Providing lifespan services to individuals with special needs...
Strides Newsletter Archives
Academy of Teaching Excellence
The ATE Unit Head, Mrs. Maria Josephine, eent to Hyderabad to attend the Course Coordinators meet which was held on the 9 and 10th of October. This was a Southern Regional meet of the
Coordinators, which was attended by more than 150 participants from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Most of the deliberations were conducted by the Deputy Director of RCI Mr. Suman Kumar and Asst. Director Sandeep Tambe also of RCI. On the final day Dr. Mohapadhya was present and gave her input on the the programs of RCI and their future plans, one was to reach out to the SAARC Nations.
RCI gave an overall training on how to conduct an inspection when course coordinators are sent to inspect organizations that are seeking approval for the courses.
Maria also met Mr. Narasimhan, Former Director of VRC, Govt. of India to discuss our CRE Program with him. He is the consultant for this particular CRE program on "Vocational Training" which we will be conducting from the 18th till the 22nd of Nov.14 .
Counseling & Assessments
Its been quite a month at Mandaveli. We shifted premises on a week's notice. Even during this time we continued our sessions. We resumed in half-finished rooms all furnished with whatever we had and whatever we could get from our houses:) Individual play therapy for other children and VRC children began last week. The play therapy room is still getting done and hence the group class play therapy is taking place only in the classes.
We had our weekly counselling desks, despite the rains. The desks have been full as usual with many follow-ups. We had two parent groups from our vocational unit. The training group parents from YES wanted to know more about community homes and the other group discussed their emotions and the handling of certain behaviours of young adults.
Two counsellors conducted workshops in one of the regular schools for teachers from kindergarten to class 9 for two days. It was very well appreciated and some remedial work will start in them. Two of the counsellors accompanied our school principal to Madurai to conduct a second module in the KJI initiative series. The teachers received the eurythmy and singing sessions very well along with the class exercises and math teaching strategies.
Individual parent meetings at all centres continued.
Conducted the final exam for the batch of students taking the 2nd level of counselling this year. Students presented case studies and therapeutic plans. All the students seem to have grasped the basic concepts well in a short while.
Early Intervention
In October the EI programme focussed on facilitating movements, rhythm and independence in feeding for each child. This was implemented by the team; ably guided by the senior remedial instructor through individual and group programmes. On observation, it was found that children transitioned easily from individual to group facilitation. This enhanced social development, waiting skills, peer interaction and play skills. Improvements were seen in balance and coordination which, consequently, resulted in reduced hyperactive behaviour and improved sitting tolerance. Parents interacted with various members of the EI team to get trained on specific areas to work with the child at home and handling the child's behaviour at various instances.
First-time Movie Experience
A mother wanted to take her 5-year old to the theatre but was reluctant due to concerns regarding the child's behaviour. We worked with the mother on how to handle and prepare the child to make the outing pleasurable for both. The parent came back with the feedback that the child sat through the full 3 hours wearing 3-D glasses, eating popcorn and enjoying the movie. She was grateful to EI team for their encouragement in making this happen.
Children's Day Cards
Every child was assisted in making cards for Children's Day. The children enjoyed every form of art work and they made around 70 cards.
Group Programme
The need for group programmes is increasing. At present, we have 4 different group programmes each with different goals. Group programmes have commenced in Tirunelveli centre on a trial basis from October.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center
School reopened on 3rd October on Vijayadashami day and we used the auspicious date to begin our journey at our new premises, Sharada, on Thiruvengadam Street, R.A. Puram. In a short and sweet ceremony, the school gathered in the foyer of the new school, added spirit and breathed some joyful and hopeful air with songs from different cultures and many languages. Everyone marched up to their classes and marched down again after briefly letting the children make acquaintance with the new space. We were back then to the old premises to continue school life while the building got its finishing touches.
But sometimes, as destiny ordains, there is a premature birth and in this case the formal opening just served as a catalyst and soon the furore and the frenzied activity of packing, unpacking, settling, resettling amidst rain and noise began with the real shift and move happening in the week 13-19th. It is indeed going to be an unforgettable experience marked with great team spirit, working beyond the call of duty, great camaraderie and complete dedication. The whole organisation saw a new leadership emerge.
School has now started with the outdoor activity farming having begun but every thing is still in fits and starts. We are all awaiting when the school building gets totally settled with all the civil work completed and the carpenters, tailors, painters, plumbers leaving the premises. And it takes on the form that it's meant to be, a beautiful space for healing, educating and harmonising the bodies souls and spirits of our children.
V-Excel Educational Trust
We're on the Move
A small but significant event took place on the Vijayadasmi day (3rd October) at our new premises 'Sharada', a building graciously constructed for our use by Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Our children took a tour of their classes and then settled down to a beautiful singing session with their teachers. It was very moving to see this initiation of the place to our children, which seemed to be welcoming them with open arms!
It was a unique show of solidarity and camaraderie! The shift of our school premises to the new location at R. A. Puram (Chennai) around mid-October had caught everyone up in whirl. What followed was a huge amount of work to be turned out in a short span of time, and that too with the rain god testing everyone's patience and perseverance. New leaders, new teams, new friends were born and new energy flowed aplenty. Kudos to every single individual for showing an amazing team spirit and a rare sense of ownership that any organization will be proud of. A special mention of Sivaprakash, Prabu, Prakash, Ramesh, is in order for their day and night presence on the premises to see things through.
At the end of October we bade farewell to Sivaprakash. Siva, we thank you for all that you have done for us. We will sorely miss you, but we wish you the best of luck in your new position. Loss, as Emperor Antoninus commented, is really just a form of change, and change can and often does present an opportunity for all involved. While we are saddened to lose Siva, we can also look forward to welcoming a new face, and whatever unique experiences that individual brings with him. We hope he will prove as smart, resourceful, and enthusiastic as Siva has been.
Occupational Therapy
Moving to a New Perch
The OT department shifted to its new premises in Sharada. The therapy room has almost been set up with new items. Flooring with puzzle mats will be done and SI room needs to be completed. Children were excited to see new therapy room. A few of them took some time to settle in the new environment and some recollected memories associated with old ,used therapy things.
V-Excel Remedial Center
Festive October saw the festive spirit in our team this month.
We complied with all the shifting formalities to our new premises at ultra short notice. We are happy to share that the entire process of managing the logistics, et al., though chaotic in parts, ended really well and to everyone's satisfaction. We are extremely glad with our new infrastructure and look forward to productive times ahead!
We did not cancel or re-schedule a single session with our children during this entire process (including the day of actual movement!)
Our schedule of progress continues to be strong: One of our students gained admission into KLC while another is awaiting admission.
We did one assessment this month and started remedial classes for the child with planned goals for the next three months. The progress so far has been encouraging.
We look forward to a even better November!
Satellite Centers
Nashik
The yoga sessions are a big hit among the children of our school. Many kids have learned to sit in Padmaasan and enjoy performing the simple movements and exercises like the butterfly stroke. In fact children look forward to their daily Yoga classes.
On 1st October Dusherra was celebrated at our special school. Children were clad in colourful clothes- girls dressed up in ghagra-cholis and little boys came attired in kurta-pajamas. Their teachers played garba and dandiya-raas with them. It was a lovely scene to behold with melodious music in the background. It was a joyful evening and all the participants enjoyed it thoroughly.
This year Diwali celebrations were given a different stroke. As usual the children painted diyas with their teachers and made a beautiful kandil. On 17th October few guests were invited and many competitions were held for the children. The kids participated in the competition and won several prizes. The prizes for the competitions were sponsored by Ms. Shreya Ganesh's family. Shreya is a 10-year old girl who wished to celebrate her birthday in the midst of our children. The crackers and sweets were sponsored by the Shukla and Bindra families. Two of our advisory committee members Mr. Vilas Aurangabadkar and Mr. Vivek Garud also joined us in the celebration.
The center and school had Diwali vacation from 18th to 28th Oct.
Erode
The Erode centre has moved to new premises
Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
Some interesting things have happened at Sre-yes
Two new sewing machines have been acquired. The interns are excited with what they can do with it, especially trying out new designs and new fabrics. They are being trained to use the machines.
The things that our trainees made for the Kasi Yatra part of Janani Kandaswamy (daughter of our Trustee, Mr. Kandaswamy Bharathan) were much appreciated. The group felt very proud at the output.
With the constant rains, attendance has been inconsistent.The staff has utilised this lean period towards planning and innovation.
We are looking forward to the Christmas season.
From YES
We had a very productive month of October. Our trainees have started to learn and make craft works like diyas, decorative mirrors, candles and fashion jewellery. We have received a small order for diyas from Dubai which we are planning to completed and ship by mid-November.