Context: Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) is conducting a seminar to facilitate the effective implementation of the National Education Policy and human resource development specifically targeting the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
About Rehabilitation Council of India
- Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) is a statutory body established by the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992.
- The body functions under the Department of Disability under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
- Main mandate of RCI is to standardise, regulate and monitor training programs in the field of special education and disability and prescribe minimum standards of education and training for 16 categories of professionals and personnel allocated for RCI.
Objectives of Rehabilitation Council of India
- Regulate & monitor training programs in the field of disability rehabilitation & special education.
- Prescribe minimum standards of education & training for various categories of human resources dealing with persons with disabilities.
- Regulate these standards in all training institution to bring about uniformity throughout India.
- Make recommendations to the Ministry regarding recognition of qualification granted by Training Institution, Universities etc. in India for rehabilitation professionals/personnel.
- Make recommendations to Ministry regarding recognition of qualification granted by institution outside India under the scheme of reciprocity.
- Maintain Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR) of persons possessing recognised rehabilitation qualification.
- Encourage continuing rehabilitation education program at approved institution.
- Promote research in disability rehabilitation and special education.
Functions of Rehabilitation Council of India
- Qualifications granted by any University or other institution in India that are included in the schedule shall be recognised qualifications for rehabilitation professionals/personnel.
- Registration of Rehabilitation Professionals/Personnel in the Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR) of persons possessing the recognised qualifications.
- Prescribe the minimum standards of education required for granting recognised rehabilitation qualification by Universities/Institutions of India.
- Prescribe standards of professional conduct, etiquette and code of ethics for rehabilitation professional/personnel.
- Assess & grant approval to institution/universities for training of professionals in the field of rehabilitation and to facilitate their recognition and its withdrawal by Government.
- Appoint visitors to inspect any University or Institution where education for rehabilitation professional is given or attend any examination for the purpose of granting recognised rehabilitation qualifications.
16 Categories of Rehabilitation Professionals/Personnel covered under RCI Act
- Audiologists & Speech Therapists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Hearing & Ear Mould Technicians
- Rehabilitation Engineers & Technicians
- Special Teachers for Educating & Training Persons with Disabilities
- Vocational counsellors, employment officers & placement officers dealing with Persons with Disabilities
- Multipurpose Rehabilitation Therapists & Technicians
- Speech Pathologists
- Rehabilitation Psychologists
- Rehabilitation Social Workers
- Rehabilitation Practitioners in Mental Retardation
- Orientation & Mobility Specialists
- Community based Rehabilitation Professionals
- Rehabilitation Counsellors/Administrators
- Prosthetists & Orthotists
- Rehabilitation Workshop Managers
- Any other category of professionals included from time to time.