Dear Mr. E.R. Menon

May 10, 2010

Mr. E.R. Menon

Dear Mr. E.R. Menon

Raksha- Society for the care of Children with Special Needs, was set up in1985 and has been serving the community ever since. 90% of our children are from low socio economic and educationally disadvantaged groups. Therefore the services provided are free. This is our 25th Year and we are happy to write to you about Raksha’s growth.

For the last 25 years Raksha has been looking after the training and therapy of children with special needs in two special schools it established in Cochin.and Vypeen Raksha now serve all congenital disabilities, with the exception of the blind and the hearing impaired. Together with the two units, Day Home, Sheltered Workshop, Institute, and Ernakulam Centre we serve the needs of 500 children and young adults between the ages of 0 to26. Apart from cerebral Palsy Raksha educate and provide therapy to children with Delayed milestones, Muscular Dystrophy, Down syndrome, Learning Disabilities, and children who are mentally and physically challenged.

Raksha is a registered charitable society affiliated to Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy and under 80G,exempted from Income Tax. We receive no corporate or organized support from abroad although, Indians who are familiar with the work do send us individual contribution from time to time.

The Ministry of Justice and Empowerment gives us an annual Grant-in Aid which takes care of 20% of our annual budget requirements of Rs.5000000/-. For the rest we depend entirely on public support. Rotary, Lions, Companies, and Corporations, and raise funds from an annual music concert of noted classical musicians.

Raksha facility (SpecialSchool) is now a model school and our Diploma in special Education (Cerebral Palsy) is a highly valued technical certificate. Raksha Institute of Special Education runs an Early Intervention from 0 to 5 and Home Based Training Programme for those who are not able to attend the special school. Raksha Institute of Special Education runs a one year Diploma course at the end of which time they receive a recognized Diploma in the training of children of Cerebral Palsy recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India.

We also give Vocational Training in Carpentry, Tailoring, Catering, Candle making and Phenyle making for children who are above 18. We also provide Physiotherapy, Speech therapy, Counseling and Behaviour Management for the children who are in need of them. To provide training and education to all our children we have 54 well qualified and dedicated staff which includes special educators, therapists, social worker and psychologists and non teaching staff, and we have a set of Doctors as Consultants. .

We would be grateful if you would give us a donation from your trust for the society to continue to educate and rehabilitate the children and adults with disabilities.

We enclose the souvenir which we published last year and brochure which would explain all about Raksha.

With best regards and thanks in advance for your time and efforts in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Ragini Menon

Hon. Secretary

REPORT - RAKSHA INSTITUTE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

Under the Assessment and Diagnostic Unit, around 45 children underwent assessment and subsequent training programme. A majority of children who registered in this report year was under 5 years of age. After the initial assessment, according to the need of the children they were put under either in Home Based Training Programme or Early Intervention Unit.

Under the Early Intervention Training Programme 15 children are attending the class from morning till afternoon to undergo the various therapy sessions. The mothers of the children are also actively participating in the training sessions. Besides these children, another group is undergoing training session twice or thrice a week for 2 hours to 21/2 hours under the same Programme. Most of these children are attending Anganwadis or play schools the rest of the days. The Programme is aimed to give training in such a way that children will have smooth transition to a regular school under Inclusive Education Programme.

Besides children studying in regular schools other special school children are also coming exclusively for Speech and Language training, Remedial Education and Intelligence Testing.

Diploma Course:

All the students in the Fifth batch Diploma session passed the qualifying examination in flying colors. One student secured distinction and the rest secured First Class. All of them have secured job as Special Teachers immediately after their completion of the course.

The Sixth Batch Diploma Course in Special Education [Cerebral Palsy] started on June 24th 2009 Mr. Sundareshan, RDO , FortKochi inaugurated the course. Thirteen students joined for the new academic session.

Early Special Education Course

Indira Gandhi Open University has selected our organization as their study centre for Certificate Course in Early Childhood Special Education Enabling Inclusion for Cerebral Palsy. To implement the course effectively Mr.Jeejo Joseph, our Physiotherapist attended a Master Trainer Course at New Delhi conducted by IGNOU.

Role as State Nodal Agency Partner for National Trust

For this year Raksha was able to carry out many activities as part of the SNAP for National Trust. We conducted, 7 awareness programmes in association with other institutes on the “Objectives and various schemes of National Trust” for parents, NGO members CBR workers and anganwadi workers in 4 districts – Ernakulam, Kannur, Wyanad and Kottayam.

Workshop on Early Intervention and School Readiness Programme

Raksha organized a workshop on Early Intervention and School Readiness Programme on December 7 – 10, for registered NGOs in South India on behalf of National Trust. The resource persons were Voice and Vision, Mumbai. A total number of 32 participants attended the workshop.

Centre for Remedial Education

The centre for Remedial Education at Ernakulam is giving training in remedial education for those children with disabilities studying in the regular school. The centre functions thrice a week.

Unit for Language and Communication

A separate department for enhancing Language and Communication ability was started in January. Ms.Gopa Joseph is in charge as the Head of the Unit and Ms.Neena Peringath works as the assistant teacher for this unit. The unit impart training in the individual and group level.

New Training Programmes

Within the Physiotherapy unit a separate session was started exclusively for enhancing the fine motor abilities of children with various disabilities.

As an other venture under the Behaviour Support Unit we placed one of our Senior Special Educator, Ms.Riana Sylvester for Arts and Movement training to enhance the socialization, positive behaviour, communication and self-awareness of children of various ages.

Teleconferencing Facility

Raksha utilized to the maximum the teleconferencing facility provided by the Centre for Development and Advanced Communication and Media Lab Asia under the Ministry of Information and Technology. Through this facility the staff and students undergoing diploma were able to exchange ideas with other schools connected to this programme. The staff from Raksha also took classes for the teleconference. The topics stressed were on Cerebral Palsy and its Management.

Volunteer Placements

Raksha is providing an opportunity to do volunteer work for foreign nationals for specified duration. This is provided through two organizations AIESEC and I to I.

Workshops and Paper Presentations

This year as Dr.Manjoo Menon Memorial Lecture series Raksha conducted a State Level Seminar on “NGO Management” for Administrators and Principals of Special Schools oo February 26, 2009. Mr.Mohammed Saleem, Managing Director , Asset Groups took an informative class regarding the General Administration that is required for an organization and Mr.Ajit Sacheendran covered aspects regarding the documentation essential for a Special School

A workshop on Management of Cerebral Palsy was conducted on July 28, 2008 for students undergoing Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy.

REPORT – RAKSHASPECIALSCHOOL

The academic activities of the school are systematically planned and executed .The performance of the students were assessed by the multidisciplinary professionals i.e Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Special Educator and Speech and Language therapist. Students who are facing difficulties with behaviour problems are specially attended to. A class conducted in July 2009 by our yoga teacher for the students as well as their parents helped them to tackle their difficulties and improved their abilities especially in students with severe conditions. To instill interest in computer education, we have started computer room for our students.

Changes were evident in our curriculum, method of teaching and co-curricular activities. Teachers prepared modified syllabus for their classes based on the regular school syllabus for our students with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities. Our teachers have successfully prepared the model question paper and made the students better equipped to appear for the examinations. Most of these students were able to do academic skills orally or with the help of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Mode. So we were providing them specially designed reading and writing materials to enhance their academic performance.

In 2009 we organized a train trip for our students to Trichur to see the Zoo. It was a long cherished programme, we did it with great effort and happiness and the credit goes to our supportive staff. We conducted five parents meeting. An orientation programmes for parents through an agency called State Council of Exceptional Children was organized not only for our parents but for the parents of other organizations as well.

A Day Home was started with the help of PTA to cater to the students with severe disabilities and those who completed school going age. This centre was inaugurated by our honorable MLA Mr. Ebrhimkunju. All the councilors and local representatives attended the inaugural function. The organization also conducted career guidance progrmmes for the staff to improve their skills in curricular and non curricular activities. We had six self help groups of families called Group-Care-10, including one in our Vypeen Unit.

VYPEEN OUT REACH UNIT

There are 16 students attending this unit, routine teaching activities are going on there.

For all the celebrations, picnics and meetings, they joined the main school. Parents meetings were also conducted in the main school. Students were provided training in the area of functional academics, speech and language, physical management skills, daily living activities and vocational skills. A special teacher along with a teacher’s aide and a helper works regularly in this unit. Services of a Psychologist, Physiotherapist, Speech and Language therapist and Yoga teacher are provided through the main school.

REPORT – VOCATIONAL UNITS

We have total number of 50 students who are above 18 in our Vocational Unit. Assessment and job analysis was done by the checklist developed by National Institute of Mentally Handicapped, Secunderabad for each student and they were placed accordingly in different units.

A lot of students have learned their vocation such asmaking candles, paper bags, cloth mats an phenyl and have achieved 80% success.

We were invited to take part in several exhibitions conducted by different organizations such as HSBC, Wipro, Choice School, Shilpa School and we were able to display our products made in our various units such as Carpentry, Tailoring, Candle making and Catering.

RAKSHA SOCIETY FOR THE CARE OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES

2009 -2010

ADDRESS-Akhira Nakagawa Learning Centre

Darragh – Es – Salaam Road,

kochangadi,

Cochin – 682 002.

TELEPHONE-0484 - 227707, 227937

FCRA NUMBER-052850381

Web Site- rakshasociety.org

Our Vision

To promote and encourage the rehabilitation and employment of challenged citizens and ensure that Indian citizens receive all the benefitsthat an advanced and progressive country is expected to provide.

Mission Statement

The society is committed to enhancing the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and lending a helping hand to their families by providing individualized programmes, services and supports that will:

Encourage community integration, inclusion and participation

Encourage independence and provide opportunities for making suitable choices and decisions

Encourage productivity and attainment of outcomes that respond to unique needs and desires expressed by individuals

Be sensitive to cultural differences

Encourage the building of self- esteem and dignity

Balance the desires of our children and young adults and that of their families, while safeguarding the rights of those individuals who are not capable of protecting themselves.

These principles shall direct, design and govern the operation of all Raksha services and support. It will include but is not limited to education, training and employment, clinical facilities, family support, advocacy, information and referral.

RAKSHA PROJECTS

Raksha Institute of Special Education

Assessment and Diagnosis

Early Intervention

Home-based Training Programme

Human Resource Development

Diploma in Special Education(Cerebral Palsy)
Certificate Course in Early Special Education Enabling Inclusion (Cerebral Palsy)
Workshops and Seminars
Internships and Placements

Tele-conferencing

State Nodal Agency Partner- The National Trust

Community-based Rehabilitation

RakshaSpecialSchool

Pre-Primary

Primary

Secondary

National Institute of Open Schooling

Pre- Vocational

Raksha Vocational Training Centre

Department of Physiotherapy, Language and Communication, Occupational Therapy and Behaviour Support and Counseling

Outreach Projects

VypeenSpecialSchool

Pakal Veedu

Sheltered Workshop

Inclusive Education Centre

RAKSHA INSTITUTE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

Besides children studying in regular schools other special school children are also coming exclusively for Speech and Language training, Remedial Education and Intelligence Testing.

Diploma Course:

Early Special Education Course

Role as State Nodal Agency Partner for National Trust

For this year Raksha was able to carry out many activities as part of the SNAP for National Trust. We conducted, 7 awareness programmes in association with other institutes on the “Objectives and various schemes of National Trust” for parents, NGO members CBR workers and Anganwadi workers in 4 districts – Ernakulam, Kannur, Wyanad and Kottayam.

Workshop on Early Intervention and School Readiness Programme

Centre for Remedial Education

The centre for Remedial Education at Ernakulam is giving training in remedial education for those children with disabilities studying in the regular school. The centre functions thrice a week.

Unit for Language and Communication

A separate department for enhancing Language and Communication ability was started in January. Ms.Gopa Joseph is in charge as the Head of the Unit and Ms.Neena Parangathu works as the assistant teacher for this unit. The units impart training in the individual and group level.

New Training Programmes

Within the Physiotherapy unit a separate session was started exclusively for enhancing the fine motor abilities of children with various disabilities.

As another venture under the Behaviour Support Unit we placed one of our Senior Special Educator, Ms.Riana Silvester for Arts and Movement training to enhance the socialization, positive behaviour, communication and self-awareness of children of various ages.

Teleconferencing Facility

Volunteer Placements