Author: Rebecca Manari | February 8th, 2022
Our second feature in this series is the ‘Disability Certificate’
What is it?
A certificate issued to a person with a disability after being assessed by a specialist dealing with the area of disability, at the nearest government hospital, or at the District Early Intervention Centre.
Where to apply for it?
In Goa, one can apply for Disability Certificate for your child at the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) or the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), Bambolim. There are two DEIC offices in Goa; one in North Goa and one in South Goa.**
What do I need to do before I apply?
To apply for the Disability Certificate, one first needs to have their child’s vision and hearing tested at the nearest government hospital. After these tests have been conducted, your child will be assessed by a developmental pediatrician and then by a psychologist at the DEIC.
Together with a request for the disability certificate, a few other copies of documents are to be submitted.
They are:
Electricity bill
Ration card
Voter identity card of the parents
Aadhar card of child
Aadhaar card of parents
DEIC reports of your child
Child’s birth certificate
4 passport size photos of the child
How much does it cost?
The Disability Certificate is issued free of charge.
What are the benefits?
There are several benefits to having a disability certificate:
The certificate is proof of a disability.
Helps your child to avail of all the government schemes that are made for persons with a disability.
Assists in obtaining the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme.
This is also useful if you want to obtain a UDID card.
Most importantly, you can give the certificate to your child’s teacher, ensuring they can support your child in the right way.
Some schools also require the disability certificate at the time of admission.
Avail of concessions during board examinations
Is it essential?
No, this is not an absolutely essential document for every person with a disability. However, if your child has challenges at school, with travel, medical problems, or financial difficulties, the disability certificate will help you to get several concessions to make life much easier for your child and your family.
**These are the steps to apply for the disability certificate meant specifically for a child on the autism spectrum. For a person with any other disability, please refer to the instructions given on your UDID application receipt, or visit a government doctor dealing with the area of disability.
Do you want more information about obtaining the disability certificate for your child? Reach out to Sethu, and we will be happy to help. Contact us on 7720013749 from Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, or ask for our Parent Advisor.