Aakaash – Special School

Aakaash - Profile

• Aakaash is a Special School for the mentally challenged children.

• The special school started in the year 1995

• The School is recognized by the Government of TamilNadu. Registration from the Special Commissioner for the Disabled, Chennai 16.05.2005 – 31.12.2008 No:11911/RDII-2/2004.

Project Location

• The school is located at No.1, Ayathampatti Village, Near Alagarkoil, Melur Taluk, Madurai district

Parent Organization

• This Special School is an Education Institution of M.S.Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation

• M.S.Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation is a registered, non-profit, secular voluntary organization founded in the year 1992 by Dr.C.Ramasubramanian, a reputed psychiatrist from the city of Madurai to work exclusively among the persons with mental disabilities.

Profile of the Beneficiaries

• Children with mental retardation with Autism and

Down Syndrome are the primary beneficiaries

• They belong to poor families

• They are from the villages.

Facilities

• The physical infrastructure was created with the financial

help of Indian overseas Bank officers Association

(IOBOA)

• The school has well furnished 6 class rooms, therapy hall,

assessment centre, meeting hall, play equipments etc.

• A Play garden in the premises for out door activities.

Core Activities

• Assessment• Medical Management• Functional skills development • Psycho education for parents• Counselling for caregivers • Social support mobilization• Resources mobilization

Professional Team

• Consultant Psychiatrist • Clinical psychologist • Consultant Peadiatrician • Special Educators • Physiotherapist• Speech therapist • Caretaker• Yoga therapist • Music teacher • Dance teacher

Progress

Improvement is recorded in the areas of:

• Self care

• Functional academics

• Social and vocational abilities.

• Motor and fine motor functioning.

Progress

Parents:

• Improvement in the level of confidence

• Positive coping stregthened

• Effective in managing the behaviour of children at home

• Psycho social burden reduced.

• Quality of life enhanced

Future Plan

• A well established Training Centre to train people to work in the field.

• Respite care for the needy families

• To develop Sensory integration unit

• Need for a residential facility for the families to undergo short term training

• Mobilize funds to meet the programme expenses.

Thank You