"Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will
blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their
dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever you
possess. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared and your
life will have meaning and your heart will have peace..."
...Kent Nerburn
V-Excel News
The staff and children of V-Excel wish all readers of Strides a happy, healthy, enriching and fulfilling
2011!
V-Excel, in association with Padsad Kendra and Indorewala ENT Hospital of Nashik, conducted a two-day
workshop on Eurythmy, a movement therapy in Curative Education, by one of the experts in the field - Ms. Aban
Bana - on 29th and 30th January 2011. The workshop was well received with an overwhelming response from a
diverse group of teachers, parents and those interested in special education.
Our professionals visited Tirunelveli, a district in Tamil Nadu, this month and held three sessions on
Child Development for different parent groups. They also conducted a teacher meeting and a press conference.
Given the dearth of remedial and therapy services, we shortly plan to start a special needs center in that area.
V-Excel's Vocational Training Unit put up a stall in the exhibition (15-21 January) organized by 'ARUNIM' -
a marketing wing of the National Trust of India. Two different teachers represented us every day and briefed
stall visitors of V-Excel's work with special children, activities of the Vocational Unit, and range of
products made by our trainees. The finesse of our children's wares was evident and was highly appreciated
by all. Central Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr. Mukul Wasnik and the State Minister,
Shri D. Napoleaon, bought decorative wall frames with Warli designs from our stall, making our children and
teachers proud!
Kaleisdoscope Learning Centre
The school went for a trip to Vandalur Zoo on 10th of January. It was marked by a lot of enthusiasm and
the exemplary behaviour by almost all the children gladdened the heart of every accompanying teacher. This,
we realized, was the outcome of the socialization process, come into play naturally, thanks to the group
activities we often organize. The children related well with the transitions from bus to tram, to animals,
to park and enjoyed every bit of the trip, including the food. As a sequel to this zoo visit, the teachers
wrote various 'reading passages' for children of different levels while children expressed their feelings
about the trip.
Pongal was celebrated on the 12th of January, when traditionally dressed children watched 'Pongal' being
cooked in the mud pot and overflowing from it. A school lunch then followed, with all the staff members and
children joining in.
Dr. Lakshmi Prasanna, one of the Anthroposophy consultants, visited our school this month. She observed
the children and gave us valuable feedback on their needs. A few teachers and therapists met her for
discussions, based on which changes and enhancements were made in the children's development programs.
Academy for Teacher Excellence
This month the trainees witnessed mixed reactions of apprehension, anxiety, contentment and happiness
as they were given a feedback of their performance on the first internal examination.
For most part of the month, the trainees were busy writing lesson plans and implementing them for
their respective case study children. It was heartening to see trainees use innovative and creative teaching
aids. Group Discussions about individual lessons proved to be particularly informative and fruitful.
The trainees gave an interesting presentation on the 'Theory of Mind'- a core area of enigma in children
with Autism.
Early Intervention Unit
Review meetings were conducted with all the parents and new home programs were designed, keeping every
child's unique needs in mind.
The focus of early intervention program has been to identify children who can go to regular school this
term, provide facilitation in pre-school program and promote functional independence. The children identified
will be admitted in any of the primary schools. They will continue with the early intervention program for
three months even after joining the regular school. Only after one term of attending school and observing them,
will they be weaned away from our program.
We have seen success of our toilet training program; parents have thanked us for the convenience this
development offers them in their day-to-day lives.
Various aspects of 'play' were emphasized upon with staff and parents with an aim to encourage speech and
language amongst the children. Therapists have been given orientation on the important goals to work with
for the next term, while parents have been given suitable home programs.
In January, we ensured that parental guidance is given for promoting functional independence amongst
their children. As these children are young, they spend substantial time at home; training parents in this
regard is thus extremely crucial.
Bridges Learning Academy
The New Year began well for BLA. The children are more focused and disciplined in their studies as well
as in their behavior.
The BLA children were taken to the recently inaugurated Botanical Garden for a field trip. The children
enjoyed the trip and also played in the play area of the park.
Pongal was celebrated with real fun and gusto. The children, especially the girls, organized everything
under the assistance of Mr. Kannan and Ms. Shashi (helper). Red sugarcane and tender turmeric bunches were
placed on the sides of the earthen pot in which Pongal was cooked. Children ate the tasty Pongal and distributed
it to other departments as well.
A fitting finale to the term's field trip was the picnic on 25th January to VGP, an amusement park on the
outskirts of Chennai. Credit must be given to the children for their good and compliant behavior; instructions
were followed to the tee! Children thoroughly enjoyed this trip and were excited with overall experience.
Special mention must be made of Mr. Murugadas (a parent) who rendered help and moral support throughout
the trip. He was physically present for most part of the trip and took care of us. Thank you, Mr. Murugadas.
Dr. Vasudha and Ms. Ajita was joined us for a short while and were very happy to see the children enjoy
themselves in the water, swaying merrily with the waves!
V-Excel Remedial Centre
The month of January brought in the harvest feast, Pongal. Children had a joyous day cooking Pongal and
relishing it. One of the students performed the 'pooja' by chanting mantras; it was an excellent endeavor!
The day was also celebrated with a painting session on the theme 'Pongal'. Lovely pots and sugarcane were
the highlights of their paintings.
As a part of enriching our knowledge in Anthroposophy, John Miller lectured on four sheaths and twelve
senses of man, and their interactions, giving us new insights into the teacher-student relationship. This
awareness will go a long way in our communication with the children coming to us for remedial intervention.
Teachers visit to students' home plays an important role in understanding the child better and in planning
a more effective program for him/her, keeping in mind the environment at home. Jonathan, one of our students,
was happy to see his teachers when they visited his home recently. It was an awesome sight to see this seven
year old boy, with his two fallen teeth, beaming throughout our stay!
Rural Outreach Program
Children with special needs, both physically and developmentally challenged, were rendered support
through Resource Rooms, Day Care Centers, Special Education services at government and corporation schools
as well as home programs.
Distribution camps were held in five blocks of Villipuram district - Villupuram, Kanai, Rishivandiyam,
Thiruvennaivallur, and Thiyagadurgam.
This month, our team distributed 83 sets of calipers to those identified as needy in previously held the
medical camp.
Vocational Training Unit
We have commenced Movement Therapy classes for our trainees. Ms. Sangeetha Iswaran conducts the sessions,
thrice a week. These sessions are very effective in enhancing their motor coordination and control, and are
enjoyed by the trainees.
Pongal was celebrated outdoors at Shreyas with a well-lit fire on which sweet Pongal was prepared. The
joyous mood and environment continued till lunch. The VTU family (teachers, staff and trainees) had a happy
lunch time together.
Teachers attended an in-service program at Mandaveli. They learnt about four bodies and were exposed
to 'Eurythmy' that connotes rhythmic, harmonious body movements and formations.
Between 18th-21st January 2011, nine of our trainees attended a workshop in 'Kalakshetra' from 1 p.m.
to 3 p.m..The theme of the workshop was 'Youth for Peace' where more than 150 students from various regular
schools across Chennai performed as part of the theater groups. Indeed, it was a great pleasure to see
seamless integration of our trainees, with special needs, in different stage activities. They also learnt
to make yarn with 'Charkha', sowed 'methi' seeds in small pots & did saree painting. Their finished products
were displayed during the grand finale on 30th January at Gandhi Statue on Marina Beach.
A Photography workshop was conducted by Mr. Yannick Cormier, a French photographer, who guided our trainees to
click photographs from different angles. It was very touching to see the passion with which he taught
our children. Thank you very much, Yannick!
Counseling and Assessment Unit
The month of January was a month of celebrations. We celebrated Pongal with children of different service
units of V-Excel. Children enjoyed participating in the process of preparing Pongal and closely watching
while it was being cooked.
Counseling has now reached everyone, across all our staff sections. This term we are meeting up with the
'akkas' (helpers) of the school for counseling them on a regular basis. The principle behind this activity
is that helpers will be able to take care of our children compassionately only when they are not mentally
disturbed. We thus see it as a platform where they get a chance to express themselves and get directions to
deal with their problems on the domestic front.
On the corporate front, we have organized workshops on topics such as Relationships and Parenting for
the following two months. Our counseling services are appreciated by the executives and they utilize this
facility to the optimum.
We have started school awareness programs and are slowly building up network in regular schools for
early intervention and remedial programs.
Contact Information
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
V-Excel Center for Research and Rehabilitation
(In assocation with S.V. Sarada Foundation)
50 Sreyes, M.G. Road
Shastri Nagar, Chennai 600 041
Tel: 91 - 44 - 24522061
91 - 44 - 24521986 E-mail us
Academic Concepts, Inc.
1403 Merrywood Drive
Edison New Jersey 08817
Tel: (732) 572-3748
Tax ID: 22-3632715 E-mail us
