Universalization of Education is a global dream today. 'Education For All', 'Every Child Matters' 'No Child Left  Behind'  'lc  i<s  lc  c<s’  are the  different  manifestations  of the same objective. Several organizations, individuals, governments, action groups, media representatives are working endlessly to break the undesired link that illiteracy has with gender, income, class, caste, geographical location and of course with disability. All efforts are being concentrated on marginalized population, which for generations has remained untouched by education. It does not involve any rocket science to understand the simple logic that conventionally unreached school age population needs to be placed at the center of all the planning and implementation related to free and compulsory education. Open education, distance education, Ashram Shala, night schools, mobile schools, single teacher schools and making conventional schools more inclusive... the battle has to be fought on several fronts.

What role needs to be played by special educators working in the field of education of children with special needs? Where do we, the special educators, fit into this ever - changing larger picture? Until very recently special educators were happy being in segregated set up restricting their expertise to those students who can make it to special schools. Today, segregation is history - inclusion is the buzzword. It is high time that special educators leave their comfort zones to jump into mainstream policies and activities. Societies are readily moving towards not only the completely literate world but also towards on educationally advanced world. If, special educators miss catching up with these desirable changes, children with special needs will remain to be educationally challenged. That is the last thing any special educator may want in life. Sea changes are taking place, they will continue to take place with us or without us. Lets become the part of it since its going to be a challenging and fulfilling journey. The only questions to be asked within is, are we ready for it?

Dr. Asmita Huddar