COIMBATORE: When so many special schools act as mere day care centres, Sai Kirupa special school for children with special needs in Tirupur is different.
The school strives to bring the children closer to normal life. “Just because the lives of these children are restricted in certain ways it doesn’t mean they should be confined to a room. I want my children to shine in their lives like other people,” says Kavin Thirumurugan, head of the school.
What is it that makes her school special? The practical approach to learning that she incorporates in her school, she says. It started with her starting a departmental store in her school. Children were taught about the products kept in the store for sale and the calculation involved in buying and selling.
“Children with autism have intelligence levels on par with other people and their only difficulty is vocal communication and socialization. Their efficiency in maths improved through this exercise and their communication with people also improved to a great extent,” she says.
Students involved in organic farming at the school.
The school has different sections of classes from early intervention, primary, secondary, pre-vocational and vocational. “Now ten children have been admitted to a regular government school and necessary academic guidance is given by us in selected topics. Last year, a few children from the school attended the NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) exams and two of them passed in three subjects. Seven children from the vocational level have been appointed as paid apprentices in the school and they take full responsibility for the ‘meals on wheels’ programme that they have started recently. Our murukku has now become very popular through word of mouth and we get at least 15-20 orders per week. I attribute it all to the hard work done by the children,” she says.
The children are also involved in organic farming every morning and the school only uses these fresh vegetables in their cooking. “When they are involved in organic farming, they are in contact with nature and this definitely has helped improve their cognition and motor skills. They get the physical exercise needed and many hyperactive kids have now calmed down,” Kavin says.
She also stresses that therapy is not something confined to a room.
Kavin adds, “The children here excel in sports also. Paramasivan and Gokila have brought many laurels to our school in the national level javelin throw, running and shot put.”
How difficult and different is training them? Answers Jeeva, special physical training coach for the school, “With special children, I get to learn many things every day. Every day is new and fresh to them. They teach me unity. They teach me humanity. I have seen them help other children who fall on the track and have seen them carry the injured children and finish the race together. With even more recognition and specialized coaching, I am sure they will attain international glory one day.”
Even the teachers and staff working there have got a new lease of life. “There were days when I would question my existence and feel heavily depressed. After I enrolled my son in this school, I too started working here and it has completely changed my perception towards life. I now think life is beautiful. I take care of the departmental store and the kitchen now. I am happy with how my son has shaped up. He was literally in a vegetative state and with all the therapy sessions he is able to walk now. This is the case with many children here,” says Jayanthi.
“We have created our own syllabus keeping the children’s capacity in mind. Special children cannot remember alphabets so we teach them whole words. Even if they are not able to excel in academics they do really well in other activities like yoga, our meals on wheels programme and sports. Patience has been our key with the children,” says Vijayabanu, coordinator of the school.
