The Odisha government has made the DISHA Curriculum compulsory in all government and government‑aided special schools for children with intellectual disabilities across the state.
The Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department issued a notification mandating the use of the DISHA Portal, Individualised Education Programme (IEP), Individualised Therapy Programme (ITP), and the prescribed assessment system.
Developed by the Jai Vakeel Foundation and Research Centre, Mumbai, and recognised by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID), the DISHA Curriculum provides a comprehensive framework for educational and functional development. It has been implemented in select Odisha schools since 2019.
Under the new directive, Collectors and District Magistrates will act as supervisory authorities, while District Social Security Officers (DSSOs) will serve as nodal officers for coordination, monitoring, and capacity‑building. Schools must register institutions, teachers, therapists, and students on the portal at the start of each academic session.
Every student will undergo a baseline assessment, followed by an IEP prepared in consultation with parents, therapists, and teachers. An ITP covering communication, daily living, mobility, social behaviour, speech, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy will also be developed and reviewed periodically.
Special schools are required to adopt multisensory teaching methods prescribed under the curriculum. Mid‑term and annual assessments will be conducted through the portal, with progress reports shared during parent‑teacher meetings.
The notification, issued by Additional Secretary Bhaskar Raito, warns that failure to implement the curriculum and related instructions may attract administrative action, including withholding of grant‑in‑aid.
