A novel awareness generation program, in form of a Carnival, was held on 9th April for our new neighbours. Posters and charts
explaining the different disabilities and highlighting early identification cues with respect to the growth milestones were put up.
To add a fun element to the evening, our special children had also set up stalls for games, snacks, and soft drinks. We displayed
the beautiful bookmarks, gift wrapping paper and greeting cards made by the children and were extremely happy when all these got
sold out in no time ! The carnival was well received by one and all.
We have great pleasure in announcing that Pizza Corner has volunteered to train our children on pizza making skills as an
ongoing job development program, in the forthcoming term.
Academy of Teacher Excellence News
The students of the Diploma course in Special Education have successfully completed their program and are in the process of
placements. Five of them are joining various service units of V-Excel and we would like to welcome them aboard.
Admissions are open for the Diploma Course commencing June 22nd, 2005. Interested candidates may apply for the courses or contact
our office for further details.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center (KLC) News
Children were taken to the Britannia factory to observe the entire process of manufacturing and packing of biscuits. The best thing
was it raised curiosity amongst the children; they boldly asked questions to the workers there. Our core objective of such field
trips is to ensure that children gain experience of socializing and moving about confidently in the society; it gave us immense
satisfaction when we witnessed their comfort in such situations.
With the school year coming to a close in April, we had a mega round of review sessions with parents. Teachers had prepared a detailed
progress report for every child on a host of developmental parameters; this was discussed with the respective parents. Majority of
them confided that they were happy with the child's positive response to the training and therapies provided.
It is a matter of pride for us that we mainstreamed eight-year old Harini this year and advanced three of our older children
(age 12-14 years) to our own Bridges Learning Academy, a school for learning disabled and slow learners. Our heartfelt congratulations
to the teachers who made this happen.
V-Excel Remedial Center (VRC) News
We are opening another satellite Remedial Center in Royapuram area of Chennai. Our good experience in our Adyar Center encouraged us
to take this step. We are starting with remediation for children with special learning needs and intend to hold a short-term training
program on Teaching Strategies for children facing learning difficulties in the next fortnight.
A major milestone has been achieved when we crossed the 100 student mark, within a short span of two years since inception of
Remedial Center. We have consciously build our resources to effectively work with these children for customized, individualized
training and our results speak for themselves. Our attempt is to ensure faster outcomes so that more children can benefit from
appropriate educational inputs and cope with academic and social challenges, as well as their peers do.
Project Prabha
Project Prabha is designed for building a bright future for special children, - children who are autistic, have attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, suffer from mental retardation, beset with specific learning disabilities and the like. Project Prabha aims to support and nurture
the emotional, physical, social, spiritual well-being and development of special children through the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)
formulated specifically for each child the organisation works with.
Under this programme, people can contribute to whatever extent they can, even as minimal as Rs. 5 a day, i.e., Rs. 1,825 for a year. In the USA,
an amount as low as $1 (a dollar) a day will go a long way in helping our cause. Cheques, in India, can be sent in favour of V-Excel Educational Trust, or to Academic Concepts, in the USA. Mailing addresses are in the top right corner of this newsletter.
The contribution will be invested in providing extensive support services like enhanced amenities, a conducive barrier free learning environment, equipped
therapy rooms, effective teaching aids and recreational facilities.
Grants
We have received approval from the Trustees of the J.R.D. Tata Trust for a grant of Rs. 54 lakhs (USD 123,000), spread over two
financial years. The grant is given towards meeting certain operational costs of our multi-dimensional education center for special education.
The first installment of Rs. 20 Lakhs (USD 45,000) has already been received.
We are extremely thankful to them for demonstrating their faith in our work by way of this grant. We welcome them as our active
partner in facilitating educational development of special children.
Positions Available in Chennai
We are also looking for an Administrative Assistant whose duties will include answering and directing calls, meeting and
greeting visitors, scheduling appointments and meetings, admin/personal assistant duties for staff, as needed, including typing
correspondence, presentations, simple accounting and filing tasks.
Contact Info :: India:
V-Excel Educational Trust
#1 Norton 2nd Street
Mandaveli Chennai 600 028
Tel: 91 - 44 - 2494 2255
91 - 44 – 2495 6373 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.
Did you know?
Did you know, that approximately 2% of the population suffers from Obsessive Complusive Disorder (OCD)? OCD is a medical brain disorder that causes problems in information processing. It is not your fault or the result of a "weak" or unstable personality. Did you know, OCD is the fourth most common mental disorder? Did you know, more children suffer from OCD than childhood diabetes or asthma (one in 100)? Did you know, OCD may be triggered initially by some stressful, anxiety-producing event in a person's life? For example, a person who became very ill might develop a phobia about germs, an obsession about cleanliness, and a compulsion to wash hands hundreds of times a day.
Did you know, that approximately 2% of the population suffers from Obsessive Complusive Disorder (OCD)? OCD is a medical brain disorder that causes problems in information processing. It is not your fault or the result of a "weak" or unstable personality.
