To meet the needs of children with pronounced disabilities, a school in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, is performing yeoman service by addressing their basic educational requirements.
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A growing number of parents who have children who are either physically, mentally or visually challenged are opting for Vaishishtyam , a special school set up by the Param Shakti Peeth at Vatsalyagram in Vrindavan, which is run and managed by Sadhvi Rithambra.
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"We are working to tackle the stigma of disability, so that no parent feels pressured to give up a disabled child, For the past one year, Vaishishtyam experts in child development have been successfully working with parents of children, and they have now successfully integrated themselves in the school system and are taking part in intervention programs," said school principal Minakshi Agarwal.
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At present, 70 children, most of them belonging to poor families, are being home-schooled free of cost and are being provided transport from their homes to the school and back as well.
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This institution has created support groups and a specialised curriculum to meet the specific requirements of these children. These kids are also being provided free uniforms, books and teaching material.
The Vaishishtyam has also launched a project focused on the latest approaches to be adopted by kindergarden teachers when working with autistic children.
The school has sufficient educational assistants, access to specialised services and follows an individualised education plan for each child.
Principal Agarwal said the institution has also started vocational courses for senior students so as to enable them to earn a living in the long run.
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The special children require more attention, particularly children with down syndrome, trizomy, moizaic etc where two attendant are required for handling one child .While the institution is spending average 10,000 ten thousand rupees per month on each day scholar children and average Rs 20,000 per month on hostler students but the parents are only requested to contribute voluntarily for generating support base so as institution could sustain in long run.
Children suffering from dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cognitive disabilities are accepted for admission.
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Vaishishtyam is a charitable day and boarding school serving children of different age groups suffering from autism spectrum disorder, speech and language impairments, vision and hearing impairments , Downs Syndrome and multiple disabilities . Most of the students have challenging behaviors that interfere with their academic progress at school as well their home life.
Vaishishtyam is working on building an inclusive school that is open to children with disabilities, through play and the creation of free support services for disadvantaged families.