Distractibility is not the same as having no attention span.
* The child with no attention span pays attention to nothing.
* The child who is distractible pays attention to everything. Richard Lavoie
V-Excel News
This month we have embarked on a new segment called Play Therapy as a part of our counseling unit. As you know we have children
with conditions such as Autism, Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder, Mental Retardation, Specific Learning Disabilities (
dyslexia...…) etc. undergoing special education at our center.
During the course of our work with these children we have found that a lot of them suffer from emotional disturbances which
leads to behavioral problems both at home and at school. This unit is functioning at the V-Excel Center for Research and Rehabilitation,
Shastri Nagar.
Academy of Teacher Excellence News
The Autism Spectrum Disorders course conducted by the ATE came to a close by the end of March. In the words of Chitra
Natarajan, a student of the short term ASD course, “ASD is not a subject which can be confined to a six week program, nevertheless,
the expert lecturers excelled in their own style in imparting to the trainees their thoughts, views, ideas and experiences
vividly on the subject…..thus gained a lot of information on ASD which hitherto was to me on an abstract reading in newspaper
or magazine…. Sensory integration, dysfunction, remediation, intervention, alternatives, and strategies were dealt in detail.
Even though the duration was short, the subject was done exhaustively…it was well organized and very well planned…” She goes on
to add about how the staff were helpful and always around to answer queries and help the trainees in every way.
Kaleidoscope Learning Center (KLC) News
Kaleidoscope Learning Centre has been a hub of activity as a lab school for the ATE students who have been doing the autism
internship. Group classes are also being done and the children are excited with the new modules and methods and have accepted
the changes well.
A number of important visitors have come to the centre this month. Dr. Lakshmi Prassana and Michael from Hyderabad visited
and sat in on the classes and later in the afternoon, had an interactive session with the teachers to answer their queries. Later
in the month we were visited by personnel from the RCI.
The school is in a state of winding up for the term. So as revision of concepts is being done, some leisure activity is also
being undertaken as a part of the preparation for the holidays. Some children are being taught tennis and badminton and others
painting and stitching. We hope the parents will continue these activities in the holidays.
The children participated in a poster making activity organized by Chrysalis, who partnered children from regular schools
and special schools. Eight of our children participated.
V-Excel Remedial Center (VRC) News
March has been a month of examinations for our children and they have been working diligently towards making a success
of the testing procedures at their regular school environment. It has been a stressful period for the children and parents
to say the least. The teachers at VRC have been working at reducing the anxiety of the children and towards equipping them
to cope better with the existing examination systems.
The morning group for children with autism had a change of teacher-in-charge. Dinakaran supported by the occupational
therapists Venkat and Amutha are working towards making our group independent and subsequently interdependent.
Some snippets from our classrooms:
Akshay Athreya has been learning to express his emotions in a more acceptable and age appropriate manner. The difficulties
lie when it is anger, particularly when what he is trying to communicate is not being understood by the other person. He
tries so hard to express and it is a lesson to be learnt from him as to the patience with which he tries to communicate.
Kamakshi clearly communicates her preferences. It is heartening to watch her not only express her needs, but also manipulate
the teacher to carry out her wishes.
Akshara charms her way into people’s heart with her conversational skills and social awareness. She greets everybody
appropriately and seems to know exactly what to say to make the other person feel they are the most important person around.
Bridges Learning Academy
School is in the process of wrapping up for the year, teachers are busy with revisions, and formulating assessments.
Eight children participated in “Make a Friend” organized by Chrysalis. It was an attempt to partner special children with
mainstream children. They jointly made posters, and exchanged details about each other.
Contact Info :: India:
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
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.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a form of counseling or psychotherapy that therapeutically uses the power of play to communicate with and help
children, to achieve optimal mental health. Children will engage in play behavior in order to work through their anxieties.
In this way play therapy can be used as a self-help mechanism, as long as children are allowed time for 'free play'. From a
developmental point of view, children who are pre-occupied with playing in order to reduce their anxieties will spend less time
developing their cognitive abilities through play and may suffer from developmental retardation. Play therapy has been found
effective in personality adjustment, mature and desirable behavior patterns, interpersonal relationship, and more adequate
use of intellectual capacities.
