Strides Newsletter Archives
- Counseling & Assessments
- Early Intervention
- Kaleidoscope Learning Center
- V-Excel Educational Trust
- Occupational Therapy
- V-Excel Remedial Center
- Satellite Centers
- Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
Counseling & Assessments
From Parimal Pandit's Desk
From Parimal Pandit's Desk
The counselling department conducted a two day training workshop in Expressive Arts Therapy, facilitated by Puja Bhalla and Sarmishta Mani. The participants were individuals who with people in professional settings like counselling, teaching, training etc. They underwent the process of experiencing the interventions the facilitators shared with them, even as they creatively explored ideas for adapting them in their areas of work. The interventions themselves were varied, with a mix of mediums. The workshop involved painting, drawing, exploring through cards, expressing feelings through verse and poetry, movement, imagery, storytelling etc. Even the feedback the participants gave about their experience and learning they chose to express through the modalities they explored.
Other than the above, the department continued its usual work, be it counselling or consultation.
Early Intervention
Musical Start to the Year
Year-end Observations
The month of April focused on year-end observations of EI program for parents. This was followed by parent meetings to discuss the goals achieved and progress in various development domains. Parents were given training on facilitating various domains based on individual development plan. The focus of training has been predominantly on cognitive development, speech and language development, social development, pre-school concepts, reading and writing for primary school children and independence in functional skills. Children who have got admission in regular schools have been shifted to supportive programs. A customized written home program based on IDP and training was handed to the parents. Parents who required counselling were provided counselling services to improve their emotional and mental health.
There is a need at both Erode and Tirunelveli centers for training young adults in pre-vocational and vocational skills. Year- end parent meeting and training was done in both the centers. Parents were given home programs with focus on independence in functional skill, pointers on handling adolescence behavior issues, importance of physical activities and social interaction for young adults.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center
From Gita Bhalla's Desk
The end of the year activity fills the air as yet another term comes to an end heralding the summer vacation. A month of report writing, evaluations, compilations and completions. On April 11 the reports were given out. The teachers have outdone themselves this year. The cover pages, the artistic work and the 30-32 page dossier prepared for each child gave the parents ample food for thought. In fact this year , we have had appreciative parents who have sent us messages congratulating the teachers on such fine reports.
On Wednesday, the 6th of April, Grades 5A, 5B and 7 headed to Lady Andal School Auditorium and witnessed the musical concert by the students of KM Conservatory. This is a musical school headed by A.R Rahman. This show included wonderful piano solo performances by young artists, Opera (a musical theatre) and fusion music with a combination of bollywood songs, western music and Tamil songs. The children were out of school for nearly 5 hours and they were calm, collected and behaved like young adults that they are. The show was thoroughly enjoyed by our children.
On Thursday morning Grade children (6 of them with 3 teachers and 1 akka) set out on a trip to Friends of Camphill campus, near Bengaluru for a three days 2 nights stay. They travelled by Shatabdhi to Bengaluru and were picked up by Francis from Camphill in 2 jeeps. They stayed there till 2nd morning and set out to Gita's home near Kadugodi with the help of Ajita and Subodh and spent time there till early afternoon. Then they returned on 2nd April again by Shatabdhi to Chennai. They all had a great time during this trip. The students benefitted from the serene , quiet but extremely busy schedule followed by the friends of camphill. They participated in the gardening, cooking, candle making, and housekeeping duties. They had a bonfire at night where they sang songs and had an unforgettable experience. A very big thanks to Subodh Panshikhar for personally driving the children up and down through Bangalore and to Francis Aradhaya and all the friends at Camphill Bangalore for being such gracious hosts.
On Saturday morning, the 2nd of April, there was a rally arranged by Disha to spread awareness about Autism on World Autism Awareness Day. Many parents, children and teachers of V-Excel units participated in it, spearheaded by Vasudha. We went around the neighbourhood of Sharada shouting slogans loudly for about 1 hour. All the children marched well. Everybody wore blue.
The students of KLC enjoyed the last two days of school as Fun Days. They had a fruit and salad day , games and music for the entire day. Our grateful thanks to Sukratam trust for our music filled last two months.
The teachers worked till 20 of April and there was a three day Inservice where Parimal, Lalitha and Gita gave lectures and Neha, Puja and Kejal shared practical experiences, movement and music with everyone. Kejal demonstrated active ways to teach Maths. We hope this training stands the teachers in good stead for the coming academic year.
V-Excel Educational Trust
Tamil New Year
As a new initiative in V-Excel, Tamil New Year's Day was celebrated today at our main center at "Sharada". Smt. S. Sowmya and her team of musicians, Sukrtam, rendered songs of from the Thirukkural (திருக்குறள்), a classic Tamil sangam literature consisting of 1330 couplets or Kurals, authored by Thiruvalluvar. They also sang songs from the The Ātticcūṭi (ஆத்திச்சூடி), a collection of single-line quotations written by Avvaiyar and organized in alphabetical order.
Cafe Samarth
Twenty-three-year-old Kaushik looked very excited on Saturday — his first day as a chef-cum-seating host at the newly launched Cafe Samarth, a restaurant staffed by persons with special needs.
"The idea is not only to spread awareness about autism but also to convert their interest in cooking into a livelihood opportunity for persons with autism," said Vasudha Prakash, founder-trustee of V-Excel Educational Trust, who initiated this concept.
The centre has in the past been training special persons in cooking, but this is the first time they have started such an outlet.
Nina Reddy, Managing Director of Savera Hotels, presided over the launch and presented aprons and chef hats to the 15-member team that will be taking charge of the cafe.
"It is an honour to be a part of this launch. They seem to be doing a great job, I think I’ll become one of their regular visitors," said Ms. Reddy. The menu offers two themes — South Indian and Maharashtrian, besides some gluten-free, casein-free recipes.
The cafe will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Entry will be restricted on basis of invitations.
Every customer will be given literature describing autism and other challenges to help raise awareness. "We want them to think of these special persons as normally as they would. We are hoping this brings a change," said S. Radhakrishnan, one of the trustees of the V Excel.
Occupational Therapy
Happenings
Happenings
- Therapy reports for KLC children were given on the first week of April
- During KLC vacation, mainstream going children were given therapy sessions from morning onwards and sessions lasted till the evening.
- Total number of VRC and outside children who received therapy during April is 15.
- Many consultations were undertaken owing to KLC, VRC and therapy admission.
- Sensory and attention developing activities were framed and given for VRC Summer camp group activities. Children enjoyed ICE block treasure hunt to the core in summer!
Success Story!
A new little girl who is known for her impulsiveness and adamancy is undergoing Sensory Integration therapy since 2 months. Her parents were always so punctual and regular in bringing her for the sessions. They took the home program and the sensory diet with great enthusiasm. As a result of 5 sessions per week and parents active participation, now she has gained a great sitting tolerance and started indicating her needs with louder voice. She has been a tough child for maids as well to take her for toileting. Everyone handling her is pleased by her change in tolerance level and adamancy.
V-Excel Remedial Center
From Kejal Bakshi's Desk
April - the month of reports, review of the year, meetings, training, setting goals for next academic year and much more!
VRC had a parents meeting on April 2nd wherein we made them experience the movements that we do in our remedial sessions and spoke to them about the progress of each child. Every parent had something positive to share about their child and were happy to meet other parents.
VRC conducted summer camp for two weeks, for children age six and above. Ten children participated in the summer camp. Story telling, movements, craft, group games were few of the activities. Children really enjoyed the camp. Parents were happy as children would go back home and narrate stories, songs to them. A child with autism, does not come to V-Excel but attended the summer camp showed good progress. With his limited speech and language he would go and communicate all the happenings of the day at home. Parents were very impressed with our work.
Satellite Centers
From Jayanthi Vishwanath's Desk
During the first week of April, all the teachers and therapists carried out extensive Autism awareness campaign by visiting around 35 different primary and secondary schools in Nashik. We found that the heads of the schools were very receptive and lauded our efforts to increase the awareness about autism. It was a learning experience for the teachers too.
On 2nd April, a free dental camp was conducted in the school for our children. A team of interns and dentists from MGVM dental college came to our school and checked the dental and oral status of around 30 children and presented a health talk to the parents who had gathered at the school for the occasion.
On 7th April all the teachers and children made gudis with simple materials to mark “Gudi Padwa”
From 18th to 20th April 2016, three special educators from Nashik centre attended the in-service training at Chennai. The training program was very comprehensive and enhanced the working knowledge of the trainees.
On 23rd, a year-end party was organized for the kids. The children enjoyed watching the magic show and danced to some peppy music, which was followed by a sumptuous lunch.
On 29th April, a parent training program was carried out by the teachers of the school. After the training session, the progress reports of the children were handed over to the parents.
On 2nd and 3rd May, an in-service training program was organized for the teachers of the school. Ms. Parul Diwan, Ms. Anjali Marwah, Ms. Pallavi Sonar and Mrs. Jayanthi Vishwanath carried out the training .
Vocational Training / Youth Empowerment Services
From Usha Rajagopal's Desk
The months of April and May, holidays and heat in Chennai come as a package. In saying that, the team at Sreyes VTU have been pretty active during this period.
Three of the interns came in to the unit and kept themselves busy with production during the first half of the month.
Cafe Samarth had its share of guests during the first fortnight. It was a time of review. Meetings were held to plan additional activities and intake. Maintenance work was taken up. Budgets were projected.
Amidst all of this, a small order for bags was also processed. Reorganisation of the kitchen for Cafe Samarth was done. The
coordination with parents of the trainees who are presently with us about the work program and a meeting of some parents and their wards who were with us earlier. Some of them showed interest to come back and work with VTU.
Plans to add new activity like Laundry and bring to a close a skill development activity like paper cup making were discussed.
The unit looks forward to some additions both in activities and number of persons to becoming a more well-defined employment centre.
Youth Empowerment Services News
On 2nd April, Autism day our trainees participated in the rally organized by Deeksha parents forum. In the evening we participated in the inauguration function of our café Samarth.
On April 11th all of our staff participated in the town hall meeting.
On 22nd April our trainees visited a painting exhibition organized by Mr. Ashwin Subramaniam.
On 25th April Dr. Vasudha Prakash met all the parents of YES and explained our vocational activities in YES.
On 29th April all of our staff visited café Samarth. The dishes were delicious.
On 14th may and 21st may 2016 Mrs. Rama, Mr. Jason and Mrs. Divya attended loom training at Shuttles and Needles.