Srishti Special Academy

1. Srishti Special Academy Structured intervention programmes for children with mental retardation, autism, or any other intellectual impairment Project Proposal [Compiled from phone discussions and financial summary texts by Vinod Viswanath] Currently being reviewed by Asha Austin & Asha Yale

2. Location • Bangalore, Karnataka • Urban campus • MIG-71, V Main, I Cross, KHB Colony II Stage • Basaveshwaranagar • Bangalore -- 560079 • Rural campus • Jettipalya, Channenahalli, 20th Km • Off Magadi Road • Bangalore South Taluk -- 562130

3. Background • The mentally challenged are between one and three percent of India’s population • However, as intellectual impairment is an invisible handicap, it is generally not recognized and little is known about it • Awareness about their abilities and services to improve their quality of life are inadequate • The divide is even more pronounced in the rural areas

4. Background (continued…) • A majority of existing institutions have stipulations for admission such as • refusing services for children who are not toilet trained, or • individuals with severe retardation and seizure disorders • Very few institutions have programmes such as vocational training for those over 16 years • this implies that many individuals who are mentally challenged do not get opportunities to realize their potential and generally live lives of neglect

5. SSA : Objectives • Render technically designed intervention programmes to train special needs children to become self-reliant • Irrespective of belonging to any economic strata, any special needs child is able to avail all the facilitating services at the Academy, i.e., Medical, Therapeutic and Educational Intervention • Provide individualised, personalized intervention to every child at a very nominal fee • In certain deserving cases, free of charge, without any difference in the quality of services rendered

6. Aim and Vision • To provide personalized intervention to every child under our care and mould to understand his or her own abilities and boundaries • "Believing that all children are entitled for maximum development of their potential, to help themselves find a place in the society, to be accepted and to be integrated into the community for their future life" - Meena Jain, founder of SSA

7. Services • Shristi is an institution with a difference which brings in • a change in the attitude towards the mentally challenged and • the way they are viewed • Programmes are designed in such a way that they support the • mentally challenged of different ages, • different types of disabilities and • varying extent of retardation

8. Services (continued…) • Infant Stimulation & Early Intervention Unit • This programme is for children below the age of 5 years, with delayed development and psycho motor retardation • It gives specific emphasis on sensory motor training • Is aimed at reducing deficits and atypical traits by training children in activities to promote development and learning of new skills which might not occur by itself or naturally due to developmental delay

9. Services (continued…) • Autism Unit • The intervention programme offers system and routine for • individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and • children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) • Consistent behavior shaping along with structured workstations for specific skill development facilitates autistic individuals to adapt and integrate in socially acceptable ways • A combination of therapeutic approaches is provided to manage the multi symptomatic presentation of inattention, over activity and impulsivity along with other clinical symptoms

10. Services (continued…) • Pre-Vocational Training Unit • This programme is targeted at individuals in the age between 12-16 years • Focuses on functional academics, pre-requisites necessary for • vocational transition • communication skills • life survival skills

11. Services (continued…) • Respite Care Group • This programme is specially designed to provide exclusive rehabilitation therapy to children with Severe Mental Retardation • The focus of this programme is on improving • self-care skills • language and communication • appropriate social behavior to the best of each child's ability • Emphasis is also given on recreation and leisure time activities to ease the burden of the care takers/family members

12. Services (continued…) • Vocational Training/ Production Unit • The ultimate aim of special education is employability and independent living • This involves age appropriate skill training and a systematic procedure leading students gradually from school to vocational training and employment • This programme is targeted at intellectually impaired individuals with associative disorders of age above 16 years

13. Services (continued…) • Vocational Training/ Production Unit • Currently, training is provided in • Tailoring • Screen printing • Candle making • Manufacture of phenyl and soap oil • Manufacture of paper products and accessories • Horticulture • Shristi is enabling economic independence by giving 15 mentally challenged individuals who have achieved trade mastery a stipend

14. Services (continued…) • Vocational Training/ Production Unit • An important feature of Shristi’s Vocational training programme is workplace behavior • This was incorporated after a survey revealed that there is a high dropout rate after job placement • In all cases, the fullest attempt is made to identify and develop the inborn potential of the individuals • And, to help them assimilate into normal society

15. Other Services • Comprehensive screening and assessment of children with specific learning disability and other developmental disabilities • Psychological evaluation, IQ assessment and psychotherapy • Counseling in specific areas for children and adolescents with anxiety or stress problems • Career counseling and aptitude testing for teenagers

16. Other Services • Parental guidance for better child management at home and counseling to parents in anxiety management • Occupational therapy • Supportive services to families with terminally ill children • Assisting other NGO in working for the welfare of children • Organizing and conducting seminars and workshops on issues related to children and adolescents

17. Other Services • Visiting other schools/ institutions as faculty for training programmes • Propagating awareness on child/ adolescent/ parent related issues • Publishing a quarterly newsletter to promote awareness about special education

18. Programs : Saathi • The Early Intervention programme • for infants and preschoolers • in the age group of 0 to 6 years • with delayed development • Aimed at • minimizing deficits • acquiring new skills • increasing independent functioning • preventing secondary handicaps through training • Also supports families to cope with these challenges

19. Programs : Prakruti • Autistic individuals are offered an • intensive, functional and meaningful programme which includes sensory integration and behavior modification • It facilitates autistic individuals to adapt and integrate and to behave in socially acceptable ways • The programme for individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is • carefully structured for learning and behavior modification to transform their environment and patterns of reinforcement

20. Programs : Prayathna • The Respite Care Unit provides exclusive rehabilitation therapy to • children who have severe mental retardation and multiple disabilities • and offers respite to their parents

21. Programs : Dhruti • Vocational Training • aimed at enabling employability and economic independence among the challenged • provided for those above 12 years of age • Using a comprehensive curriculum, the training includes • pre-vocational and vocational training • followed by internship • Followed by employment either at • the sheltered workshop for production • self-employment • open market employment

22. Dhruti : Vocational Training • Weaving • Woolen mats • Bead mats • Wire Baskets • Telephone mats • Shawls • Foot mats

23. Dhruti : Vocational Training • Stationary Unit • Files • Greeting Cards • Bookmarks • Letter Pads • Message Pads • Envelopes

24. Dhruti : Vocational Training • Screen Printing Unit • Letter Heads • Visiting Cards • Handbills • Stationary Items • Textile Items • Other screen printing items

25. Dhruti : Vocational Training • Candle Unit • Candles, regular • Candles, spiral • Candles, aromatic and decorative • Diyas, • regular and aromatic • With or without wax

26. Dhruti : Vocational Training • Tailoring • Denim/Jute purses (different sizes) • Hand Bags • Pencil Bags • Spectacle cases • Folders • Shopping Bags • Cushion covers • Baby quilts • Newspapers/ Brown paper bags

27. Dhruti : Vocational Training • Horticulture • Vegetables • Decorative plants • Phenyl and Soap Oil making

28. Redefined Curriculum • Specially designed, scientific, family centered curriculum • focusing on holistic development and growth of the child • Most schools follow a curriculum used in regular education and emphasized cognitive development • Shristi has redefined the intervention programme so that • the mentally challenged first learn vital life survival skills such as self care, socialization, appropriate behavior and language skills • and then cognitive development • This approach has resulted in the overall functional development of the child • Self Reliance, thus, has became an actuality rather than only a goal

29. Redefined Curriculum • Shristi has a team strives to facilitate learning in the child by using the experiential method of learning • They follow an eclectic approach to intervention where the needs and level of the child determines the programme rather than any set methodology • It also uses a variety of teaching material including natural resources instead of the routinely used beads, charts etc. • Hallmarks of Shristi's rehabilitation programme • Flexibility, • Innovation, and • Personalized programme along with • Unconditional love and acceptance

30. Redefined Curriculum • Two teachers every month are trained on special teaching methods at the National Institute for Mentally Handicapped at Hyderabad • Training involves • skill building • special education • psychology • physiotherapy • speech therapy • upgrading skills emphasis

31. Facilities : Basaveshwarnagar • Houses the early Intervention Unit • includes the infant stimulation programme for 0-3 • preschool for 3-6 years • primary group for 6-10 years • Children who are not mainstreamed into normal setups go to the vocational training unit after early intervention programme for learning vocational skills • Age limits do not apply in the specialized units of autism and respite care for the severely retarded

32. Facilities : Channenhalli • Rural campus (Magadi Road) • Built on 2 acres of land gifted by Smt Jayashree Prasad , a well-wisher • Currently houses • Vocational Rehabilitation Centre which includes • prevocational training section • vocational training section • sheltered workshop • Units for Autism and ADHD and the Respite Care Centre. • A hall for the Vocational rehab centre • A room for the Autism unit and ADHD unit • Area for the respite care centre • Occupational therapy room • Dining hall, kitchen and store

33. Facilities : Channenhalli • It also has kennels for two dogs who are part of our pet therapy programme • The dogs are from CUPA and were taken by Shristi after abandonment by their former owners • Vegetables and decorative plants grown at Challi are part of the vocational training programme

34. Transportation • Shristi provides transport facility to its children • it has two 32 seater buses and a van • The areas covered are: • Basaveswarnagar, Rajajinagr, Malleswaram, Sheshadripuram, dollars Colony, Vijaynagar, Magadi Road, Nagarbhavi , Chandra Layout, Town Hall, Chamarajpet, Mysore Circle • The vehicles depart Basaveswarnagar at 8.30 a.m. and reach Channenahalli campus at 9.00 a.m. • One of the buses was donated by a local software company • Only down payment on the other bus was donated. SSA pays an installment of Rs. 21,208 monthy

35. Food and Nutrition • All children are given breakfast, lunch and an mid-afternoon snack • As nutrition and • As part of selfcare • General health has improved remarkably • Better-eating habits, hygiene and less fuss about types of food

36. Budget : Program Expenses

37. Budget : Admin Expenses

38. Budget : Personnel Expenses

39. Budget : Communication Expenses

40. Budget : Capital Expenses

41. Income

42. Financial Summary http://www.ashanet.org/projects-new/documents/536/Srishti-Budget-Updated.xls

43. Proposal • Teachers’ Salaries • Rs. 1,57,500 per month • $1628 per annum per teacher (Avg) • 27 teachers • Transportation • Bus costs and conveyance cost Rs 30,000pm • $8372 per annum (for both buses) • Bus installment payment not included • They are trying other sources for both these components; no success yet

44. Questions • How many teachers need to be funded? • 27 teachers. Until March 2005, National Trust is funding 18 teachers. This will cease end of March. • What is the salary per teacher per month? • Varies from Rs 1000 to Rs 8000 depending on experience and qualification. The teachers include special educators, speech therapists, psychologists etc. • What is the break up of the bus cost? • Break up of the Rs 30,000 cost • Rs 5000 per week for diesel and oil per bus. • For 2 buses, that adds up to nearly Rs 40,000 • How long will you need support for the bus? as in, is it a recurring expense forever? • It is a recurring cost • What is income/income range of the parents of the children? • About 80% of children come from families where income ranges from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 per month. The others come from homes with income of Rs 5000 to Rs 20000. These children pay more towards fees and transport.

45. Questions • In the Admin expenses in the budget, there is a Conveyance charge. What is this? • Conveyance expense for fund raising, meetings, purchases etc. • Do any of the teachers also come on the bus with the children? How are the children entertained/engaged on the bus? • 19 teachers travel along with the children in the bus. The children are engaged through music, singing and conversations by the teachers for social stimulus, speech practice and enabling awareness of surroundings/ happenings. As the journey is long and children from all units including the Respite Care Centre for the profoundly Retarded and the Unit for Autism and ADHD travel together, teachers play a big role in making it comfortable for the children and in managing any restlessness/ anxiety/ discomfort faced by any of the children.

46. Questions • Does the bus make multiple trips per day? • The morning trip is a single trip as all children reach school at the same time - 8.30 a.m at Basaveswarnagar and 9.00 a.m. at Channenahalli. There are multiple trips in the afternoon : the first is at 1.00 p.m. when the children who go for their swimming lessons (offered free by the Embassy Public School which is about 5km away from Shristi, on the Magadi Main Road); the second at 2.00 p.m. for the children in Chiguru Balwadi who come from the surrounding villages and the last one at 3.00 p.m. to drop all the children home. Occasionally, the bus is used for staff and children who go for corporate or other sales of products made at the Sheltered Workshop. • What is the retention rate of the teachers? • The attrition rate is between 4% and 5%. The personnel most difficult to retain are Speech and Occupational Therapists and Special educators with higher qualifications.

47. Proposal : Support for each child • 75 children in Channenahalli campus • 25 children in Basaveshwarnagar campus • 10 children in balawadi • Local to Channenahalli • Stay for about 2 hours each day • Three levels of support per child • Medical and Nutritional supplement • Special Education • Both

48. Proposal : Support for each child • Support Details • Medical and nutritional supplements of a child @ Rs. 600/month/child [= $14] • Special Education of a child (Excluding medical and nutritional supplements) @ Rs. 2000/month/child [= $46] • Full support (medical and nutritional supplement plus special education) of a child @ Rs. 2600/month/child [= $60]

49. Sample child profile A history of birth asphyxia and seizures had left Deepthi weak and small for her age. Delayed development milestones meant that she was unable to chew or swallow – she was on milk even at the age of three. A history of hyper ammonia syndrome resulted in a very monotonous diet, which further contributed to her weakness. She couldn’t walk or talk or localize visually. Her future looked bleak at best. Deepthi joined on one such special Early Intervention programme in November 1998. The primary goal of her programme was to ensure better nutrition and feeding practices, as this was the major problem faced by her mother. Special emphasis was also given to helping her catch up with her motor milestones, primary among them being walking. Today at 7 years, although she still has seizures, which are controlled by medication, she has learned to walk, communicates through single words and gestures and takes part in all activities of the class. She eats with minimal help under supervision and is on a toilet schedule to help streamline her bladder movements and achieve better levels of normalcy. She is receiving occupational therapy for her hand functions and through speech therapy will achieve better levels of communication.

50. Site Visit • Site visit by Asha Bangalore volunteers • Rajeev Muralidhar and Kavitha Shetty • September 25, 2004 • Site visit by Asha Silicon Valley volunteer • Anil Rao • Site visit report awaited • Site visit details are available at: http://www.ashanet.org/projects-new/documents/536/srishti-site-visit-rajeev-kavitha.doc