"“Revel in your imperfections. Be entertained by your problems. And know that once you looked ahead, and wished you were where you are now. And once again you will look back and smile.”"
...Anonymous
V-Excel News
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. V. Shankaran, our ex-trustee and father of our Founder-Director, Dr. Vasudha Prakash. Mr. Shankaran passed away in Chennai on August 11 after a brief illness. He was 87.
The month began by welcoming our guest Mr. Matt Aubry, Director of YAI Network, USA. YAI is a 53 year old, well-established and reputed organization based in New York, and working in the field of disabilities. The objective of his visit was to evaluate areas of possible partnership with V-Excel. He saw the facilities at both our Centers in Chennai as well as the new Tirunelveli Center and discussed the proposed expansion plans in detail. He was extremely impressed with the commitment of our team and the quality of work done for children with special needs. He also applauded our team work; in his own words, “Together, your collaboration, strength of purpose and concern for each other stood out to me”. YAI has a lot to offer as we work towards enhancing the life of persons with disabilities. We eagerly look forward to our partnership with them.
The Indian Independence Day, 15th August, was a solemn day where our Managing Trustee, Mrs. B. Sundari (Sundari Aunty to all of us), hoisted the national flag. In a brief program that followed, the children and teachers sang three patriotic songs while making some graceful movements, holding the Indian flag. A similar short event was conducted in our Shastrinagar Center where flag hoisting was done by Shri Jai of Gyanodayam Trust. Students, parents and staff enthusiastically sang patriotic songs and distributed ‘laddoos’.
A very touching gesture by our students became the centerstage of attention of social activists this month. Students of our Vocational Training Unit (VTU) have marched from our Center to LB Road, Chennai, and actively participated in the ‘Anna Hazare’ support forum for the ‘India against Corruption’ signature campaign. Our facilitators had been telling them about this issue to increase their awareness of what was happening around in the country.
Our Satellite Centers at Nashik and Tirunelveli are building teaching, therapy and educational resources and now able to support more children with special learning needs.
Kaleisdoscope Learning Centre
The school had a visitor from the US early this month in the form of Mr. Matt Aubry. Participating in the variety of activities in different classes with ease, ‘Uncle Matt’ was treated to Kevin’s birthday party, a song from Chinmayee, some multiplication movement in Grade 3B, and a medley of finger rhymes in kindergarten. Earlier in the day, he accompanied our teachers in their morning eurhythmy.
A meeting was conducted to discuss the efficacy, ease and the merits and demerits of the GFCF diet that is currently being prescribed by the school. Eminent personalities in the field of disability work like Dr. Vasudha Prakash, John Miller, Lalitha Sridhar, Parthiban, and the nutrition expert Dr. Kausalya Nathan met for over two hours and discussed the pros and cons of a diet based therapy for children with special needs. It was opined that a committee be set up that would motivate, educate and facilitate the parents in this difficult transition to a new lifestyle and new dietary habits which would benefit their children.
The month also included some of the open days that were not held in July and this was followed by two group reviews. The school Principal, Gita Bhalla, reviewed the reading progress with the mothers of Grade 3B, and the Counselors, Sushma and Parimal. She also had a meeting with mothers regarding boundaries and home management issues.
This year the Gokul Ashthmi event was very colourful, innovative and attracted visitors from far and near. The entire school transformed into Gokul, Brindavan, Nandgaon, and our neighbours, parents and other visitors were enthralled with the celebrations of breaking the pot, which the little Krishnas as of the school did with great gusto and amidst cheers.
John Miller, Head of Occupational Therapy Department, began his series of in-service lectures on the seven steps in any life process, and its application on the development path for a child. These include breathing, warming, nourishing, secreting, maintaining, growing, and generating. We look forward to a build up into really useful thinking as it moves on.
Ramzan was celebrated in the school on Tuesday the 30th of August. This was organized and conducted by Zainabu (mother of one of our students’ from Grade 3B).
Early Intervention Unit
The focus of Early Intervention program this month has been parent observations and home programs. We encourage periodic observations by parents as it allows them to see for themselves the work we do with their child and the responses that the child gives. This builds their confidence about the ability of their child. Keeping in mind that a consistent approach helps the child’s development, we give training to the parents on their child-specific program, which they can implement in their respective homes.
While we all know that a balanced diet is a nutritional need of the body, its pertinence in early childhood cannot be undermined. A meeting with all the parents was organized and orientation on importance of diet for their children was discussed. Various components of food were elaborated and their appropriate intake in the daily diet was emphasized. To take this to the next level, we have asked the parents to give their child’s diet plan, along with manner and mode of feeding. Individual diet plan is going to be worked for each child.
We conducted house visits to observe the children in their home setting and observe the parent-child dynamics. Modifications were then suggested to handle the child effectively.
Bridges Learning Academy
The highlight of this month was a field trip to the Chennai Central Railway Station. Mr. Balasubramanian, Assistant Engineer, was assigned as a guide to us. Thanks to him, we gained an entry into the shunting engine, diesel loco and electric loco, much to the excitement of our children! He explained to everyone how the power was transmitted from the overhead cable apparatus to the traction motor in the electric multiple units (EMU) through a pantogram. He also explained in depth how the whole system works. We wound up the day by having lunch at Saravana Bhavan in the same premises. We traveled for the trip using the public transport (PTC Bus) which the children enjoyed a lot.
Independence Day is a special day for all Indians. All the BLA children and the teachers whole-heartedly participated in the flag hoisting and singing of patriotic songs.
V-Excel Remedial Centre
As a field trip, remedial students went to Guindy National Park. Students were elated seeing monkeys jumping, deer’s running and crocodiles sleeping. They also were excited in sharing their lunch and snacks with their friends.
The trainees who are studying certificate course on Learning Disability are doing their teaching practice. The trainees teach the remedial students the spelling rules and phonics. Students are happy to see a new teacher and to have a break from their regular routine
To augment our knowledge in the philosophy, John Miller conducted an in-service program on seven steps in the life process. Exposing to seven steps helped the teacher to understand what the current step of the students is and how to help them move on to the next step.
The coordinator met few parents of the remedial students to discuss the progress in the program, also to discuss the concerns and suggestions.
Rural Outreach Program
Our Special Educators have been religiously carrying out school and home visits across all the 680 villages of the ten selected blocks of Villipuram district. Our teachers work with special children studying in government schools in an inclusive setup. They not only work directly with these children, but also give tips to the regular school teachers to handle various learning problems. Besides they speak periodically with the other students in the classes and explain to them the need for peer acceptance and the benefits of inclusion to a special child.
Parent Counseling is an ongoing area of active work by our Special Educators, but this has been a focus during this month. Parents need a lot of convincing about why their special child needs education like any other and how will it help him/her in future. Parental concerns and apprehensions are addressed and the neighbourhood is sensitized as social exclusion is the key fear resulting in parents’ denial of their child’s condition and shying away from exposing them to the world outside.
Vocational Training Unit
Visit of Mr. Mathew Aubry (Matt) - The VTU always enjoys visitors. This time it was Mr. Mathew Aubry, Director YAI (Network). During his visit on the 3rd of August, the students showed off their skill at bead work, block printing, screen printing and salesmanship at "Samarth", the produce outlet. While he was appreciative of the work being done in the unit, he gave very useful tips and suggestions for behaviour management and certain training skills. His interaction with the staff gave them encouragement as well as insight into parent inclusion for smoother overall development of the trainees. His general address to the staff and the parents were attended by most of the parents of the VTU and the discussion about the concept of setting up of group homes was well received. His input came as a person of long standing experience in the field and crossed all barriers of language and culture.
Kumbakonam trip: Yet another experience and another milestone achieved by the trainees of the VTU. Our goal to make them independent in living does not stop with vocational training. The thread continues into their personal living and their interaction with the society at large. Their three day trip to Kumbakonam and the suburban villages of Thippirajapuram and Darasuram on the 4th, 5th and 6th of August, a group of 14 students and 9 staff members, are a fit example of success. The students were totally independent, right from carrying their own luggage into the train, seating themselves, and taking care of themselves and their group during meal times. They stayed in a farm house in the midst of cane fields and adapted themselves not only to the rural surroundings so alien to them, but also to the total strangers who were their local guardians. They enjoyed every moment of the tour, be it a visit to an archaeological monument, a temple, the shilpakala workshop, or just a walk in the fields amidst the morning cries of peacocks! The bath in the swift Kaveri river was a highlight of their capacity to take instructions and to some, a test of will since their health condition did not generally allow them to frolic in the waters. During their field visit where they witnessed transplantation of paddy seedlings and they were entertained by the labourers with a song. Our students spontaneously felt it fit to reciprocate by singing for the toiling farm labourers. All the activities pointed towards their capability of not just looking after themselves, but also caring for those in need.
The extempore presentations during the campfire by the teachers and participation of our local guardians were the other highlights of the tour. The experience most enjoyed by all was sleeping under the skies and counting the stars with the gurgling rhythm of the flowing waters in the background! Of course, the initially apprehensive parents too were very happy to hear of this successful outing and looked forward to more similar initiatives.
Two days training workshop for teachers, trainees and parents on "Embossed Printing on Cloth", was conducted by Chitti (our ever-willing volunteer) on 29th & 30th August 2011. It was an interesting and creative hand activity enjoyed by all. We hope to use it on our products some time in near future.
Counseling and Assessment Unit
August started with various workshops. Parent counseling and play therapy with children continued. In our school the children have started imitating, mimicking and dramatizing on their own in the play therapy sessions. One class spontaneously staged a three session drama, where they themselves came up with scripts and roles! In the older group (vocational training), drama was used to facilitate expression and recognition of appropriate emotions. Trainees had a sharing session on grief, sadness and anger; they were able to empathize with each other and express their own issues. It is amazing and heartening to see the emotional development across the board.
We held a small group session for parents as a follow up of our previous meet in April. Parents shared their difficulties in managing children’s demands and wanted guidance on setting firm boundaries. Tips were shared as to how to encourage autonomy and put boundaries for inappropriate behavior. It was noticed that guilt for saying no to their children was very high in all parents.
Very interesting cases are coming up for play therapy from outside clients and we have been able to deal with them effectively. We had a case of childhood hysteria, grief as the child faced a major accident and mother lost her memory; his school refusal stemmed from multiple deaths in the family. We are glad we have been able to provide support to them.
Many cases of individual adult counseling, mainly follow-ups from our corporate consultations, were seen. Cases of depression, marriage related issues, memory loss and anxiety have been seen.
We had a parent orientation program on learning disability at a city school and another one for teachers in a different school. Both the workshops were received very well.
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
