"Communication is the innate tendency of living things to convey and share needs, feelings or ideas. Among human beings communication is channel or means of conveying meaning through mutually learnt and understood signs, symbols and their rules for structured and sequential use which is called coding. Hence, Code learning or code literacy is the first step toward effective communication both as part of social learning and designed institutional learning" said Dr Lalit Kishore, Senior Research Fellow at Disha Foundation in Jaipur in his key note address titled "Role of visual, signing and phonic literacies for effective communication and individualization of instruction for children with learning disabilities" under the theme of 'Developments in assistive devices and technology in verbal/nonverbal communication' of 2nd Edition Of International Conference On Disability & Rehabilitation held online on 3-4 December 2020.
He made the following salient points in his address.
· Appropriately designed communication is adapted and adjusted or contextually designed and used, helps people with disability to get accommodated or included equitably to the physical and social aspects of learning and life.
· Since children are diverse and differently, they have diverse styles of learning.
· Communication through signing and visual codes or the beginning or foundation for meaningful communication (non-verbal) to be carefully laid
He shared the experience of developing contextualized and individualized communication intervention making use of intervention-cum-action research and design-and-development strategy as follows.
· Evaluation study of short term ‘ Mother and Child Training’ and two visual communication lesson studies with participants
· Participation in international conference on ‘Disability Communication’ at University of Mumbai with action research based paper
· Science lesson studies for dysgraphic children with visual codes: recognized and awarded by Commonwealth CASTME
· Preparation of visual and gesture literacy material as assistive aids and supportive aids leading to big book type Hindi Primer, game boards, card games and puppets
· Work in proximics and ergonomics for assistive and guided learning, posture correction, reading ease, learning station
· Transition from home to school language and speech correction through phonic method
Implications of the the research experience and research in Communication literacy mastery and professionalization in related skills
· Integration with teacher preparation, training and workshops with emphasis on action research and lesson studies
· Strengthening individualized education plans by involving care givers
· Promoting micro learning, experiential learning, differentiated learning and multiple intelligence based learning
· Enhancing the capacities of institutional leadership and teacher educators
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