Providing lifespan services to individuals with special needs...
Strides Newsletter Archives
Academy of Teaching Excellence
Happenings
The Academy of Teaching and Excellence has made many plans for the year 2015-2016. So the month of June was taken up to plan these courses. There have been many requests for different training courses, and CRE programs from many rehabilitation professionals. V-Excel has made an impact in this area of training and CRE programs all over India.
We will conduct a few CRE programs this year too, along with weekend training programs. Once again look into our brochures for the topics that would interest you. A minimum of 15 registrations is required for each course. These weekend training programs are very innovative and need of the hour, as each and every Special Educator and Therapist can keep in touch with the progress happening in these areas.
Along with this planning Mrs. maria Josephine, the Coordinator, had been assigned the task of developing a standard program across V-Excel. Much brain-storming with all Unit Heads was done.
Counseling & Assessments
Happenings
Greetings from The Counselling and Assessment Department. A new school year has started and the activities in the department reflect that. An orientation for new parents was conducted by the senior consultant on boundaries, T.V. viewing, diet and rhythm to be practiced with the children. That apart, group play therapies and parent counselling have commenced too.
Consultation for Youth Empowerment Services (YES) is on full swing. The Corporate Desk as usual saw a good turnout of individuals seeking counselling services, numbering 17, and there were several follow ups as well.
Counselling Desk at Sathyabama University has now been established. The Department had 42 individual counselling sessions through the month. The number of consultations for assessment of children from other schools was 8.
Two counsellors were actively involved in the Kuruvilla Jacob Initiative of Training for Teachers. They engaged the teachers in a program for Teacher Development and Team Building for one full day, among the three days of the training.
One of our psychologists conducted the next session of the Siblings Forum, the first for this academic year on Saturday June 13. The group of siblings of our students engaged in clay work and enjoyed kneading clay followed by molding it into various forms. The event focused on the importance of giving positive strokes, leading to all the siblings writing positive notes about each other. They shared that they felt good when others pointed out their positive qualities. A significant part of the meet was the participation of Mr.Tamil, brother of our late student Porkodi. He shared the message of learning to live in the here and now without overly worrying about the future. This learning came from the family's experience of saving for Porkodi's future and then having to suffer her demise without realizing that she would leave prematurely. We thank Mr. Manivannan for sponsoring the snacks and Ms. Vairam, mother of Pon Harris for volunteering to help us.
The next session will include pottery work with a potter, which will be sponsored by Ms. Vairam.
Early Intervention
Evaluations
Evaluation of home programme was the focus in the month of June. The home programme is an individual programme given to each child and is formed based on the goals set and interventions given. The goal achieved is transferred as home programme activity so that the facilitator moves to the next level with the child and the goals achieved are strengthened at home. This time the home programme was done in all the development domains and play. There was a positive feedback from the parents. The parents were asked to give written feedback on the areas they found difficult.
Another area of focus this year is on the emotional and physical well-being of the mother. We are in the process of implementing some interactive sessions for mothers.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center
Happenings
School reopened on the 1st of June. Classes were put back in shape and the freshly laundered curtains looked crisp and welcoming! Teachers had their orientation on the 2nd. This is a standard procedure where besides all administrative details, teachers revise the best practices and read them out as affirmations. This makes up the fibre of the philosophy that runs through the school life and it does necessitate a formal revision at the beginning of the school year.
This was followed by a three day workshop by Aban and Dilnawaz Bana where the Waldorf curriculum through the grades was discussed. One small group got insights on curative education and learnt many exercises in eurythmy for many of our children who have some constitutional problems. It was a wonderful start for the new term. Three new teachers were welcomed and these are Aruna, Jayashree, and Valarmathi. Skating master vijay has also joined the workforce as a sports and life skill trainer. School reopened for children on the 6 of June.
School has started in earnest and after a long gap we have had good OT support and the new children have been assessed and a detailed time table drawn up for support to the classes. We welcome Daisy and Thouseef at Sharada. There was a parents orientation held on 9 of June and the new parents were further met by the counselling department and given their first group counselling session by Sushma.
A poster was made by the staff and students of KLC and presented to Vasudha on her birthday .
The whole school artwork which is a customary activity done in June will go up only this week as its life has seen many twists and turns and seems to take its evolution very seriously!!!
Friday meetings have been vibrant and interactive where teachers have been sharing their main lesson presentations, and exchanging ideas on a range of topics like CFGF recipes to different sports suited for different children. The first Child study was conducted under Puja's guidance and continues for another two weeks in July.
V-Excel Educational Trust
In the Media
Dr. Vasudha Prakash was featured in the Doordarshan Podhigai Tamil channel where, in a two-part interview, she shared her experiences and the story of V-Excel. The interview is available on YouTube in the links below:
Part 1
Part 2
The Theory of Inclusion
Dr. Vasudha Prakash tells us about the Blue Blue Sky choir at V-Excel, and why acceptance is the need of the hour.
Link
Tarang in Chennai
V-Excel Educational trust together with Bharathi Vidya Bhavan, conducts music/ cultural concerts, TARANG! for an audience of the differently abled every month on the third Thursday.
Thursday, 18th June saw Ms. Amirtha Murali disciple of Sr. C.S.Narayanaswamy,on stage within.C.Bharadwaj, student of the legend Umayalpuram Sri. Sivaraman . Both he and Amrutha Murali are AIR "A" grade artists. Sandeep Ramachandran, the violinist is an engineering student who has won many awards and is a student of Sri. R.K. Sriram Kumar.
Ms. Amrutha Murali renders vocal music as well as plays on the violin. She has accompanied the vocal artist Ms. Sowmya on an earlier occasion at Tarang.
The one hour of music was enjoyed by all. Her rendering of the krithis brought out the mood in which the composer had perhaps set them to music. Some of the differently abled children were so moved that they cried quite uncontrollably. Music we know is very therapeutic . The music of This Group seemed very healing to many. As Puja, one of the therapists says, many of the children had a detox experience.
The performance began with the traditional Ganesha vandanam and concluded with Maithrim Bhajatha..., the lyric that was sung by the legend Dr. M.S. Subbalakshmi at the UN 4 decades back. She was ably supported by the support artists on the tanpura,violin and Mridangam. All together it was an hour of good music.
Awards
Dr. Vasudha Prakash wwas the receipient of the Meritorious Services in the field of Special Education Award from Dr. K. Rosaiah, His Excellency The Governor of Tamil Nadu and President of St. John Ambulance, Tamil Nadu. The function was help at Raj Bhavan, Chennai on June 25, 2015
Occupational Therapy
Greetings from VRC for a productive, enjoyable year ahead!
It has been a lean month due to school re-opening. Children from Sishya OMR were coming to the center for OT and remedial lessons during the holidays. One student, in Grade 10, is being given Remedial and Counselling and we are trying to avail concessions from the ICSE Board if possible.
We had a meeting with the Director of Sishya OMR, Ms. Viji, to discuss plans for the coming year.
Three assessments were done. Two children, seeking admissions for KLC are being accommodated for 3 months in VRC, for sitting tolerance and related issues.
The co-ordinator of Pudiyador, Ms Chiai had come for discussions,and it was agreed to continue remedial for four children who were coming to us. We have also agreed to send tips for the parents on a continuous basis.
Visit to schools are scheduled. We are hopeful of generating more admissions in the coming months and also improve the quality of services to our best possible extent.
V-Excel Remedial Center
Happenings
Greetings from VRC for a productive, enjoyable year ahead!
It has been a lean month due to school re-opening. Children from Sishya OMR were coming to the center for OT and remedial lessons during the holidays. One student, in Grade 10, is being given Remedial and Counselling and we are trying to avail concessions from the ICSE Board if possible.
We had a meeting with the Director of Sishya OMR, Ms. Viji, to discuss plans for the coming year.
Three assessments were done. Two children, seeking admissions for KLC are being accommodated for 3 months in VRC, for sitting tolerance and related issues.
The co-ordinator of Pudiyador, Ms Chiai had come for discussions,and it was agreed to continue remedial for four children who were coming to us. We have also agreed to send tips for the parents on a continuous basis.
Visit to schools are scheduled. We are hopeful of generating more admissions in the coming months and also improve the quality of services to our best possible extent.
Satellite Centers
Nasik
The therapy and remedial centre and the special school were moved to the new premises on June 5th. Few modifications were done in some of the rooms and also in the play area to suit the needs of the children.
The school reopened on 15th June for the special school children. Six new children have taken admission in the school.
One new physiotherapist Dr. Hetal has joined the therapy team.
The Current Performance Level(CPL) of all the kids was assessed again. The IEP of all the children have been prepared.
We have 3 new children in the Early intervention classroom. Four new children with Learning difficulties have taken admission for remedial program.
Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
This academic year of activity began on June 1st. It started with the training programme conducted by vocational trainer Shanthi for the teachers of YES. She taught them many product-related activities. The YES trainees will be doing these activities in their first term.
Ms. Nirmala Devi, special educator, joined the VTU at Sreyes after a year's experience in the Pre-Voc section of KLC. Her joining has enabled further intake of trainees into the program as well as to extend the time of a trainee from half a day to full day.
The teachers attended the workshop conducted by Aban and Dilnawaz Bana on Curative Eurythmy. They got a fair idea of implementation of various movements taught, to the benefit of the trainees.
The group along with trainees from YES went to Cholamandalam Arts Village to see an art exhibition. They seemed to enjoy the experience. They were able to relate to the colours and forms brought out in the modern art exhibits. Many expressed the forms they could make out and what they signified. They could even build stories around it. Their expression and communication actually brought out many subtle areas of discussion which was surprising.
The production work at Sreyes, the employment centre, began from day one. There was an order for 25 file folders in the first week which was duly executed. Newly designed bags were also produced.
The boys are trying their hand at weaving jute on a frame. They seem to enjoy this and are learning a lot. The focus and rhythm that this activity has given them is helping them in their overall activities for the day.
The third group of interns has also started to contribute to production by way of product.
Mrs. Margaret Buch has taught them to weave a necklace with cotton/ silk chord and they are doing it with great joy and precision.
With these activities in place, we are planning for more exciting things for the coming months. Follow us on Strides to know more about what the group of young adults are up to at Sreyes.
From YES
Our YES unit started this Year on 1st June. All teachers attended a workshop on Warli Art, papier mache and bubble print.
June 3-5, all our teachers attended a workshop with Aban Bana and Dilnawaz Bana, the first Eurythmists in India. It was a beautiful experience and many of our teachers attended this for the first time.
On June 6, an orientation was given by Mrs. Rama Nagarajan, regarding our timetable, teacher-in-charge for different groups and for different vocational activities.
On June 8, the center re-opened for the trainees.
The trainees were all very happy to come to YES back. On June 16, a parents-teachers orientation was given by Dr. Vasudha Prakash. There was a PowerPoint presentation explaining the activities at YES and our goals and objectives.
Our counselor, Mrs. Anandhi Balan, comes to YES every Tuesday to provide individual counselling and Ms. Puja Bhalla comes every Thursday.
By the end of July all the parents will meet the counseling Department.
On June 18 we attended Tarang Music Concert by Mrs. Amritha Murali and party. It was a wonderful experience and our trainees enjoyed the music without moving.
On June 33, all our trainees with those from Sre-yes visited Cholamandal - an artists' village. We visited the art gallery. The works of many eminent painters were on display. Our trainees recognised many paintings and sculptures.
After our return to YES center all the trainees were asked to express their experience. We had beautiful drawings from few trainees and many identified the colours they had seen there.