Providing lifespan services to individuals with special needs...
Strides Newsletter Archives
Academy of Teaching Excellence
Happenings
Great Expectations
The beginning of new year always brings a lot of expectation of every person and organizations. The ATE Department of V-Excel is not an exception.
So, we started planning many training programs for the year 2015, and among them are the following:
- Awareness Program on Disability - Module II starting on 14th Feb. 15 followed by 2 contact sessions to be held every second and fourth Saturdays of February, March and April. 2015
- Continuing Rehabilitation Education program on Learning Disability from the March 19-21, 2015
- Teachers Training for Teachers from Maldives in the month of March.
Many more training programs are in the pipeline for this whole year. Look out for announcement in our website.
We had started the year with our first training program on "Sensory Integration". This was conducted on January 10-11 2015. We had 20 participants, from other organizations as well as from V-Excel namely the staff from Early Intervention Unit. The program was conducted by Mrs. Lalitha Sridhar, a physiotherapist, who is also heading our Early intervention Unit. The sessions were very informative and useful.
The trainees included a combination of professionals and parents. Jui Sengupta, a special educator, quoted "This gave me a real insight on the importance of Sensory Integration in the activities of daily living".
T. Uma, a parent, said "Yes, to a great extent it will help me to effectively handle my son".
At the end of the two-day session there were requests for SI training of a longer duration.
On January 21, we had a group of students from Madras University - Psychology Department visit us.
They were given a tour of our center. Anandhi and Maria provided overviews of the Counseling
department and of V-Excel, respectively. Maria highlighted our ATE training programs, so that
these students would see the value of adding some of our training in their repertoire.
Over the years V-Excel's "Academy for Training and Excellence" has made an impact in the field of
Special education and training. There has been considerable demand for our CRE programs and, hence, it was decided to offer one on LD.
We have also received an exclusive request from the Government of Maldives, Education Department to train teachers
in Special Education, as they had received excellent feedback from the initial batch of teachers who had come to us last year.
This is indeed an impact we have made in the international level. We hope to reach out to more countries in the near
future.
Counseling & Assessments
Happenings in the C&A Unit
Group and individual play continues.
Children from KLC have started practising for the Annual Day in March.
Puja Bhalla and Parimal Pandit started group art therapy for the parents of 4 children from YES and 3 from KLC at Kaustabham. This was an advanced course for the parents who had attended our earlier ones. We started with movement and two art exercises; one of copying a painting as exactly as possible and the second was painting a time just before sunrise.
Sushama and Parimal went to V-Excel Solapur for 3 days beginning of the month for visiting and giving inputs to the staff there. They addressed at a gathering conducted by the center to create awareness on Autism. On the next day they had 10 new consultations and reviewed the children's program. Future visits will address the needs of the remedial and vocational programs.
Early Intervention
Infant Stimulation Programme
Infant stimulation programme is progressing well. The Early Intervention team is working on reviewing the progress
of every child to identify children who can start attending school, and children who can be discharged this
academic year. Attached is a feedback given by a parent. The child was discharged from Early Intervention Programme
and is going to attend regular school.
Tirunelveli Centre
The group programme commenced in Tirunelveli Centre is going well. At present there are 6 children in the group. The group visited a supermarket close to the centre. They were facilitated on following road rules and to do basic shopping and handling money. It was a good experience for both staff and students.
Erode Centre
A workshop for parents was conducted in Erode Centre. This is a part of ongoing work that is conducted once a term. The topic was ""Training the Child to Become Functionally Independent"". It was well received by the parents.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center
Open Day
School reopened on the January 2 and, in keeping with the coming and going of the seasons, we bid farewell to the Christmas season and began to welcome the festival of harvest-Pongal which is celebrated in the second week of January . The ceremony of decorating the Christmas tree is as solemn as taking the decorations off . This was done by the students and teachers with songs and music and in the presence of all. The school watched as with great care each decoration was taken off and wrapped up for the next year.
Pongal was celebrated traditionally with the cooking of the Pongal in the mud pot in a special area beautifully decorated by Varshini and Kanimozhi. Thanks to Vasanthi Aunty who always brings our palates alive in all celebrations by making us taste the most delicious traditional sweets and savouries befitting any festival . This time we enjoyed the Shakkar Pongal.
We had a talk on "Autism and Music Therapy" by Mr. Pratap of Aimself on January 11 in Kaustabham. We also had a presentation of traditional Indian games by Jayanthi Srinivasan on one of the in-services on Friday.
On the other Fridays we spent reviewing the year that had just gone by and articulated our hopes for the coming year on one Friday, had text study on the third Friday and had the child study for Vishal on all Fridays.
In the life skills enhancement program, we thank Shakila mother of Aquila, who invited a group of children to her house for lunch . 14 children went and it was a real life experience for children of the pre vocational and a few others.
The annual day concept, theme and screen play has been decided and the first round of auditions, recording and practice has begun. "The garden of light" is our ambitious new musical for this academic year and all three student bodies, KLC, Kaustubh and Sreyes are going to show case their talents in the forthcoming event. The event is on 19 March 2015 between 4.30-6.30 pm in Narada Gana Sabha. Please mark your calendars for that date.
V-Excel Educational Trust
Wishing our entire family, friends and supporters a very Happy 2015!
"Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New Year will bring new opportunities. "
Fund-raiser in New Jersey
Brindavani, New Jersey, hosted the Second Annual Youth Carnatic Music Festival - January 17 & 18, 2015. This year, the recipient was for V-Excel, and were hoping to raise $15,000.
Thank you to the entire Brindavani team!
We were represented at the event by our own Janaki Ashok who now resides in Virginia but made the trip to New Jersey. Also in attendance was Rakesh Parikh, who is an integral
part of Academic Concepts, our sister non-profit in the USA.
Tarang in Bangalore
Started 4 years ago in Chennai, Tarang started in Bangalore in August 2014. Tarang is an attempt to create an inclusive society through music. Children and adults with special needs are taken to a public auditorium where a renowned Indian classical music artist performs for them. On January 30, 2015 our concert featured the renowned sitarist Shri Vidur Mahajan who came all the way from Pune.
What a mesmerizing performance by Vidurji, Neha Mahajan and Sudattaji. Speechless but it also left us relaxed. Thank you everyone for participating. Specially all the schools and children - Tarang cannot happen without your appreciation!
Tarang in Chennai
Down Syndrome affected Indian-American Hema wowed Chennai audience with her splendid Bharatanatyam performance. Her first international debut at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mylapore had all the elements of classical dance: the poise, rhythm and the grandeur.
It took twelve years of hard work for the 23-year-old woman to achieve this finesse. She underwent two major surgeries and her family says that Hema's involvement in dance in the last four years was rigorous.
Watching Hema's performance were many special children, some of them aspiring artists. One among them, Arpit, said, "I would like to dance. I want to practise now"
"Just because a child has disability, it doesn't mean he or she has to compromise. Many times we give up. We don't expose them to art or richer things in life," says Dr Vasudha Prakash, Founder of V - Excel Educational Trust.
Hemalatha got a standing ovation after her hour long performance. It was an emotional moment for her parents Ram Bala Ramaswamy and Gayathrimala. Ramaswamy says "The only thing I'm hoping for is this causes a stir in the community; a lot more children get opportunity to grow".
Rajeswari, a mother of an autistic child says Hema's accomplishment has had a positive impact. She explains "We can start dreaming. May be one day our children can also start taking part".
L&T ARUNIM
L&T Arunim V-Excel participated in an Exhibition and Sale of exclusive products made by Artisans with Disabilities which took place in the L&T's Manapakkam campus on 8th & 9th January 2015 at the Convention Centre in association with ARUNIM (Association for Rehabilitation under National Trust Initiative of Marketing).
Occupational Therapy
Training ADL Skills
This month 4 assessments were done. Therapy was given for 10 children from KLC and 4 from VRC.
Training ADL skills:
Training in brushing, rinsing and spitting was planned for grade 6 children for the month of January and
was discussed with class teachers. It was done over a period as a classroom group strategy spread over
2 days in Suba Naresh's presence. She guided them in doing the full range of activities involved in brushing
one's teeth - from taking paste in the brush, brushing, rinsing and spitting water from mouth. All
this was done in a bathroom in front of a mirror and wash-basin. All children did well and
almost all achieved the targeted skills.
V-Excel Remedial Center
Assessments
We completed four assessments, handed over the reports to the parents and held discussions with them on the course of action to be taken. Two more assessments are under way.
Talks are on with a prestigious school of the city for permanently placing a remedial teacher from us in their school premises. We had extensive discussions with the the school on it this week.
S. Akila who was a part time teacher with us,has joined us full time from this month.
Attendance of children was very erratic during the last week of December as most of the kids were out of station due to school holidays.We had less than 50% attendance throughout the last week of December.
Satellite Centers
Nashik
On 12th January, Ms. Kim McCall from Kent, UK visted. She is volunteering in a hospital in Nashik and is part of "The Fifth Trust", UK, a charitable organization. This institution provides a safe and fulfilling way of life for adults with learning difficulties in East Kent, coaching each individual to achieve their potential. Ms. McCall is in Nashik in order to start a vocational training center and respite center for adults with LD.
On 14th January morning, our school kids and teachers went on a school picnic to
The Dadasaheb Phalke Samarak. This is a beautiful spot build in the memory of the legendary filmmaker Dada Saheb Phalke. It is situated on the Nashik-Mumbai highway. It is spread across a huge area of 29 acres. The Samark contains a place for meditation, a main conference hall and an exhibition center showcasing the work of the legendary film persona. The Dadasaheb Phalke Samarak has a lovely landscaped garden with the musical fountain.. The kids enjoyed playing in the park on the merry-go-round and different types of swings and slides. The children were served snacks at the park and then escorted back to school in the afternoon.(Photos enclosed)
The second term assessment of the school kids happened in the last week of January. Based on the reports, the IEP for the next term will be prepared and implemented from the following month.
One new Physiotherapist Ms. Ashwini joined our therapists team. Now we have eight therapists working in our school and center on part-time basis.
Tirunelveli
The group programme commenced in Tirunelveli Centre is going well. At present there are 6 children in the group. The group visited a supermarket close to the centre. They were facilitated on following road rules and to do basic shopping and handling money. It was a good experience for both staff and students.
Erode
A workshop for parents was conducted in Erode Centre. This is a part of ongoing work that is conducted once a term. The topic was ""Training the Child to Become Functionally Independent"". It was well received by the parents.
Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
The year 2014 was good and with the advent of 2015, we see a further movement in the VTU. New perspectives of Vocational training are being considered.
Mr. Clifford Escrader, our consultant Anne's father, conducted a workshop in fret work. Intern Vaishali and teachers of VTU participated. Vaishali has taken it on with diligence and practices cutting shapes in wood daily with great interest.
L&T hosted the Arunim sale and we were among the 10 NGOs which participated in it. Our interns who were at the stall demonstrated their work. The precision in work and neat finish of our products were very much appreciated. It also gave an opportunity for our interns to experience how their products were received and also in the handling of money following a sale.
Pongal was a low-key affair this year. However, there was a new dimension to it. Our interns split wood for the stove, made coloured Rangolis, and made ready, independently all the add-ons for the sweet Pongal.
The Special Olympics conducted at Nehru stadium gave us many a proud moment. Out interns performed well in sports and won many medals.
The month came to a close with a meeting with Ms. Tia Pleiman of Auroville and Ms. Madhu Krishnan of ITC. This meeting augured fresh ideas in the product lines and new marketing strategies.
Over the last couple of months, we had two special young adults (from Erode and Tirunelveli) and their families for consultation. Recommendations were given to them in their areas of need.
We look forward to more such possibilities to reach rural areas.
From YES
Mr. Thulasi Raman joined as our Admin Coordinator on January 5.
On Jan. 11, our trainees took part in various sports events at the Unified Sports Meet 2015 organized by Special Olympics Bharat/Tamil Nadu. We won 15 gold medals and 11 silver medals. Thanks to the effort made by Jason and the staff.
On Jan. 14 we celebrated Pongal Festival. All the trainees came in traditional robes and prepared sweet Pongal.
On Jan. 30 our trainees visited Hotel Sangeetha, Adyar, ordered from the menu, paid for the meal on their own with cash and checked the balance amount received. It was a very good exposure for them.