY COLLEGE
1. It will be upon the PCB to try and find a suitable placement for the VIPT as he or she nears completion of his/her stipulated training. To achieve this objective, the PCB shall remain in constant touch with various
NGOs, and shall also act as an intermediary in order to achieve employment in the government sectors. 2. The PCB will help VIPTs who wish to do so to establish their own clinics. VIPTs shall be advised in all
aspects such as selection of a proper place, procurement of equipment,procurement of necessary finance, etc.
3. The PCB will help VIPTs who wish to do so to establish their own clinics. VIPTs shall be advised in all aspects such as selection of a proper place, procurement of equipment,procurement of necessary finance, etc.
4. The PCB in partnership with local NGOs will launch a community based rehabilitation (CBR) program in
order to provide a community support program to the rural community. This will impart field training to the VIPT for those who choose to practice as field physiotherapist.
5. The PCB will act as a research organization by trying to develop new equipment, which is more user friendly for the VIPTs. Such modifications can also be tested at the center by the VIPTs themselves and a thorough examination can be made of such equipment in regular practice. In order to promote this idea, the PCB will undertake mass media campaigning by publishing and circulating leaflets, small advertisements, etc.
6. The PCB will be responsible for publishing regular magazines for the VIPTs. These magazines will contain articles regarding different techniques of physiotherapy which are developed in other countries. These publications shall also be used for advertising vacancies, etc.
7. The PCB will look forward towards technical support from such organizations that have a team of master trainers such as Handicap International. These master trainers will be invited periodically to train VIPTs on different subjects and techniques.
8. The PCB will organize conferences, workshops and seminars by inviting specialists on different subjects. As delegates, it will be open to all VIPTs to attend such meets.
9. A regular participation of various specialists will also be promoted in order to enhance the skills of the VIPTs working at this center.
10. In order to develop statistical and monitoring skills of the VIPTs, they shall be given advanced training in handling of computers so that they can record their own observations and maintain their own records which shall be accessible to both the VI and the normal sighted.
11.The PCB will encourage the upcoming young physiotherapists to recognize their talents and keep them abreast with current techniques used worldwide through various seminars and CME.
12.The PCB will instill zest and enthusiasm among the therapists to take their profession to the pinnacle of success by being dedicated and vigilant.
13.The PCB will endeavor to gain financial support for sustenance from various sources such as charging for the services provided, collecting donations from individuals / corporates, attracting sponsorship for its various activities, getting grants from various government schemes, etc.
CHAPTER 3:
ELIGIBILITY AND COURSE FORMAT
3.1 ADMISSION REQUISITES
The VI shall be chosen from all over India. The basic criteria for eligibility will be the completion of standard 12 examinations, with English as a subject. The VI shall apply for selection and will only be chosen after a detailed assessment.
3.2 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SEATS
There are maximum of 15 seats for this course. There are no reservations of any kind,and seats are filled on merit only.
3.3 EXAMINATION METHOD
The examinations are conducted using the multiple choice question format, on acomputer. Each candidate is presented with a random selection of questions by thecomputer, which uses the data bank of questions approved by the University.
3.4 ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW M C Q FORMAT
• The programme is a user-friendly programme supported by JAWS for WINDOWS, which enables the
visually impaired student easy access.
• The students shall be relieved of cramming long answers, which often goes waste as thestudents forget the crammed lessons in a few months after the exams.
• The new method of asking multiple-choice questions allows the examiner to ask more questions in turn judging the students capacity in more detail.
• D The student should be able to know his performance immediately on completion of thepaper, as the
result is computer generated.
• As the computer generates the question paper by random selection, it eliminates the fearof leakage of thequestion paper.
• This also eliminates the need for any examiners to go through the lengthy process ofchecking the answer sheets.
• The student is also relived from the dependence on the unknown writer. The programme is very simple to load on any standard computers and does not require any special adaptations.
3.5 METHOD OF TEACHING
The faculty uses the standard lecture method for teaching. All these lectures are recorded live on computers using the latest sound recording software’s. This enables the student to refer to this data at any later moment, and the quality of the recording is as good as being present in the class.
3.6 DATA STORAGE METHOD
Conventionally the visually impaired students use cassettes for recording and storing data, but the cassettes have a short life and it is very bulky to store. It is also very difficult to retrieve data from a cassette.
Hence a new method of digitalizing the data has been put in place. All the material is recorded on computers, including live lectures in the class and the data is given to the students in MP3 format on a CD. This method facilitates easy retrieval of the data and easy and reliable storage.
3.7 KNOWLEDGE OF COMPUTERS
In order to achieve independence in the recording and retrieving data, which is on the computer, all the students are taught the use of computers.
The practical education regarding the use of computers is conducted at the computer lab of the School for the Blind. All the classrooms are equipped with their own computers, and the students are taught to manage their study material on it. After the initial 2 months of basic training the students become capable enough to handle the live recordings themselves.
The textbooks are also scanned, which in turn is heard by the students on the computer. This has eliminated the dependence on the reader.
3.8 ENGLISH COMMUNICATION SKILL
Fluency in spoken English is a precursor to the successful use of
computers and understanding of the sound of the screen reader “Jaws for windows.”
Even though the students have English as a subject in the 12th standard, their level of English leaves much to be desired at the time of admission. Hence a special course designed to meet the needs of these students has been introduced in the first year of study.
Acknowledging their needs for further improvement in the field of Englishcommunication, the subject is being taught in-formally during the 2nd year.
3.9 WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS
Physiotherapy is a branch of medicine, which needs constant upgradation of one’s knowledge. The college of physiotherapy in its endeavor to become the focal point for all the visually impaired physiotherapists organizes bimonthly workshops on different subjects of interest to the group of physiotherapists in partnership with the Indian Association of Visually Impaired Physiotherapists.
These workshops are designed keeping in view the needs and level of competence of the visually impaired physiotherapists. An experienced guest lecturer is invited, to conduct all the workshops.
3.10 OUTDOOR CONDITIONING CAMPS
The VI rarely experience nature in its true form. Generally they are over protected and are hence forbidden to venture around and explore the nature around them. Hence they seldom have any idea about the beautiful flora and fauna surrounding them.
Very few have enjoyed the pleasure of walking over wild unmarked
tracks or do rappelling or climb a rock. These activities are very common amongst the normal. Hence in order to bring out the true spirit of adventure in the VI, the Physiotherapy College in partnership with ANALA Outdoors conducts outdoor conditioning camps especially for its students.
During these camps the students are put up in tents, which are located in remotelocations. The students undergo the same vigor’s as for any normal individual. They are guide doverhills, pass through streams and rivers, climb over rocks, do the fly over etc.They are also given a graphic description of the flora and fauna around them.
3.11 SWIMMING FOR THE VIPT
Hydro therapy is an integral part of physiotherapy treatment. But very few VI have ever experienced the thrills of swimming. This in turn is reflected in their treatment plans during their practice.
The knowledge of the mechanics of hydro therapy is very essential if the VIPT chooses to practice Sports Physiotherapy or work as a Fitness advisor.
Keeping the above important issues in mind the Physiotherapy College has made it a compulsion for all its 2nd year students to undergo a 1 month training programme in swimming.
CHAPTER 4:
THE NEW PHYSIOTHERAPY COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND
4.1 THE O P D CLINIC
Any programme dealing with medicine needs a clinic for its students to practically experience the art that they have learnt theoretically. The O P D clinic of the Physiotherapy College is a modern, fully equipped department. This clinic boasts of the latest Computerized Laser therapy unit along with the traditional modalities like Short Wave Diathermy, Interferential Therapy Unit,
Computerized Ultra Sound Therapy Unit, Automatic Traction System, etc. It is imperative that the clinic also has a complete range of exercise therapy instruments.
Hence the clinic has the capacity for treating a variety of conditions in the patients. The clinic is accessible for wheel chair users.
4.2 THE CLASSROOMS
The classrooms are the focal points of the Physiotherapy College. Situated in a quite corner of the campus, they have all the essential learning tools including a computer, a MP3 player, models of the human systems, bone sets, storage cupboard, etc.
All the classes and the clinic are connected to the main administrative office of the Course coordinator with a “LAN” connection. This ensures easy transfer of material as required and their activities can be monitored from the office.
4.3 ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PHYSIOTHERAPY COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND
The first batch consisting of 9 students graduated in June 2008 and have been successfully placed in jobs and have been guided to initiate their own private clinics.
Graduates employed with NGOs Graduates Initiating Private Clinics Graduates providing Domiciliary Care 3 2 4
