Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

An example in disability management

Anasuya Menon

Ultimate aim is to take concept of integrated education to rural areas

SILVER LINING: S.V. Balasubramaniam, Managing Director of Bannari Amman Sugars, presenting a memento to a staff member of Vidya Vikasini Opportunity School at the valediction of the Silver Jubilee function held in Coimbatore on Tuesday. S.S .Jayalaks hmi, Founder and Secretary of the school (right), is looking on. - Photo: M. Periasamy

COIMBATORE: Audience cheered Lakshmi as she walked up to the stage. "My daughter lives today because of this institution," she said. Lakshmi was a special guest at the valediction of the Silver Jubilee function of Vidya Vikasini Opportunity School held in Thudiyalur on Tuesday.

Her daughter, Shanti, who had mental disability, was the first and the only student of the school when it was set up in 1981. "The support of the institution has brought a phenomenal change in my daughter," she said, tears welling in her eyes.

Initial years

Having introduced the concept of integrated education at a time when awareness of disability was abysmally low in society, the school has come a long way. "It was more of a dream in the initial years of starting the school. But, looking back, the concept of integrating children with disabilities with normal children has worked out perfectly well," said S.S Jayalakshmi, Founder and Secretary of the School.

As normal students mingle with disabled children on the school campus, they would learn how to treat the disabled equally. They would take the message out to society, she added.

Now, the school has various departments that cater to infants, children with learning disabilities, autism, and cerebral palsy. A vocational centre provides training in several skills. A centre for occupational and physiotherapy and also an early detection and intervention centre.

Catering to the students of the rural areas, it has also been working to minimise the urban rural divide.

As part of its jubilee celebrations, the school had also conducted workshops for parents of disabled children and their family members.

Through conducting camps and workshops in various pockets of Anaikatti, it identified disabled children who had not been attending school. "The ultimate aim is to take these concepts to the rural areas too," said Girija Ganapathy, English teacher at the school.

S.V. Balasubramaniam, Managing Director of Bannariamman Sugars, Coimbatore who was the chief guest of the valedictory function, pointed out that the school provided opportunities to scores of children who might otherwise have been seen as lesser privileged.

Uma Chandrashekhar, an alumnus of the institution who ran a play school at Neyveli was also a special invitee apart from the members of the Vidya Vikasini Society members.

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