JAGRITHI AIKYA NEWSLETTER

Issue #

Jagrithi
Aikya Newsletter

February 2014
IN THIS ISSUE

From the Directors Desk

Seasons greetings to all our readers February was quite hectic with lot of activities. Aikya participated in various competitions organized by Rotary club, Lady Andal school, Malar cultural academy, CBHS and the program organized by the social welfare minister. It was award galore for the kids. They brought laurels for AIKYA and the teachers were proud too. The interns from Stella Maris from different disciplines like B.Com, NSS appreciated the support extended by Aikya. Students from New College organized sports and arts competitions as part of their CSR activity. The kids and parents are looking forward to the celebrations in March. This year is very special for us as we celebrate 25 years of service and rededicate ourselves to the cause of serving people with special needs. Do join us and encourage the kids @ the event. 21 March 2014 marks the World Down Syndrome Day and each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder. But there is still so much more we can do.Again, April is the nd AUTISM Awareness Month and April 2 is World Autism Awareness day. Light it up blue celebrates Autism Awareness. Join us on this day and throughout the month and support our effort and show your solidarity.
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Aikya wins accolades

- PARVATHY VISHWANATH

Celebrating fine arts

"Celebration of 25 years of service " on Sunday, March 30th from 10 AM at Ragha Sudha Hall, Mylapore, behind Nagesawara Rao Park, Chennai - 4 . Do join us without fail.

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About ADHD
Similar to hyperkinetic disorder, neurodevelopmental type in which there are significant problems of attention and/or hyperactivity and acting impulsively that are not appropriate for a person's age. These symptoms must begin by age six to twelve and be present for more than six months for a diagnosis to be made. In school-aged individuals the lack of focus may result in poor school performance. Despite being the most commonly studied and diagnosed disorder in children and adolescents, the cause in the majority of cases is unknown. It affects about 6 to 7 percent of children. Rates are similar between countries and depend mostly on how it is diagnosed. ADHD is approximately three times more frequent in boys than in girls. About 30 to 50 percent of people diagnosed in childhood continue to have symptoms into adulthood and between 2 and 5 percent of adults have the condition. The condition can be difficult to tell. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, similar to hyperkinetic disorder, neuron-developmental type in which there are significant l apart from other disorders as well as that of high normal activity. ADHD management usually involves some combination of counseling, lifestyle changes, and medications. Medications are only recommended as a first-line treatment in children who have severe symptoms and may be considered for those with moderate symptoms who either refuse or fail to improve with counseling. Longterm effects of medications are not clear and they are not recommended in preschool aged children. Adolescents and adults tend to develop coping skills, which make up for some or all of their impairments. respond to sensory stimuli in the way that is faster, longer, or more intense than what is expected. This response can be towards any types of sensory stimuli. Sensory over-responsivity can be considered as an independent diagnosis. For example, a child with tactile sensitivity or defensiveness might be defensive for hair brushing and/or haircuts because she/he cannot tolerate it easily. Another form of sensory processing problems is under - responsivity. Individuals with under- responsivity are unaware or they are slow to respond to sensory input. The third type is sensoryseeking, where individuals crave or display interest in sensory experiences. Sensory discrimination problems are another type of sensory processing problem characterized by difficulty interpreting the specific characteristics of sensory stimuli. There are multiple sensory modalities but they are not separate and interact with each other.

Sensory processing problems Sensory processing disorders are impairments in responding to sensory stimuli such as impairments in detection, modulation, or interpretation of stimuli. Sensory processing problems impact the responses of children to sensory events in daily life. 5.3% of the kindergarten children meet screening criteria for sensory processing disorders according to their parental reports. One type of sensory processing problem is sensory over- responsivity or sensory hypersensitivity. That is, individuals

Tips to help kids stay organized and follow directions Schedule. Keep the same routine every day, from wake-up time to bedtime. Include time for homework, outdoor play, and indoor activities. Keep the schedule on the refrigerator or on a bulletin board in the kitchen. Write changes on the schedule as far in advance as possible. Organize everyday items. Have a place for everything, and keep everything in its place. This includes clothing, backpacks, and toys.Use homework and notebook organizers. Use organizers for school material and supplies. Stress to your child the importance of writing down assignments and bringing home the necessary books. Be clear and consistent. Children with ADHD need consistent rules they can understand and follow. Give praise or rewards when rules are followed. Children with ADHD often receive and expect criticism. Look for good behavior, and praise the good behavior.

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A Walk to Remember
by Shalini Ilanahai

Vegetable cutting session in progress with NSS volunteers: The little master chefs take turns to handle the knife and cut the farm fresh root vegetables with utmost concentration, and wrap up their errand in a matter of minutes.

In a corner of the local grocery store, a student in striped red uniform picks out needle-like carrots from the steel rack. He tucks the shiny, orange pile safely in a plastic bag, while his bespectacled friend runs his hand gently through the pile of beans in the next shelf. They are very particular about choosing vegetables that are smooth and firm. Its my turn, says the eager youngster with round frame glasses. His eyes are fixed on the billing counter. They nod in unison and stand in line to pay their dues. I grin and remind myself that this is not just another routine interaction. While the word grocery- shopping conjures up images of farm- fresh vegetables, neatly stacked bottles of delicious knick knacks, and air-conditioned aisles, not many would think of it as a learning experience for children with special needs. As a volunteer in Aikya, I take my class to weekly shopping trips to the nearby grocery store, Pazhai Mudhir Nilayam in Mylapore.Our shopping list is so simple that even a child can breeze through it.And they do so with disarming confidence. From interacting with fellow shoppers and the staff members to handling money for their small purchases, our students are learning to embrace social interactions in their own way. In addition, they also love identifying the colourful vegetables and fruits stocked in the shop making the trip a fun-filled group activity which brings to life the pictures in their Environmental Science text book. Road navigation has been an important outcome of our little experiment. Our walks to the store laid the blueprint for traffic awareness. They now know that Red means Stop, Yellow means Wait and green means Go. Whats more? They can even give you directions to the store in a jiffy. Once we finish our purchase, we are back in school to master the fine art of cutting vegetables. The little master chefs take turns to handle the knife and cut the farm fresh root vegetables with utmost concentration, and wrap up their errand in a matter of minutes. This outside classroom learning experience has been a great way to teach life skills to my class

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HITTING A HIGH NOTE

Snapshot of the day

Our students captivated the judges and audience alike with their scintillating performance on February th 15 in Lady Andal school.

Events and Achievements

Aikya Students win Laurels The students of Aikya won awards galore at a cultural event held at Lady Andal School for children with special needs on February 15th.In the musical front, Sai Balaji and Sai Ritish won the 3rd prize in singing competition for juniors.In addition, Yogesh, Kumail and Rishab clinched the first prize in group dance performance with their charming tribal dance performance. Our students, Sai Ritish and Yogesh won the 3rd prize for second group dance performance.Giving room to their creativity, our students also excelled in the arts competition. While Rishab won the Consolation Prize in juniors category, Kumail earned the 3rd Prize in the seniors category.

Dance Recital

Annual Day Celebrations Our students participated in the annual school day celebrations of Aikya School in St. Thomas Mount Road on February 14.They captured the imagination of the audience with their Bharatnatyam dance recital. Dance Recital Our students participated in a cultural programme organized by Malar Cultural Association this month in the Adi Kesavan Temple,Mylapore. Their lively performance was appreciated by the audience

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My Experience in Aikya
by Megha Rao

profit organization run by Ms. Parvathy Viswanath which promotes the interest and welfare of children with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome and specific learning disability. Yes, there's a lot of fight involved in training these kids as they display short attention span, impaired social interaction, hyperactive and stereotyped behavior but no, it doesn't pain us and we don't sympathize with them because they aren't to be pitied upon. Believe me when i say this that what one does as a volunteer or a teacher is nothing compared to the impact these kids have on your life. In fact it gives us great joy to see that whatever hard work we put in has made a small difference. "The outcome is always greater than the Expectation." As a volunteer I work there for 2 hours and help teach them math and English. We even have life skill sessions like money counting, trip to grocery stores, sports, dance, cutting vegetables, making tea, greeting cards and so on. Just two weeks old I have mainly observed all of them and have realized that they are more than willing to learn. They have no inhibitions and are as naughty as normal kids (even more at times). For instance, they promise to do their homework but don't and when asked they give an apologetic innocent smile that melts your heart right out. They are meticulous which I noticed in the way they keep a careful tab on their pencils, erasers, lunch boxes etc. They are particular and return the chairs, tables, ball, and notebooks in their rightful place.

My mom has been associated with special needs children for over 12 years now. Having spent quality time with them myself I thought how difficult could it be. Still, as I walked from Vivekananda College towards AIKYA it unnerved me. I wondered "How should I react?", "How should I behave?", How do I interact with them?", "How do I reach out to them?". With all these questions swirling in my head I pushed open the creaky old black gate of the school and entered. Lost in my doubts I was caught by surprise when a bunch of 7 kids greeted me "Hello Akka!" I stood there for a moment unable to comprehend my next move so i simply smiled and waved out to them (In my head I did a face palm).

Before I start giving you details about the daily routine of this school I'll take this opportunity to tell you a little They are angels. about AIKYA and the students there. AIKYA is a non-

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Jagrithi

About AIKYA
AIKYA aims to Improve and enhance functional capabilities of persons with special needs like Autism, ADHD, DS and other Learning Disorders. . Early Intervention Programs for Children with delayed development (0-3 Years) School for children with ADHD, Autism, DS, Learning Disabilities and Slow learners Therapy services Vocational training Training in sports, music, dance, yoga, instrumental music Training in computers Recreation Centre with indoor sports and GYM Work Centre for adults Training and counseling for parents of children with special needs Short term training courses for parents and volunteers ----------------------------Do you want to volunteer with AIKYA? Please call 9444960643 or mail to aikyafoundation1989@gmail.com

March 21 is celebrated as World Down syndrome Day Know about Down Syndrome: Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.There are three types of Down syndrome: trisomy 21, translocation and mosaic Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition and occurs in people of all races and economic levels. People with Down syndrome attend school, work,participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many wonderful ways. All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses. Quality educational programs, a stimulating home environment, good health care, and positive support from family, friends and the community enable people with Down syndrome to develop their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.

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Where are we located?

2/9, Karpagambal Nagar Main Road, Luz, Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004 ; Mobile: 9444960643 Support us : Volunteer / Donate / adopt a project / adopt a child Visit our Website: www.aikya.org Please Donate: http://www.aikya.org/payment.asp