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Training Faculty and Therapists
Children from the age of 6 months up to 12 years are encouraged to be brought to the school for therapy and training. There is an Early Intervention Unit for children below the age of 5 years, which caters to the needs of children with delay in Developmental milestones and suitable goal oriented training training is imparted. In the matter of rehabilitation, "The earlier the intervention, the better". There are 5 trained therapists, holding a degree/diploma in physiotherapy attending to the needs of these children. In the case of very young children, the major part of the time they spend in the school, namely 3 hrs from 10AM - 1PM, is devoted to physiotherapy. In addition, toilet training, identification of colours, exercises to improve respiratory, tactile, speech and visual ability, etc. are also undertaken. The nature of physiotherapy as well as training is determined after careful assessment of the nature and degree of challenge of a child, by a fully qualified and experienced team of therapists. The older children spend 5hrs in the school. In their case, about 2-3 hrs are spent on academic training. The school works for 5 days in the week. There are 25 teachers, 10 with special training to teach children with challenges. In the section for Autism, there is a Consultant Psychiatrist as well as Clinical Psychologist to assess and recommend therapy & counseling sessions for the children as well their mothers. For the Autism section, the standard TEAACH program, which is a recognized form of teaching for autistic children the world over, is being followed at Adarsh also. In addition to the normal curriculum, AAC and PECS are used for children with communication difficulties. An Occupational Therapist and Speech Therapist work in tandem with these Special Educators and their services are utilized for children who have such specific needs, particularly activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, toileting etc. To give the children a feeling that they are like anyone else, the school atmosphere conforms to that of a normal school. Children have been given uniforms, school diary and a timetable. The school day starts with a prayer and assembly. They have regular picnics and events like quiz programs, sports competitions, visits to cinemas, special celebrations for functions like Onam, Christmas, Ramadaan, Teachers and Children's day etc.
From the academic year 2006-2007 onwards, Adarsh has started training for children, under the National Open School system, from classes LKG to 108TH Std, to be progressively raised. This will be greatly helpful for those children who cannot study in a mainstream school, because of a very high level of disability and lack of infrastructure for disabled children in such schools.
Computer Trainng
Children at Adarsh, those affected by Cerebral Palsy as well as Autism, are capable of using computers. With the present level of pervasive nature of computers, it will be a great boon if the children are trained in the use of computers. In fact, some of them can express themselves only through such an assistive device. With this end in view, computer training had been introduced in a small way for more than a year. But it was only in February 08 that a proper "computer lab" could be set up, thanks to the donation of 5 computers by Tata Consultancy Services. Of these 5, one has a modified track ball for use by a boy who can operate a mouse only with his foot. Another has an additional software an "Optic mouse" for a girl who operates the key board through her eyes with the help of a sensor affixed on her forehead. Further modifications will be carried out and software installed based on the actual need as training progresses. About 50 children have been assessed to be capable of benefiting by training in use of computers. Computer classes have now been built into their timetables.
Types of Therapy
1. Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is a form of physiotherapy using water as the medium for exercise. The buoyancy of water helps in increasing range of motion of joints and strengths of muscles. In children with Cerebral Palsy , apart from these advantages, hydrotherapy helps in reducing the tone of spastic muscles. In the case of children with Autism, it helps in
Stimulating vestibular system
Reducing hyperactive behaviour
Tactile stimulation
Hydrotherapy has been seen to help in all types of disability, the results varying depending on the type and nature of the disability
Adarsh has started pool therapy, on experimental basis, in association with Regional Sports Centre, Kadavanthra, Ernakulam. Over 10 children are taken to the pool once a week, along with mothers/ caregivers and respective class teachers.
2. Music Therapy
Music, as a therapeutic agent has been recognized in the western world and is very much in vogue . In our country , though, music is recognised for its soothing value, its usefulness is not fully accepted as a therapeutic mechanism. While some claims have been made of the usefulness of music therapy and it is being used even in eminent hospitals, equally competent circles feel that the results are yet not scientifically proved.Therfore, some scientific studies based on "brain mapping " will start soon.
A good number of our children have shown interest in music and in learning it. A music teacher , qualified in South Indian classical music has been teaching these children for over two years. Recently, we have segregated the children into two groups- those who have to be given group training and those who need individual training. The former are mostly children with Cerebral Palsy whereas individual training is expected to benefit Autistic children. The intention is study scientifically what changes take place in the brain when music is played- in other words, some kind of a "brain mapping". This system will be monitored by Dr. Sreevalsan Menon, a well known Karnatic Vocalist, based at Ernakulam and the neurological department of Sunrise Hospital in Ernakulam. The experiments will start in November 09 and will take quite some time for any meaningful results to become available but meanwhile, music training will continue , helping children with talents/ interest to benefit by the training.
Rehabilitation, at Adarsh has taken a more comprehensive meaning. To reach the phenomenal advances of medical science to children with disabilities, Adarsh is actively approaching doctors of various disciplines and taking the children to them for medical and surgical aid. An orthopedic surgeon specialized in Cerebral Palsy based at Bangalore has performed surgery on 12 children of Adarsh, whose progress is on expected lines. Facilities for Eye, Dentistry and ENT consultations have been made available on a continuous basis for the children and also surgeries have been performed for those in need of such facilities.
A special feature of Adarsh, which is seldom found in other special schools is that almost 90-95% of the children have their mothers/caretakers in the school through out its working hours. This, perhaps, arises from the greater degree of attention that children in Kerala receive from their parents, again perhaps due to a higher level of education among women. Adarsh encourages mothers or other close female relatives attending and remaining in the school with their wards, which helps in several ways.
The guardian imbibes the training given in the school and is able to give the same amount of attention after school hours and during long spells of absence of the child from school, due to any reason. The degree of attention that the child receives in the school certainly is much higher than it would receive from a paid employee like an Ayah or nurse.A feeling of camaraderie develops among the mothers and considerably reduces their degree of depression and leads to more cooperation among themselves and a better understanding of problems of such children by exchange of ideas through continuous interaction.in fact, in the last few years a number of mothers have been able to acquire considerable on-job training leading to their being absorbed in the faculty, after training in a suitable institution.
Transportation Facilities
For CP children with orthopedic challenges, mobility is one of the most severe problems. Their movement to and from the school is therefore a real constraint for the parents. Availability of public transport particularly during peak hours is not adequate for children with special needs and carrying a child, even over short distances except the very small ones is a very difficult task for a mother. Realizing this Adarsh. , procured a van sometime in 2000. This by itself led to an increase in the number of children, their regular and punctual attendance in the school and thereby deriving the full benefit of the facilities available in the school. A second van was purchased in early 2003. Today we have 6 vans and over 100 children of Adarsh use the facility of transportation to and from the school. The additional advantage of the school having its own vans is that the children are picked up and dropped back at their door step, which saves their mothers considerable time and effort. In most cases the parents also save on expenditure on transportation by using the school van.
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