Graduation day with a difference

Graduation day with a difference

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Unmindful of the audience, 14 students danced along with their mothers, narrated the story of the thirsty crow in their own style and rendered a nursery rhyme at the graduation day programme on Wednesday.

What could have been easily passed off as a yet another school day function took everyone by surprise; the students were in the age group of three to eight years and had completed early intervention programme successfully at the Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children, Chennai (MNC). It was a graduation day with a difference.

MNC's ‘Moving Ahead' programme enables children with developmental delays or mental retardation to continue school education in special and mainstream schools after completing the early intervention programme.

For the past few months, these children were guided and directed by the special educators, therapists, combined with music, yoga and play therapies on how to use their individual strengths through individualised programme plans.

“Over the past four years, 19 students have been successfully enrolled in the mainstream schools. This year, 10 students will move into the mainstream schools and four into special schools from the next academic session starting in June 2010,” said Vimala Kannan, principal of MNC.

On Wednesday, three year-old Shriyaditha and eight year-old Nandini, along with their friends, showcased their acquired skills. Naresh Krishnan was given a 32-month pre-school training programme while Madumitha underwent a 16-month programme.

On completion of the intervention programme, the children were able to follow instructions in English and Tamil, eat independently, play with friends, give direction to teachers and fellow students about their needs and spell three-letter words.

S.P. Sarguna Pandian, chairperson, Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women, presented gifts to the children and distributed certificates to parent trainees.

In her special address, she lauded the parents for playing the role of teacher-cum-guide and said that the Commission was ready to help them in all possible ways.

Date:01/04/2010
URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/2010/04/01/stories/2010040162510900.htm