Sankalp Special School Kanpur 2015 MidYear Update Background

Sankalp Special School, Kanpur 2015 Mid-Year Update

Background • Caters to children with special needs (autism, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, speech/language issues, mentally challenged) • Project’s goal is to nurture these kids with targeted attention and therapy so eventually they become self-sufficient – Individual progress plans for each child, 5 -7 children per teacher, Physio/Speech/Behavioral therapy • Supported by Asha-SV since Fall 2009 – Asha Stars project: Like any other Asha-SV project except the funds sent are only those that have been directly donated to the project. – 80 G income tax registration in India but no FCRA yet – Asha Kanpur oversees the project (funds sent to Asha Kanpur, they do the disbursals and monitor funds utilization); they also try to raise funds locally

Current Statistics • Students - 48 • Staff - 7 teachers for classes - 1 craft and dance teacher - 1 computer trainer (part time) - 1 speech therapist (visiting 6 days a week) - 1 psychologist (visiting 6 days a week) - 2 physiotherapists (visiting 6 days a week) - 1 coordinator - 2 aaya and 1 male attendant • 1 hired van and 1 school van for transport of children

Main Updates • It is now called “SANKALP SPECIAL SCHOOL” instead of “SANKALP DAY CARE CENTER”. The change was made since they were not giving day care facilities (it was something very unfeasible for them) and there used to be lot of inquiries for Day care for normal children by working parents • The new address of school (bigger location with 4 large rooms and lobby) -> 14/4, Part 1. Adjacent to DIG Bungalow, Civil Lines, Kanpur • Kalyani charitable trust is now closed and everything is now under “Asha Trust”. Kalyani charitable trust was something owned within the family members

Before summer vacation • Session completed on 25 th May 2015 and parents were given an annual progress report of their children • A copy of this report is maintained in every child’s file and they draft individual plans for each child for next six month based on this. Again at end of December they prepare reports and revise the plans based on the progress • Sample Report -

Changes planned for rest of the year • School will be closed for the children on second Saturdays. This day will be used for teachers discussions, monthly planning and academic improvement. Actively using the work Dr. Deepti did at IIT Kanpur related to "play for special children” during Aug'14 to Jan'15, she wants to use this time to explain teachers what/why they are doing this • Saturdays, in general, will be for play and other activities. They observed that the children gets bored by the table activities and they need something new and interesting from time to time • More of physical exercise and sensory stimulation will be incorporated in the curriculum. Below two pictures explains how sensory stimulation will automatically result in development in cognition and motor functions

• Planning a full time functional kitchen section – where children will be making namak para and mathri to begin with, and this will be consumed by the parents' and teachers' families • Planning a full time functional painting section – where children will be painting and decorating diyas and flower pots and make fancy napkins by using fabric paint and this will be sold in their pre-diwali sale • There is not much for the older children to do in the academics and there is not much scope for progress in other areas of development too. Below things will give them satisfaction of creating something concrete and will give them a boost and an incentive to come to school everyday • They got a sewing machine and will be starting sewing work from July too. Many of their older children are now able to mend their clothes by using needle and thread and can also sew in buttons. • One of the rooms will be used for productive activities and it will be called “sheltered workshop”. Children will do the practical productive work as long as they can and after that they can go and sit in class room and do other table top activities

Other special events • A 20 days interaction and study program in which about 40 IIT Kanpur students came and interacted with our children, closely observed their limitations and special needs with an aim to develop assistive devices which can improve the functioning level of these children • A special internship program were students of 11 th and 12 th standards did their thesis on psychology • The challenge is these students leave after their MS/internship but on good side whenever they come back in town and meet the children here, it brings a different excitement/positivity among the children here

Special concern • Kanpur doesn’t have too many big centers like this. There is one mentally challenged center but it is only for age of 15 or more years • VTC is a challenge. Kids who joined at age of 7 are now 15 years • Trained teachers are not available. Because of this they cant take risk of taking children out of town for participating in different activities around the country for special needs children • How to make these children self sufficient to get their basic things done • Parents concern – what after they are not there

Public Awareness • We have recently created a page by the name of “Sankalp” on facebook where we are posting information and facts related to developmental disabilities with the aim of reaching out to more and more people. (any suggestions regarding better use of social media for creating awareness, creating a market for the things that are being made by the children etc. are most welcome) • We have formed a parents’ association by the name of Wonder Child Parents’ Association to create awareness among the parents and to give them a platform where they can express themselves and motivate each other for a better tomorrow. This WCPA is separately registered and separately managed so that we can reach out to parents of children studying in other special schools too but largely, it is running by the efforts of Sankalp team only.