Home > Features > Vishwas Centre For Mentally Retarded Children

Vishwas center was started on 1st January 1990. Mrs. Shule who was working in a Government job initially after taking VRS wanted to do some social service work, so she joined a School for Mentally Retarded Children since she always had a soft corner for children. But unfortunately it closed down, and the parents kept on asking to do something about this problem. So Vishwas center for Mentally Retarded Children was started.

Vishwas center got its certificate on the 7th of July. In 1990 there were only 2 schools in Thane, Sri Ma Niketan & St Johns and everywhere there was a waiting list for the students so she started theschool for small children also.

Initially there was only one teacher employed and under her guidance the work was done. Now at present they have approx. 30 students i.e. 20 of educable group & 10 are above eighteen years of age.

There are two groups i.e. the educable group & the vocational group.

• Educable Group: Under the educable group we ask for the IQ certificate that is the student should have an IQ below 70; the birth certificate and the other necessary forms are to be submitted. The fees are 200 monthly- 150 for admission & Rs 50 for the term fee. Children from 4 years and above are given admission over here and the main necessity is that they should be toilet trained.

Under the educable group simple maths, like time, money, addition, subtraction are taught. We even teach them a little Marathi, here they can can write their own name, address and general things are taught to them.

• Prevocational & vocational group: In the batch of pre vocational group students up to the age of 18 are there if they do not know to read and write they are taught, here they even learn to make envelops, fabric painting, stitching, flower making etc.
  
  Under the Vocational Group they earn money by making Envelopes, greetings, cutting vegetables etc. Here they earn a little and so work harder.

There are 5 types of skills taught to the students.

• Motor Development - Here general things like handmovement, running, jumping is taught to them. Under Fine Motor- Things like putting the thread through a needle is taught to them. Under Gross Motor- They are given training in things like PT, Yoga etc.
  
  
• Psychological Development - Under this they are taught how to communicate and interact with the outsiders.
  
  
• Self Help - Here they learn to be independent by learning to button up their shirt by themselves, putting on their shoes, to comb their hair.
  
  
• Communication - Here they are taught a little Drama, dance etc.
  
  
• Community - Here they are taught maths and the basics i.e. how you go and purchase something from outside.

Mrs. Jyoti Shingote & Mrs. Swati Amrale who are the teachers over here got their special training from Minds College of Special Education & National Institute of Mentally Handicapped who use the revolve technology in teaching the students.

Mrs. Shamala Mahajan & Mrs. Vaidya joined here from 1990 onwards. Here they are taught to make cards, which are sold outside, and since they know they are being paid a salary to make things they work more hard. Here we have a Library Project where the students go and exchange Marathi Novels from the people, which are quite challenging to them.

Mrs.Mangala Shinde looks after everything the vocational & the educable group. Here we are very patient with the students & we work as a team. When a teacher is appointed first we interview them we see that they are very patient with the student.

Here we take the students to picnics they get to see outside we take them outside twice a year. We take them first to a nearby place and then later on to places like the Bread Factory, Arey Milk Colony etc.

Here students even take part in Natya Shala- in State Competions, they take part in Dramas and even win prizes every year. They even take part in Drawing Competitions at the State Level and even win lots of prizes.

Here some of our students like Santosh Ghatpande is in Job Development Centre in Chembur, and now currently is in service at a biscuit shop who contributed his first paycheck to this institution.

The Person behind this Mrs. Ashwini Shule coordintes the teachers & Trustees, Parents & Trustees. She is the bridge and does all the coordination work sheconducts games, competitions arranges for picnics. Last year the The Pune Picnic camp was started for 4 days so in this manner they learn to be independent from their parents.

Read her interview....