Renowned Schools Across Maharashtra Support Education for Learning Disabilities

MUMBAI, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

TATA Interactive Learning Disability Forum (TLDF) Partnered With K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai, and Citi Academy for Special Education (CASE), Mumbai, to Co-host the Forum for Learning Disabilities - 2013

TATA Interactive Systems (TIS), the pioneer and global leader in learning solutions, successfully concluded its seventh annual Forum for Learning Disability. This year, the forum was held in collaboration with Citi Academy for Special Education (CASE). The 2-day forum centered on the theme 'Learning Disabilities - a more inclusive perspective'. This annual forum is aimed at creating awareness, promoting remedial measures for Learning Disabilities (LD) and share the latest global knowledge and advances in the area of LD. The Forum for Learning Disabilities extended the scope from specific Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia) to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

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Due to an overwhelming response during the registration process, the select invitation workshop was attended by around 120 delegates from various districts across Maharashtra. The participants included a select mix of principals, teachers, parents and subject experts (medical practitioners). The attendees were from Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Aurangabad, Jalna, Latur, amongst other districts.

Approximately 20% of children in a classroom get poor marks and one of the causes for this is Specific Learning Disability (SpLD). Through timely counseling and remedial measures, LD can be taken care of.

Mr. Sanjaya Sharma, CEO, TATA Interactive Systems, said, "TLDF was initiated with the sole purpose of providing a platform to spread awareness about Learning Disabilities and ensure students needing special education get their required attention. The workshop enables the participants to initiate LD detection and remedial efforts in their respective districts. Our aim is to take this initiative beyond Maharashtra and make an impact on a national and international level by an inclusive participation."

Over the last year, TIS had noted an increased number of requests to learn and set up local LD clinic facilities from various districts. Thus this year the forum was extended beyond Mumbai to regional districts in Maharashtra to spread awareness and build capabilities at the local level. TIS provided in-depth training and guidance to principals, teachers and special educators from key districts in Maharashtra willing to initiate LD awareness and remedial education efforts in their districts. This in-depth training and guidance addressed the following topics: Detection, Diagnosis, developmental and assessment aspects, remedial education and counseling.

This workshop addressed some key LD issues like 'Poor School Performance', 'Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)' and 'Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)'. Assessment and management sessions for ADHD as well as ASD were also conducted. Other sessions included 'Management of Autism in the Classroom', 'Remedial Education' and 'Technology-based Interventions in LD Remedial Education'. There was also a panel discussion and a Q&A session for parents highlighting 'Role of Parents' and counseling them.

Some prominent speakers at the forum were Mrs. Mala Ramadorai, Chairperson, Citi Academy for Special Education, Mumbai, Dr. Sunil Karande, Professor of Pediatrics & In-Charge Learning Disability Clinic, K.E.M. Hospital, Dr. Kersi Chavda, Ex. President, Bombay Psychiatric Society, Ms. Kate Currawala, President, Maharashtra Dyslexic Association and Rukshana Sholapurwala, Special Educator. The complete list of speakers with detailed agenda is available here: http://tatalearningforum.com/TLDF/agenda/agenda_TLDF_2013.pdf

About TLDF

Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) has initiated several pioneering measures to ensure that students with learning disabilities (LD) get their rightful place in the educational system; to encourage, enable and empower them to achieve their full potential and help them rediscover the joy of learning. The company thus launched a platform called TATA Interactive Learning Disability Forum, a global symposium commenced by them in 2006 that has been touching the lives of special kids in Mumbai through its various tech-enabled initiatives to overcome the issue. TIS team has also authored a book, Brain Teasers, comprising fun activities for children with learning disabilities and aims at students in the age group of 11 years to 13 years and covers all the learning disabilities- Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia.

About Tata Interactive Systems:

Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), a part of the US$ 100 billion Tata group, is the world's leading developer of learning solutions. TIS's learning solutions are designed to enable organizational initiatives across industry verticals including Education; Government and Defense; Telecommunications and ICT; Pharmaceuticals and Health Care; Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance; Airlines, Transportation, Logistics, and Hospitality; Consumer Package Goods; and Manufacturing, Energy, and Construction.

With a team of over 900 multi-disciplinary specialists, TIS creates 3000+ hours of learning content across 220+ concurrent projects every year. TIS's solutions have proven their effectiveness at more than 60 Fortune 500 companies, leading educational institutions, and government departments.

TIS's solutions have won 65 prestigious international awards till date including 4 Brandon Hall Awards for Excellence in Learning in 2012.

Areas of Business

TIS caters to three segments - Corporate, Education, and Government. It offers clients learning solutions that include:

• Educational Multimedia & Blended Learning
• Web-based Training & Courseware
• Simulations
• Software Solutions
• Game-based Learning

The scope of TIS's learning solutions encompasses on-boarding, sales training, process training, product training, curriculum design, assessments, soft skills training, and technical training.

Location

TIS has development centers in Germany, Switzerland, and India. Its sales and marketing operations span the US, Canada, the UK, mainland Europe, the Middle East, and India.

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Primary Media Contact: Rahila Athanikar, rahilaa@tatainteractive.com, 91-22-66438286

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SOURCE Tata Interactive Systems, A Div. of Tata Industries Ltd.