"Patience can't be acquired overnight. It is just like building up a muscle. Every day you need to work on it." Eknath Easwaran
V-Excel News
Twenty-five special children (7-16 years) from V-Excel participated in the Sports Day conducted by the
government on account of Children’s Day on November 14. About 50 special schools, with children from
various socio-economic strata, represented at the event. One of our Trustees organized for over 1,000 food
packets for these students. We are happy that our children could be a part of such a big event and got an
opportunity to enjoy the interesting races and games.
Parenting has become a major challenge these days. IT companies are increasingly becoming aware of their
employees’ concern in this regard and seeking specialist inputs. As counselors and professionals in this field,
we have been conducting workshops and seminars for corporates. Our focus is on relationship management,
parenting skills and activities for children. Dr. Vasudha Prakash, our Founder-Director, along with other
resource professionals, has held many workshops to date. The most recent ones were carried out at Bhubaneshwar
and Trivandrum Centers of Infosys and one on Stress Management at the IT company, Steria.
Students from different streams of social sciences frequent V-Excel for gaining awareness and increasing
their understanding of issues related to children with special needs. This month, two M.Phil. students from
the Madras University carried out detailed observations at our school service units, KLC and BLA, as a part
of their awareness program.
Kaleisdoscope Learning Centre
The pride and the distinction of KLC is the quality of love and the child centric approach that exists intrinsically.
This feature was more than apparent on the 14th of November which is celebrated as Children’s Day all over the country.
In our school, our students were our special guests that day and were treated to a day of fun and enrichment. The teachers
had organized different play stations for them. Each group of children dabbled in art and craft, imaginative play, a story
telling session, audiovisual treat as well as some outdoor play, and enjoyed the delicious food prepared by the mothers.
It culminated with the all-time favorite hit songs of KLC sung by the children and the ‘Dorothy’ dance performed by the
teachers. The program was a great success, as was evident from the happy looks on the children’s faces and the satisfied
air amongst all the teachers.
Some of our children participated in a Sports Event organized by the Chennai District Rehabilitation Centre and held
in St. Louis School in connection with the World Disability Day.
In the week of 24 - 28 November, KLC will host ‘Open Days’ for parents when the parents can come and spend a day in their
children’s classrooms and watch them in action. Our objective is to give them an opportunity to see first hand the teacher
and their child in action - while massage is being done, story telling session is in progress, instructions are being given,
games are played, and many other activities that fill the child’s school day.
A workshop for awareness generation, organized by the Down Syndrome Association in Chennai, was attended by two of
our teachers - Sowmya and Kavitha. The workshop was addressed by an expert team from UK.
The teachers at KLC are getting ongoing hands-on workshops on the techniques of massage by Dr. John Miller, Head of
Occupational Therapy Unit. Our aim is to enhance their skill since massage is an initiating routine activity carried out
for all the children on all the days. It has proved to be highly beneficial for both, the children and the teachers.
Bridges Learning Academy
Children’s Day was celebrated on November 14 and the children had a fun–filled day. They played several games, watched
cartoons and other movies, and ate a lot of goodies. Our star performer, Siddharth, prepared a long speech in Tamil,
about Jawaharlal Nehru, and enthralled us with his performance. The children had a welcome respite from their routine
study-homework schedule.
With the half yearly exams around the corner, children are putting in their best efforts and completing all their
assignments for the term. Our emphasis for the month has thus been enhancing the academic level of each of our students.
Academy for Teacher Excellence
As cited by one of our students……
The month of November started with continued trepidation and anticipation of the outcome of our examinations. Most of
us had written the examinations after ages and we were experiencing mixed feelings of anxiety and relief. The results
were satisfactory and now all of us feel that our understanding is on the right track.
After all the excitement of results, we were back with lectures. Sessions on Legal Aspects were enlightening. Sessions
on Communication (Listening) with the role plays were very interesting and informative. Sessions on IEP and Lesson Plans
have begun. The lectures on Interventions bring in many interesting doubts, questions and clarifications. All of us are
energized as our days of actually working with children are near, and look forward to the practicals.
We recently got a chance to see the movie ‘Rain Man’. Viewing was easy, whereas writing its review was just the opposite!
However, it was a deep and different experience that was also very insightful. There is constant sharing of ideas and all
of us learn from each other.
Vocational Training Unit
Production is the key word of the month; the excitement, challenges, frustrations and questions are by-products. We
made 30 beautiful cotton stoles; was exciting to see people eager to buy them even before they were finished!
We have been working on a desk calendar and dealt with frustration with the number of changes that had to go into its
making. It started with a simple idea - screen print on bubble printing, with all aspects of the calendar done with the
students’ involvement. After going through a month of various possibilities- photos, laser print, off-set print, matching
colours with photos etc., we have finalized the calendar with the original idea – hand work done by the students themselves.
Practicing every afternoon for the ‘Lemon Tree’ dance that is to be performed on December 3, i.e., The World Disability Day,
provided relaxation for the children.
Rural Outreach Program
As a continuation of our medical program for special children, we held one more camp this month for those children
who could not make it in the earlier round.
We completed appliance distribution for 8 blocks of Villipuram district which includes disbursal of 30 wheelchairs, 210
ortho appliances, 50 hearing aids, and 76 spectacles. The balance two blocks will be taken up in the month of December.
We are very thankful to Britannia for sponsoring cakes and biscuits for our rural project. We have distributed these in
the 10 blocks under our care, giving two boxes per block. It gives us immense joy to see the eager faces of children awaiting
the popular biscuits that they all look forward to. More important is the motivation that it offers to the children and their
parents - to come and avail of the much needed special services for their holistic development.
Counseling & Assessment Unit
The month has been marked with unprecedented rains and holidays. Despite fewer sessions, children have kept up steady
improvement. With Christmas holidays nearing and children getting into a merry mood, we hope to conclude the term on
a positive note and a positive impact.
Private clinic has suddenly shown a spurt of client growth. We have also seen some parents volunteering for counseling
and reporting the benefit of the services.
The Parent Support Group of Vocational Unit has seen almost 90% attendance for the past few meetings. Parents seem to
be feeling more comfortable and eager to participate. Dr. John Miller, Head of our Occupational Therapy Unit, addressed
the group on Biomedicine and Nutrition which was very well-received by the parents. They are now looking forward one more
session with him.
V-Excel Remedial Centre
Autism-specific groups were evaluated over the last two months and reorganized to include new children,
increase the timing, and revamp the program. The changes have been necessitated after observing and working with the
children closely since the school reopened in June. The areas of focus are Life Skills, Academics, Pre-vocational skills,
Pleasure & Leisure, Art & Craft, Music and Home-program.
Musical instruments such as Guitar, Indonesian Gadamba, Cymbals, Keyboard, Mridangam and Xylophone were introduced to our
children in the last month. A music corner was set up which the children access to explore their interest and talent. Arjun
has already shown an uncanny ability to play the guitar and all others are excited to explore their musical talents. Watch
this space for more exciting news in our quest to explore the hidden talents!
Snippets from our classroom:
Rahul has shown keen interest to become a Special Educator himself. Remarkable, as he is a child with Autism.
He has communicated a question “Who else can understand us better than ourselves?” Valid and thought provoking, to
say the least!
Kamal and Aashik are extremely proud of every half mark increase in their tests and work industriously towards
bettering their grades. They both have been supported by our staff in scribing their exams at school.
Early Intervention Unit
Early intervention unit now offers sensory integration therapy to 42 children with developmental lags. Children are
thoroughly assessed in various areas such as –
Neuromuscular development {Gross motor skills and fine motor skills)
Cognitive development
Sensory processing development
Speech and language development
Behaviour and regulatory development
Social development
Functional development/independence in self help skills.
Along with this, a detailed sensory profile of the child is done and appropriate intervention provided based on the sensory
needs of the child.
Independence in functional skills is the main goal of our early intervention program. We have had success in our toilet
training program. Two of our children are completely toilet trained and few others are moving towards completion.
We celebrated Children’s Day on November 14. Children and their parents participated in many fun-filled activities like
coloring, painting, collage making, games and fancy dress.
We are very happy to share with you that a six year old child with Sensory Processing Disorder who was on a pull out
program from a regular school has been successfully included back in the school. The Early Intervention Unit worked with
the school to see that the child has completely settled in the school.
Contact Info :: India:
V-Excel Educational Trust
#1 Norton 2nd Street
Mandaveli Chennai 600 028
Tel: 91 - 44 - 24620243
91 - 44 – 24956373 E-mail us or visit us at www.v-excel.org
Contact Info :: USA:
Academic Concepts, Inc.
1403 Merrywood Drive
Edison, NJ 08817
Tel: (732) 572-3748
Tax ID: 22-3632715 E-mail us
Volunteer Info:
Volunteers are an integral part of our success. Our most pressing needs are in the areas of occupational and speech therapies, and
as teacher aides. We also require assistance in library management.
If you have any of these and are interested in volunteering at V-Excel, please contact us.
India Autism: Trying Tradition
In India, old ideas are giving new options to treating autism. Liz Neisloss reports on that country's approach.
This collection is derived from students' answers to geography test questions.
Climate is caused by the emotion of the earth around the sun.
The people of Japan ride around in jig-saws.
The inhabitants of ancient Egypt were called Mummies.
Germany is an industrial country because the poor have nothing else to do, so they make lots and lots of factories.
Where is Alaska? Alaska is not in Canada.
What people live in the Po Valley? Po people.
In Pittsburgh they manufacture iron and steal.
The Alimentary Canal is located in the northern part of Indiana.
Georgia was founded by people who had been executed.
The writing of ancient Egypt was called hydraulics.
The Greeks wore scandals on their feet.
The United States are mostly populated by people.
The State of Virginia was named for the Virgin Mary, who afterward married Captain John Smith.
The benefit of latitude and longitude is that when a man is drowning he can call out what latitude and longitude he is and we can find him.
New Zealand is a democratic country. they passed a law there preventing women from sweating in the factories.
Malays are brown generally and inhabit Malaria.
The climate is hottest next to the Creator.
The soil of Prussia was so poor that the people had to work hard just to stay on top.
In the west, farming is done mostly by irritating the land.
Oceania is a continent that contains no land.
There is a great deal of nothing in the center of Australia.
Asked to name six animals peculiar to Arctic regions, a boy replied, "Three bears and three seals."
Climate lasts all the time, but weather lasts only a few days.
The climate of Bombay is such that the inhabitants have to live elsewhere.
The sun never sets on the British Empire because the British Empire is in the east and the sun sets in the west.
The Eskimos are God's frozen people.
The sun sets in the west and hurries around to the east to be in time to rise the next morning.
Imports are ports very far inland.
The chief occupation of Perth is Dying.
The inhabitants of Moscow are Mosquitoes.
Persian cats is the chief industry of Persia, hence the word purr.
New York is behind Greenwich time because America was not discovered until very much later.
Zanzibar is noted for its monkeys. The British Governor lives there.
A watershed is a shed in the middle of the ocean where ships shelter during a storm
