Swabodhini
Swabodhini is a school that reaches out to children and young adults with special needs, predominantly children in the ASD spectrum. The school is in its 30th year in 2019. It offers special education, OT, PT, yoga, behaviour therapy, speech and vocational training for their students. The groups are typically classified into pre-primary, primary, pre-vocational and vocational streams. There are about 50 students at Swabodhini.
Mirra supported Swabodhini from November 2016 until April 2019 in establishing systems - assessing the students, curriculum design and execution for pre-primary, primary and pre-vocational students and capacity building of teaching and non-teaching staff.
Chettinad Sri Hari Vikasam
Chettinad Srihari Vikasam caters to children from 4yrs – 19 years with a wide range of disabilities like cerebral palsy, mental retardation, language and speech deficits and autism spectrum disorders. The school focuses on providing a multi-dimensional programme which will lead to the holistic development of the child.
Mirra has been associated with Sri Hari Vikasam since December, 2015. Mirra did a complete assessment of all the children aimed at their CPL, planned class goals and individual goals. Mirra has stabilised services across all departments including Speech, Occupational Therapy and Physical Training.
Mirra has set up the complete sensory playground, meeting the children’s vestibular and proprioceptive needs. This also includes setting up a sensory path.
There is on-going work with the teachers on capacity planning and promoting functional and experiential learning. Mirra has been working closely with the administration and management on setting up systems for assessment, recording progress, reaching out on an on-going basis to parents and networking with other organizations.
Several workshops have been conducted for teachers, parents (both in house and those in the community).
Kaumaram Prashanthi Academy, Coimbatore
Kaumaram Prashanthi Academy (KPA) run by Kaumaram Prashanthi Trust, (formerly Sri Prashanthi Academy) is a school for children with different abilities (intellecutal disabilities). The facility is based at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. At KPA, the vision is to facilitate every child to develop on his/her own to the full potential and to add a new dimension that enables the child to manage everyday life independently to blend with mainstream society.
Since the inception of Mirra in 2010, Mirra worked closely with Kowmaram Prashanthi Academy. The first year of support was on equipping the teachers with the processes of teaching and learning including understanding special needs, formulating goals, classroom strategies etc. This was done over a year with workshops once a month for two days each. In addition, Mirra was involved in observing the classes, formulating the curriculum for each stream and helping the teachers implement it. Series of workshops were conducted to Occupational Therapists to understand perceptual development, sensory integration processes and formulate strategies based on the same.
Chrysalis – Centre for Holistic Development of Children with Autism
Chrysalis is a special school whose aim is “To nurture the child with autism so that he/she attains his/her true potential and leads an independent and meaningful life”. The school was founded in June 2007 by the Roshnipriya Trust.
Mirra worked with Chrysalis since its inception until 2011 in the setting up of systems -right from Assessment of the children, drawing up goals to framing curriculums, regular training of teachers and parents. Training of teachers included processes of teaching and learning - including understanding special needs, formulating goals, classroom strategies etc.
Similar support has been provided to special schools in Trissur, Kuwait and Palakkad