Strides, Chennai : Newsletter for March 2007

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.

Email – strides@v-excel.org