Mythology has it that Aruna was handpicked to run Surya’s chariot by the Sun God himself, who chose to see Aruna’s skills as a charioteer rather than the fact that he had lower limbs that did not function well. Aruna Chetana, the center named after this legend, similarly looks for and nurtures the skills of special children who come to its portals. Nearly a thousand of them so far have benefitted from the services of this special school.
Multiple disabilities
Although there are many schools in Bangalore, which cater to children with a single disability, those that cater to children with multiple disabilities are very few. Aruna Chethana fills just this need, taking in children with hearing loss, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, low vision and other special needs.
“When we started in 1987 with 5 children, our aim was to cater to children with multiple disabilities specially those from a disadvantaged background. Even to this day when our strength has increased to 180 children, it remains the same. As many as 60% of our children come from the lower socio-economic group. We uphold every child’s fundamental right to go to school and we try to ease the burden of the family in taking care of a child with multiple disabilities by making the child as independent as possible,” asserts Usha Jagirdar, the articulate headmistress who attributes the success of the school to her dedicated team of teaching and non-teaching staff and therapists.
Activities
That her team is devoted to the cause is beyond doubt. On a typical day, Padma is helping a 5-year-old boy use the potty. Kathyayani, a teacher with 20 years experience, is busy teaching basic maths to a class of the age group 8-12 years, all of who have mental retardation but some with hearing impairment and others with cerebral palsy. Reshmi, a physiotherapist, is trying to coax a reluctant 10 year old to keep one foot in front of the other while managing the walker.
Making a difference
In different sections of the school there are different activities going on. It is Bhavani’s birthday and she walks up to each of her classmates, two of them seated on wheel chairs, to distribute chocolates. Her face, creased in smiles, tells you how delighted she is. Another group of children is trying to put the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together. Under the early intervention programme, Mehrunnisa is rolling her child with spasticity, as part of an exercise regime. Another toddler is busy playing in the mud while her teacher encourages her to feel the texture of the sand. It is obvious that the kids are having fun even as they learn.
Explains Annapoorna, who has been with the school right from day one; first as a parent of a child with mental retardation and now as a teacher, “We group the children according to their abilities. Self help skills, vocational skills, functional academics, academics are all taught depending on the child’s needs. For instance, for a child with severe cerebral palsy, self-help skills take first priority. For older children with mental retardation, functional academics are taught so that they can handle small amounts of money, read bus numbers, make phone calls, etc. We follow the state syllabus and teach academics to some of our other children. A couple of the older boys and girls are now taking their SSLC exam in the open school system.”
The vocational section of the school trains students to manufacture paper bags, candles and phenyl. They do a bit of carpentry too, even helping the staff by crafting teaching aids! The trainees are also taught to market their products so that they earn some money.
Yoga is taught to all the children and midday meals are provided by ISKCON. Even mealtime is turned into a teaching activity as children are taught to hold spoons and feed themselves. The older and less physically challenged students are taught how to cut vegetables, clean the table and even feed their friends.
The school’s students have unfailingly won prizes in every sports competition they have taken part in. They have even represented the country in Special Olympics and won the prize in wheelchair events. This despite having to practice at the Corporation play grounds for want of their own ground.
Aruna Chethana also has out reach programmes in slums and rural areas. The emphasis here is on prevention and home management of disabilities. This charitable institution, a project of Hindu Seva Prathishtana gets grants from the government and many philanthropists. Trained hands however are always in short supply. The school therefore plans to start training programmes soon.
Donations are exempted from income tax.
Aruna Chethana is located at 56, 11th main, Malleswaram. Bangalore 560003. Ph 23312908.