VIMALA HRIDAYA SPECIAL SCHOOL

Vimala Hridaya  Special school for mentally disabled children

Vimala Hridaya special school is functioning from last 25 years. This is a school for the differently able children. The aim of this institution is to ensure the physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional and holistic development of differently able children, empower them and bring them to the main stream of the society.

Around 475 students had taken admission to this prestigious institution. At present 116 differently abled children studying in this institution. To take care of them there are 21 staff posted including teaching and no teaching category. Children are given admission without any cast, creed or religion. It is a registered institution under Govt. of Kerala and partially fund for the salary of 11 teachers.

Activities of the Special School

Children are brought from their homes in a special school bus arranged by the institution. These children are escorted by the care takers and special attention is given during their transportation. After reaching the school the teachers welcome them and allot them to their respective classes.

Every day morning the classes begin with a prayer in which children are actively participate and it gives them energy to move forward. It is a stimulation for the teachers to be energised by seeing the great involvement of students in their prayer

To develop physical mental relaxation of the children, daily Yoga classes are organised under the supervision of a physical trainer. Twice in a week the Yoga classes are conducted and rest of the days training are done on athletic activities like long jump, high jump, cricket, Wally balls and football. Instrumental music therapy is also given great importance.

The school is staffed with specially trained dedicated nuns and other teachers. Every child undergoes medical check periodically in our school. Students are given ample opportunity for cultural and co-cultural activities. We evaluate the functional capability of every children .We follow the curriculum of SCERT syllabus from pre-primary to vocational training. This syllabus is developed keeping in mind their ethical dimensions and occupational dimensions through which physical development, activity levels are coordinated. An academic syllabus is prepared under development of  8 concepts

1. Language innate development
2. Mathematical innate development
3. Environmental innate development
4. Social innate development
5. Primary family relationship innate
6. Arts and cultural innate development
7. Health innate development
8. Technical innate development

We have facilities for various  therapies, psychiatric services and parent counselling. Different therapies include speech therapy for speech disability, physiotherapy for physical disability, instrumental musical therapy as mentally enrichment session.

Occupational training

For the children above 18 years are been given training on various occupational oriented modules. These trainings are monitored by the qualified teachers.

The occupational activities includes: –

• Fruit and vegetable gardening
• Horticulture
• Envelop making
• Candle making, Carry bag making,
• Beed jewellery making
• Black board-chalk making
• Garland making ,greeting card making etc.

The made items are exhibited for sale in any common gatherings such as Christmas, sale, church factions, marriage gathering, school anniversary days etc.

Teachers also been updated their knowledge and skill in their field by attending seminars, webinars, Seminars and  CRC( Continuous rehabilitation classes.) classes.  School Research group is active in the school.

Midday meal for the children.

This programme is to improve nutritional support to the children. Approximately 600 calories supplemented with this programme. Although the programme is to address the malnutrition, a family spirit is nurtured among them.  With this programme socialization and interaction among children are improved.

Parents meeting

Along with children parents meeting  are initiated thrice in a year where they are promoted to update their knowledge on raring these children at home.  The Parent- teachers association of differently children is very strong in relation to their active involvement at Vimala Hridaya Special school. In these gathering enriching talks and seminars  by eminent people of our State are invited  and which is a great help for these parents.

Every importance days of the year  like Independence day, Teachers day, sports day, Onam day, Christmas day Children day etc are celebrated in a befitting manner.

Our children are  actively participate in arts and cultural day for differently able children organised annually by All Kerala Special School association. They participate in dance, painting, drawing, light music, group song, fancy dress Band troop and  bagged many prizes for these items. We conduct special Olympics at state, National and International level to promote the competitive sport spirit in them..

Teachers visit  children’s families and give periodical instruction on care at home. They are given nutritional diet preparation and encourage small activities at home.