On World Music Day, we began our discussion with the song “Do You See Me As An Equal?” This set the tone for our topic: looking beyond labels and understanding people with disabilities. Joining Shampa Mukherji, distinguished speakers for this conversation were Dr. Reena Sen and Dr. Madhurima Vidyarthi.
Reena Sen, PhD is a special education teacher. Dr Sen has a MA and PhD in Education from the Department of Psychology and Special Educational Needs, University of London Institute of Education. She completed her B.Ed. from Loreto College, Kolkata.
She is a founder member of Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) and held several posts; she retired in 2018 as the Executive Director. During a 5-year stint in Kochi, Kerala she co-founded Raksha, Society for Children with Multiple Disabilities. She continues to be on the Governing Body of IICP and her present designation is Hon. Secretary.
Since 2018, Dr Sen has worked as a Consultant in Modern High School for Girls. She taught psychology in Classes 11 and 12 and life skills from Class 6-12. At present, she is the Head of the Department of Special (Diverse) Needs. This is a new programme, the setting up of which she has facilitated with the aim of providing a sensitive and informed educational environment for students who need additional emotional, behavourial and learning support.
Dr Sen’s work over more than four decades has led to the firm belief that real inclusion implies looking beyond diagnostic labels and IQ scores at the person and enabling self-expression and maximal opportunities for all-round development with sensitivity, dignity and respect for the individual. She also emphasizes the importance of working in close partnership with families, and empowering persons with disability to emerge as powerful and self-advocates working for equal access to their constitutional rights.
Joining Dr Sen is Madhurima Vidyarthi. In her day job, Mrs. Vidyarthi is an endocrinologist; trained in Kolkata and London and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). She has always been a passionately committed writer. Over the years she has written in many formats – articles for The Statesman (Kolkata), scripts for educational documentaries (EMMRC, St Xavier’s College, Kolkata) and for a CD-ROM created by PriceWaterhouseCoopers on Satyajit Ray (narrated by Sir Richard Attenborough). But her enduring love has always been fiction. She writes across a range of genres and age groups.
‘Munni Monster’ Duckbill (Penguin Random House India) is her second book for young readers, published in February 2023. Her first book, My Grandmother’s Masterpiece, was published by the same imprint in February 2022.
She is slated to have two releases in 2024. Both are in the historical fiction genre, one for young adults by Duckbill (Penguin Random House India) and the second for adults by Niyogi Books.
She is also part of the Italian Consulate initiative ‘Bridge of Stories’ – an anthology of short fiction by Indian and Italian writers. She has written for The Woman Inc. and Saaranga Magazine, among others.
More about her and more of her writing can be found at www.madhurimavidyarthi.com and / madhurimavidyarthi
We began by discussing the appropriateness of the term “disabled” versus alternatives like “differently abled,” “special,” or “divyang” as proposed by the government. The consensus was that while terminology matters, the focus should be on the individual and their abilities rather than the label.
Madhurima shared insights on her character with cerebral palsy in ‘Munni Monster’, discussing her motivation and triggers for writing about this character. She highlighted the importance of representation and the positive responses from young audiences during her school visits in Kolkata and Delhi.
Reena appreciated the portrayal of the mother in “Munni Monster,” emphasizing the role of family in supporting individuals with disabilities.
Understanding Disability:
Self-Education: It’s crucial for individuals to educate themselves about disabilities, embracing patience and understanding.
Sensitizing the Younger Generation: Educating students to be empathetic and inclusive.
Teachers’ Role: Teachers must design inclusive lessons that accommodate all students’ needs, ensuring an inclusive classroom environment.
Reena emphasized that real inclusion means looking beyond diagnostic labels and IQ scores to see the person. It involves enabling self-expression and providing maximal opportunities for development with sensitivity and respect.
Reena shared anecdotes from her career, illustrating the diverse and often humorous experiences of working with students with disabilities.
The session concluded with questions and observations from the audience, which Reena and Madhurima addressed with their expertise, providing valuable insights into the practical aspects of inclusion and support for people with disabilities.
Moksha Talks Episode 9: Looking beyond labels: a conversation about people with disabilities.
On World Music Day, we began our discussion with the song “Do You See Me As An Equal?” This set the tone for our topic: looking beyond labels and understanding people with disabilities. Joining Shampa Mukherji, distinguished speakers for this conversation were Dr. Reena Sen and Dr. Madhurima Vidyarthi.
Reena Sen, PhD is a special education teacher. Dr Sen has a MA and PhD in Education from the Department of Psychology and Special Educational Needs, University of London Institute of Education. She completed her B.Ed. from Loreto College, Kolkata.
She is a founder member of Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) and held several posts; she retired in 2018 as the Executive Director. During a 5-year stint in Kochi, Kerala she co-founded Raksha, Society for Children with Multiple Disabilities. She continues to be on the Governing Body of IICP and her present designation is Hon. Secretary.
Since 2018, Dr Sen has worked as a Consultant in Modern High School for Girls. She taught psychology in Classes 11 and 12 and life skills from Class 6-12. At present, she is the Head of the Department of Special (Diverse) Needs. This is a new programme, the setting up of which she has facilitated with the aim of providing a sensitive and informed educational environment for students who need additional emotional, behavourial and learning support.
Dr Sen’s work over more than four decades has led to the firm belief that real inclusion implies looking beyond diagnostic labels and IQ scores at the person and enabling self-expression and maximal opportunities for all-round development with sensitivity, dignity and respect for the individual. She also emphasizes the importance of working in close partnership with families, and empowering persons with disability to emerge as powerful and self-advocates working for equal access to their constitutional rights.
Joining Dr Sen is Madhurima Vidyarthi. In her day job, Mrs. Vidyarthi is an endocrinologist; trained in Kolkata and London and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). She has always been a passionately committed writer. Over the years she has written in many formats – articles for The Statesman (Kolkata), scripts for educational documentaries (EMMRC, St Xavier’s College, Kolkata) and for a CD-ROM created by PriceWaterhouseCoopers on Satyajit Ray (narrated by Sir Richard Attenborough). But her enduring love has always been fiction. She writes across a range of genres and age groups.
‘Munni Monster’ Duckbill (Penguin Random House India) is her second book for young readers, published in February 2023. Her first book, My Grandmother’s Masterpiece, was published by the same imprint in February 2022.
She is slated to have two releases in 2024. Both are in the historical fiction genre, one for young adults by Duckbill (Penguin Random House India) and the second for adults by Niyogi Books.
She is also part of the Italian Consulate initiative ‘Bridge of Stories’ – an anthology of short fiction by Indian and Italian writers. She has written for The Woman Inc. and Saaranga Magazine, among others.
More about her and more of her writing can be found at www.madhurimavidyarthi.com and / madhurimavidyarthi
We began by discussing the appropriateness of the term “disabled” versus alternatives like “differently abled,” “special,” or “divyang” as proposed by the government. The consensus was that while terminology matters, the focus should be on the individual and their abilities rather than the label.
Madhurima shared insights on her character with cerebral palsy in ‘Munni Monster’, discussing her motivation and triggers for writing about this character. She highlighted the importance of representation and the positive responses from young audiences during her school visits in Kolkata and Delhi.
Reena appreciated the portrayal of the mother in “Munni Monster,” emphasizing the role of family in supporting individuals with disabilities.
Understanding Disability:
Self-Education: It’s crucial for individuals to educate themselves about disabilities, embracing patience and understanding.
Sensitizing the Younger Generation: Educating students to be empathetic and inclusive.
Teachers’ Role: Teachers must design inclusive lessons that accommodate all students’ needs, ensuring an inclusive classroom environment.
Reena emphasized that real inclusion means looking beyond diagnostic labels and IQ scores to see the person. It involves enabling self-expression and providing maximal opportunities for development with sensitivity and respect.
Reena shared anecdotes from her career, illustrating the diverse and often humorous experiences of working with students with disabilities.
The session concluded with questions and observations from the audience, which Reena and Madhurima addressed with their expertise, providing valuable insights into the practical aspects of inclusion and support for people with disabilities.