Human Resource - Capacity Building

13 students of the PG Diploma in Special Education appeared for the University Examinations conducted by the prestigious University of Madras in the month of June.

The students then started their three months  internship program and were placed as teacher assistants in various classes in Vidya Sagar. The focus of the internship is to enhance their theoretical knowledge with the practical hands on skill to work with  persons with disabilities. The internship was so planned that each trainee got to work in a multi ability classroom across age groups.

The trainees were well mentored by the class teacher, the Principal and the coordinator. The trainees were given responsibilities and were groomed to plan and execute lessons.

A  trans disciplinary approach to rehabilitation is being followed in Vidya Sagar and it is important for the classroom teacher to also understand how other professionals work. The trainees also interned in departments like Physio therapy, occupational therapy, speech and communication and vision therapy etc. This would prepare them to be a member of a trans disciplinary team and also apply the therapeutic goals in their class rooms.

The students were also placed for three days in mainstream schools to be teacher assistants. This was done to equip them to teach children with disabilities in inclusive setting. The students were assessed on a teaching session both by the faculty of Vidya Sagar and that of the school faculty that they were interning with.

The Employment Education center of Vidya Sagar functions at a different campus and all trainees spent a week  working with adults in different vocational projects. They also spent time in the Adult leisure program which looks at the needs of adults with high support needs.

In a country like India, the needs of Persons with disabilities is huge and the rehabilitation resources available is less. It is important  therefore for budding professionals to understand the challenges  and needs of the community. All students completed a visit to a community project of Vidya Sagar and we hope that this will widen their perspective .

The students successfully completed their internship in the month of September.

Two pamphlets one in English and one in the local language Tamil was brought out. This was a meal time guide for parents of children with eating and feeding difficulties. A training manual on the same topic was also designed.

A new begining for this academic year .....

The teacher trainees of the Post Graduate Diploma in special education, were placed indifferent classes to be teacher assistants and the teachers modeled teaching sessions. The trainees then did a mentored teaching session where the class teacher helped them to plan the lesson, the teaching learning materials and the communication aids. This was followed by an evaluation session by a senior teacher. This was followed by a discussion where the evaluator, trainee and the class teacher share their feed back. The trainees were also asked to refine some aspect of the lesson. Provision of such graded support builds the trainees confidence and helps them to perform to their potential.

The trainees also had their practical examinations on physical therapy , where the trainees are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the positioning and mobility aid and applying to design an appropriate program based on the needs of the student assigned . This exam was conducted by an external and an internal examiner.

Vidya Sagar had sent in a proposal to start a new teacher training program- B.Ed Special Education, Multiple Disabilities to the Rehabilitation Council of India,RCI, the statutory body that monitors the conduct of special education courses in India. The RCI deputed a team to conduct an onsite inspection of the facilities including the infrastructure, faculty and material available for the conducting the course. The team submitted their report to the RCI.

The year's report of the department and the future plan was presented to all the staff in the whole school annual conference. Text books prescribed for the proposed B. Ed course was ordered.

Department officially closed for the summer vacations in May.
Based on the report by the inspection team, the RCI gave approval for the B.Ed course for three batches. The state Government had already given their No Objection Certificate , NOC, to Vidya Sagar for the course.

In June, the approval order of the RCI and the NOC of the State Government were submitted to the Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University , the affiliating University of the proposed B.Ed course for further processing.

Vidya Sagar is an examination center of the Madras University and the University exams for the teacher trainees of the PG Diploma was conducted as per the University norms.

A curriculum and training materials were developed for a training on Inclusive education for social workers of Swabiman, Orissa based on the needs expressed by the organization. This will be followed by a training in near future.
HRD had conducted a two week training on Eating issues and intervention strategies for persons with multiple disabilities in collaboration with Perkins International. Vidya Sagar proposed to bring out a training module and a pamphlet based on the training. Material development and designing for the above was done.