concessions to a dyslexic child in maharashtra

Here’s a clear summary of concessions available to a certified dyslexia child in Maharashtra (India) — based on the Maharashtra Board provisions and common practices under RPwD Act:

📌 1. Legal Basis

Specific Learning Disability (SLD) — including dyslexia — is recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act).

A certified SLD child can get exam and educational concessions once the disability certificate is issued under this Act and submitted to the school and relevant board. �

Dr T Srinivas Rajkumar MD

📌 2. State Board (Maharashtra Board) Concessions

For children certified with SLD (such as dyslexia), the Maharashtra Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education provides the following exam and academic concessions: �

LDExplained +1

🧠 Extra Time

30 minutes extra in SSC (Class 10) board exams

1 hour extra in HSC (Class 12) board exams

📖 Language & Subject Exemptions

Exemption from Third Language (e.g., Hindi/Marathi) at SSC — can be replaced with a vocational subject

Exemption from Second Language at HSC — can be replaced with a vocational subject

Mathematics Paper II (Algebra & Geometry) exemption at SSC; can take a 75-mark vocational subject instead

✍️ Writer / Scribe

A writer/scribe may be provided as per board rules — the child can dictate answers and the writer writes/ types them

🎓 Grace Marks

Candidates may be eligible for 20 grace marks under board provisions

📌 3. School-Level Concessions (Class I–IX)

For younger school classes (Standard I–IX), the school can apply to the Deputy Director of Education via the Divisional Inspector for similar exam concessions from the Maharashtra Board. �

LDExplained

Typically this includes:

Extra time in exams proportionate to class level

Provision of a trained scribe/writer

Alternative assessment methods rather than penalising spelling/grammar errors

Flexibility in answering formats (oral/viva, typed responses)

📌 4. Other Common Concessions Often Applied (Schools / Boards)

While the exact concessions depend on board norms (SSC/HSC/CBSE/ICSE), children with dyslexia may also get: �

Dr T Srinivas Rajkumar MD

✅ Laptop / Computer for typing answers (no internet or spellcheck)

✅ No deduction for spelling or grammar errors in language papers

✅ Alternate subjects or vocational options instead of mandatory languages or mathematics

✅ Flexible assessment formats if severe written output difficulty exists (oral/viva-voce instead of written)

📌 5. Key Notes for Maharashtra

Maharashtra is unique in India for implementing provisions for SLD from primary classes onwards. �

JGU

The disability certificate must be recognised by authorised certifying centres (e.g., certain government medical boards/hospitals accepted by the Maharashtra Board). �

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Once a certificate is produced, schools and exam boards should apply these concessions as per rules — refusal can be legally challenged.

📌 6. How Concessions Are Activated

SLD Assessment & Certification by authorised specialists + Government disability board

Submit Certificate to School

School applies to Board/Deputy Director of Education for exam concessions

Admissions & Exam Boards implement provisions

📌 In Summary — Typical Concessions in Maharashtra

✔ Extra exam time

✔ Exemption from certain language papers

✔ Alternate subject options

✔ Provision of a scribe/writer

✔ Grace marks

✔ No penalty for spelling/grammar (practice varies by board) �

ICSE / ISC CONCESSIONS FOR DYSLEXIA (SLD)

Under the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations

(entity["organization","Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations","indian school board"] – CISCE)

Dyslexia is recognised as Specific Learning Disability (SLD) and concessions are exam-oriented, not curriculum-altering.

1️⃣ ELIGIBILITY (VERY IMPORTANT)

A child is eligible only if:

Diagnosed with Specific Learning Disability (Dyslexia)

Certified by a registered clinical psychologist / medical board

Documentation submitted well before board exams (Class 9–10 / 11–12)

⚠️ ICSE does not accept last-minute certification.

2️⃣ CORE CONCESSIONS IN ICSE (CLASS 10 & 12)

⏱️ Extra Time

15 minutes per hour of exam

(Example: 3-hour paper → 45 minutes extra)

✍️ Scribe / Writer

Permitted if:

Written expression is severely affected

Scribe must:

Be junior in academic qualification

Have no subject overlap

Student dictates, scribe only writes

💻 Computer / Typing

Allowed in some ICSE schools if:

Prior approval is obtained

Spellcheck, grammar tools are disabled

School must arrange infrastructure

✏️ Spelling & Grammar Leniency

No penalty for spelling errors

Content, ideas, and understanding are evaluated

Especially applicable in:

Language papers

Social sciences

3️⃣ WHAT ICSE DOES NOT ALLOW (COMMON CONFUSION)

❌ No exemption from subjects

❌ No dropping of second language

❌ No alternate vocational subjects

❌ No mathematics exemption

❌ No grace marks policy like State Board

👉 ICSE focuses on fair evaluation, not syllabus dilution.

4️⃣ SCHOOL-LEVEL CONCESSIONS (CLASSES I–IX)

Before board classes, ICSE schools may provide internal accommodations, such as:

Extra time in school exams

Reduced written workload

Oral assessments

Reader support

Modified evaluation (content over spelling)

⚠️ These are school-driven, not CISCE-mandated.

5️⃣ KEY DIFFERENCE: ICSE vs MAHARASHTRA BOARD

6️⃣ CLINICAL & ETHICAL MESSAGE (VERY IMPORTANT)

ICSE concessions are designed to:

Reduce unfair disadvantage

Not reduce expectations

Preserve academic rigor

This aligns perfectly with the concept you’ve been emphasizing:

Concessions are STEP-IN SUPPORTS, not DESTINATIONS.

ICSE, by design:

Does not glorify disability

Does not freeze the child as “special”

Forces parallel skill development

7️⃣ PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR PARENTS (ICSE)

✔ Apply early (Class 8–9)

✔ Use concessions along with remediation

✔ Do not rely only on scribe or extra time

✔ Review need annually

✔ Focus on functional independence

8️⃣ FINAL TAKE-HOME LINE 

ICSE does not lower the mountain.

It gives the child better shoes to climb it.

That is development, not dilution