Providing lifespan services to individuals with special needs...
Strides Newsletter Archives
Academy of Teaching Excellence
Awareness Program on Disability
ATE started the 2014 events by first organizing the "Awareness Program on Disability" a 3-months distance mode course. The program currently has an enrolment of 15. This includes parents from EI and KLC and students from another organization Pudiyador. Among the participants is a couple, parents of a child with ASD, one of whom is a Medical Doctor. All participants have expressed that the content of the program has given them much-needed insight and information on disability and ways to understand children in a better manner. Already, two contact sessions have been conducted.
Training Program on Puppetry
A training program on "Puppetry" was arranged for teachers to introduce them to techniques in which this ancient art form of India could be used in classroom teaching. A two-day workshop was conducted on August 8-9, in which 6 teachers attended. Mr. Mohan of Pudiyador gave the teachers insights into imagining, story-telling, making paper puppets and putting up a puppetry show.
Disha - Our Parent Forum
"Disha" the parents forum's second meeting was also held this month. Parents were divided into two groups, one consisting of fathers and the other of mothers. Members of each group were told to share concerns about their child and future plans. The meeting established free, open and honest communication and was a great learning experience for everyone.
Counseling & Assessments
Sing a Song of Freedom
August is always an enjoyable month with so many festivals coming up in the Indian calendar. We get the opportunity to be a part of it by staging dramas or putting together music for some programs. This year, Puja Bhalla, one of our counselors, put together a lovely ensemble of patriotic songs for Independence Day and two children sang independently with her.
Other News from C&A
Quilling
A quilling workshop was organized for mothers of the children in KLC. Almost 15 mothers attended and thoroughly enjoyed it. Many felt that they could do this with their children and asked for regular programs in this activity.
Group Dynamics
Group sessions were conducted for the support staff. The theme was communication and team work. The sessions involved painting and group activities.
Parent Support Group
A group session was conducted for parents of the trainees in YES. For many parents, this was a first-time experience. The session progressed from a round of introductions to an art activity and then to a discussion on future meetings for such sessions. The art activity, an experience of creating art with ones' eyes closed, brought out several responses from the parents. For some, it was the confusion about what to expect and the relief when it turned out OK after all. For others, it was an opportunity to create and express. For one parent, it was an eye-opener on how to look at where her daughter was at the moment, and how to explore further into what was not apparent, so as to help her child. All these various experiences were processed and shared together, making it a significant step in group bonding. How to make best use of the support group was emphasized repeatedly. It was also an opportunity for parents who were struggling with issues to seek individual sessions with the counsellors.
Regular Sessions
The counsellors had their regular group, play, and art sessions with the children from KLC and the trainees from YES and VTU. The themes were stories from Krishna's life like Kaliya mardan which depict courage and faith, both qualities needed for our young adult group to overcome disability.
The individual play therapies, art therapies and counselling for children were in full swing and many have shown progress in their respective therapies. Our work with the corporate sector continues and we had four full days of counselling for 20 clients. Many have requested follow up-sessions. We also continue to work with parents individually.
We started our 4th batch of Counselling course this August and we had 9 participants. The group was eclectic in age and profession.
Many of the children from KLC have started typing on typewriters aided by teachers and counsellors. It works as counselling and catharsis for the non-verbal children and many have started to express themselves this way.
Early Intervention
Happenings at EI
The new term has started with a review of children attending the early intervention programme. Ten children have been shifted to the wean-off programme. Some children have already started attending regular school and a few others will be joining such schools in October during Vijayadasami.
A meeting for all parents was held to address different aspects of child development. These meetings will be conducted periodically, once a term and different resource persons will address the group. The Saturday group sessions have consolidated well. At present, there are 5 small group sessions with different goals for each group. Parents are periodically met to address issues relating to specific behaviours of their children.
Observation for parents and term reviews have begun. The photograph in this page shows things during made by one of the children during free play session. No facilitation was given. It was entirely the child's creativity.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center
Festival Time
Festivals are the best way to bring the spirit alive in a school, where each child, teacher, parent is involved with joy and fervour. The forces of joy and celebration join hands in bringing consciousness to every activity whether academic or artistic. Children live in their element and the incidental learning that happens is very significant.
August began with the celebration of Ramzan on the 1st. Colourful clothes and the story enactment was the highlight of the day.
This was followed by the popular celebration of Krishna Jayanthi which this year took on newer proportions as the whole school transformed its spaces and recreated scenes from Krishna's colourful life. We had Krishna's Gokul where he grew up, his room for his musical instruments, Vrindavan with Kalia Mardana, the Cowsheds, Govardhan Mountain back in Mathura the throne room and the Royal Bedroom . All units were invited and everyone enjoyed playing the popular games on Thursday the 14 th-day of Krishna. Fun, songs, happiness for the children and play of pot breaking and butter ball fight. There was performance of some dances by the teachers and the day closed with some soothing music. The event was well organised by Harini and Priya and well executed by the other teachers and children.
Friday, the 15th was Independence Day celebrations, and a short Movement and music program with Mrs. Shyamala Ashok, from United Way as the Chief Guest. In a first ever performance Jai Ganesh sang 'Home on the Range' with a terrific soul quality to it. It was very touching.
An in-service was organised by Puja Bhalla, of the counselling department and she spoke and demonstrated the quality of speech exercises and teaching the curriculum with smaller nuances of ease, clarity and beauty and having a definite beginning and an end. This was followed next week by John Miller's in-service where the teachers both cleared their doubts and asked questions on the sensory issues.
V-Excel Educational Trust
Independence Day
The Indian Independence Day was celebrated with fervour in all our units. At our main centre in Mandaveli, Chennai, Mrs. Shyamala Ashok, Executive Director at United Way of Chennai, was the Chief Guest.
The well-attended programme in Mandaveli featured several songs sung by our children dressed in uniforms depicting the tri-colour. After the flag-hoisting, Mrs. Ashok, ourCHief Guest, made a short but heartfelt speech highlighting the importance of independence and how to value and appreciate it.
Tarang in Bangalore
The Bangalore debut for Tarang was more than we hoped it would be! A big thank you to Jagriti Theatre for graciously agreeing to host our first concert, to Mr. Prakash Sontakke for his enthusiasm and time and music, to all the children who attended and guests and well-wishers who were there in person (and spirit), donors who supported the cause, and Sangeeta Goel, our volunteer par excellence, who made this initiative take root in Bangalore!
Feedback from one of the guests: "I observed the kids thoroughly enjoying the music. Even those who were restless in the beginning started to mellow down the moment music started flowing...it was a beautiful event. Very nourishing for the soul!"
Feedback from few of the schools:
"We had a real good time last Friday. Thanks for the painstaking effort in getting through to us. The mothers who accompanied me were really happy to spend an afternoon in such wonderful atmosphere and ambience. Most of my kids were on the stage exploring and singing."
"We should be thanking you. My students and staff were so thrilled and enjoyed the program so much they did not want to leave. The couldn't stop talking about the program."
Happy 60th
Dr. V. R. Gowrishankar, the administrator of Sringeri Math and its properties, celebrated his 60th birthday on August 29. The 60th birthday is also called the 61st Vardhanti, from a Sanskrit root meaning "to grow", as the 61st year starts growing on this day.
Dr. Vasudha Prakash and Ajta Panshikar travelled to Sringeri to wish Dr. Gowrishankar on the occasion.
Dr. V.R. Gowrishankar comes from a family that has a very strong bond with the Sharada Peetham at Sringeri. His grandfather studied the Shastras under the 33rd Acharya of Sringeri. His father learned Vedanta directly from the 34th Acharya of Sringeri. Both served the Peetham as profound scholars and taught certain Sanskrit texts to the then successor-designates to the Peetham. Dr. Gowrishankar has been voluntarily serving the Peetham for more than two decades.
Occupational Therapy
Finding Acceptance
Suba Naresh, our OT coordinator confides, "It's our pleasure to share some beautiful moments. Through targeted therapy and regulated behaviour, we have made so much progress on one of our children who had a morbid fear of getting haircuts."
"We had in our midst a 15 year old boy. His parents were very concerned that the boy would not allow his hair to be cut and resisted all attempts for a trimmer or scissors to be used on his scalp. The boy was averse to noise and avoided noise zones such as those where drilling machines were being used."
"We used a therapeutic massager, which is usually used for a whole body massage, hoping to normalize his issues. The massager had different textured vibrating heads such as pointed, spiked and sharp-edged. As the massager mimicked the sound and the blade textures of a hair trimmer, we were able to create an artificial effect and started using it on the child."
"We had him operate the massager using his hands and made him gain confidence over its usage. Later, we gave him some space to sense the vibrations and textures. Then, we slowly moved the massager over his scalp and over his forehead."
"After 15 sessions of therapy, the boy now feels comfortable with the massager placed over his scalp and forehead for few seconds. We are still working to extend this time and later to desensitize his fear of the hair trimmer. The child is also comfortable with the sounds that the massager makes."
V-Excel Remedial Center
One of our LD kids who has been coming to us for the last few months has shown remarkable improvement in his creative writing skills. Initially, this showed a lot of reluctance to write owing to the spelling mistakes and grammatical errors he made. Over a couple of interactions with him, we discovered his strength in making stories. We gave him a lot of writing activities wherein he had to make his own stories from prompts provided. Although he made grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, he exhibited creativity in his ideas. Our encouragement appreciation has developed confidence in the child and he looks forward to these story writing sessions.
Similarly he was averse to reading, in general. We started giving reading practice combined with phonetic concepts through stories which excited his imagination and gradually he started enjoying reading sessions.
Satellite Centers
Happenings at our Satellite Centre
Nashik
The month of August ushers in the season of major festivals in the Hindu calendar. Festivals are tools to bring life to a state of exuberance and enthusiasm. Needless to say, celebrating these festivals imparts a lot of learning in our special children.
This year, festivities began with Raksha Bandhan. Both children and teachers made beautiful rakhis with simple materials like craft paper, sponge and chamkis. On 9th August evening all the kids came dressed in colourful attire and Raksha bandhan was celebrated amidst parents. All the girls tied rakhis to all the boys in the school. In turn, the boys presented the girls with gifts. The purchase of gifts and ladoos were organized by the parent group.
On Aug. 15, Independence Day was celebrated. All the children came in white dress and one senior citizen, Mr. Shindekar (grandfather of our student Ms. Apala Kulkarni) was invited to hoist the National flag. The teachers and children sang some patriotic songs and three children recited poems.
On 19th August, we had Dahi Handi celebrations to mark Gokulashtami. All the boys and girls came dressed as Krishna and Radha respectively and all the kids danced with their teachers and therapists attuned to peppy music - Govinda aala re.. accompanied by a riot of joy, colour and enthusiasm. One child Master Saish Shinde came dressed like Govinda and stole our hearts with his acting and expressions.
On 23rd August, a Parent meeting was held. Almost all the parents attended the meeting. Some of the parents concerns were addressed individually and rules of the school were reiterated during the group meeting.
Erode & Tirunelveli
The Erode centre has shifted to new premises. In Tirunelveli, we are looking out for a bigger place. A small vocational group is going to commence in Tirunelveli centre. Teacher’s Day was celebrated at centres.
Solapur
As reported last month, the Solapur centre has moved into a bigger space. The current special school is being shifted to this new centre, with plans to include remedial services and therapies for children, besides school work.
Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
From a Spectator to a Participant - Chandini's Story
Activities at the vocational unit at Sreyes have been as usual. We have happy interns cutting vegetables for Green Peppers and the kitchen of the catering unit is highly appreciate of the quality of work. This regular activity has inspired two of our low- functioning group members to come forward and express willingness to cut vegetables.
Chandini, a member of our unit is a lady, aged 40, who has been with us for three years now. She is mostly in her own world and does come down at times to meet us to participate and consciously be a part of activity planned for her. With the vegetable cutting going on consistently within her radius of attention, she became curious and came by to see it happen. It was subtly suggested that she could participate if interested. In a short while, we saw her seating herself with the relevant group and extending her hand to pass on trays or napkins. Soon after that she was willing to try cutting with assistance. In about 5 weeks now, we saw Chandini coming in to receive her weighed tray with vegetables, asking for her cutting board and knife after wearing her apron, cap and washing her hands. For Chandini, who has a lot of sensory issues wearing new aprons and handling different vegetables is a great achievement.
Today Chandini cuts any vegetable independently and recognizes that all of her team contribute to the same kitchen.
Tailoring and Beading
The group doing tailoring has completed their order for jute bags for a wedding. Paper bags were made on order from NAWA. The bead-work group is learning new patterns in beaded jewellery.
We look forward to more work as Dussehra approaches.
From YES
At Kaustabham, our YES centre, vocational skills have been modified and new skills have been introduced. Washing automobiles by hand is one such new vocational skill which helps our trainees improve their gross-motor skills and hand-eye coordination. A lsundry unit has been started where trainees learn to sort clothes and wash them in the washing machine. They learn to operate the washing machine and the dryer. Further, they are taught to fold and iron the clothes.
For Independence Day on August 15th our trainees practiced and sang a special song for the day. We all gathered at Sre-yes where our Chief Guest, Mr. Radhakrishnan Iyer, hoisted the flag.