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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Eight Kids at AIKYA listened to King Cobra Story

Eight kids at AIKYA were eager to listen to the adventures of Kaala, the King Cobra. Storyteller Anitha told the story. As the kids were very young, a recollection of facts was helpful.

So, the kids repeated after the storyteller:
  • The King Cobra is 15 feet long
  • King Cobra does not have ears and eyelids.
  • King Cobra uses smell and its tongue to catch food.
  • The King Cobra does not eat food daily.
  • The King Cobra hatches from eggs.
And so on.... The kids had a look at the colorful picture book. They also created a forest  using crayons and sketch pens. The kids drew a tree, river, a King Cobra, and birds. Finally, they mimicked a snake dance pose. It would have been nice to have a real snake charmer around. Alas, you don't find one in streets these days.











Kids drawing a forest with King Cobra









Having a look at the picture book









Trying a King Cobra pose



Thursday, December 15, 2011

Storytelling at AIKYA on 17th Dec - A King Cobra's Summer


As the International Year of the Forest draws to a close, Pratham Books has launched the “Awareness Today for a Greener Tomorrow" campaign. As part of the campaign Pratham Books has organised an exciting relay of events throughout December to spread awareness for a greener world. One of the events is the launch of our book “A King Cobra's Summer' on 17th December. 



Are you ready to listen to the adventures of Kaala the King Cobra. It is not just a story. You will learn and know all about a cobra as the story unfolds....

Are you excited? Then be there at AIKYA Centre, 2/9 Karpagambal Nagar Main Road, Luz, Mylapore Chennai-4 on 17th December from 10 am to 12 noon. Bring along your friends and have fun. Come on, let's hissss........

Now for a few snapshots of A King Cobra's Summer.



Sunday, December 11, 2011

PICA - Eating disorder

Pica is a pattern of eating non-food materials (such as dirt or paper).



Causes

Pica is seen more in young children than adults. Between 10 and 32% of children ages 1 - 6 have these behaviors. Pica can occur  due to a lack of certain nutrients, such as iron deficiency anemia and zinc deficiency, may trigger the unusual cravings. Pica may also occur in adults who crave a certain texture in their mouth.


Symptoms   :  Children and adults with pica may eat:

•Clay

•Dirt

•Hairballs

•Ice

•Paint

•Sand

This pattern of eating should last at least 1 month to fit the diagnosis of pica.

Tests

There is no single test that confirms pica. However, because pica can occur in people who have lower than normal nutrient levels and poor nutrition (malnutrition), the health care provider should test blood levels of iron and zinc.

Blood tests can also be done to test for anemia. Lead levels should always be checked in children who may have eaten paint or objects covered in lead-paint dust to screen for lead poisoning.
The health care provider should test for infection if the person has been eating contaminated soil or animal waste.

Treatment

Treatment should first address any missing nutrients or other medical problems, such as lead exposure.

Treatment involves behavioral, environmental, and family educational approaches. Other successful treatments include associating the pica behavior with bad consequences or punishment (mild aversion therapy) followed by positive reinforcement for eating the right foods.

Medications may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior, if pica occurs as part of a developmental disorder such as mental retardation.

Prognosis

Treatment success varies. In many cases, the disorder lasts several months, then disappears on its own. In some cases, it may continue into the teen years or adulthood, especially when it occurs with developmental disorders.

Possible Complications

•Bezoar (a mass of undigestible material trapped inside the body, usually in the stomach)

•Infection

•Intestinal obstruction

•Lead poisoning

•Malnutrition

When to Contact a Medical Professional

If you notice that a child (or adult) often eats non-food materials.

Prevention

There is no specific prevention. Getting enough nutrition may help.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Managing ADHD and Art Tools for Healing Workshop - 17th December

Art Therapy helps to improve the emotional well being of a person. Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy. The process of creating or making different forms of art is therapeutic. So, it is "Art as Therapy." There are simple tools to practice Art Therapy. The common ones are Mandala, Magazine photo collage, Masks, and Art Journal. Anyone can learn or practice Art Therapy. There is no minimum educational qualification or drawing skills that a person needs.


Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a complex disorder and each person with ADHD is unique. Psychologist Parvathy Viswanth will teach the different methods to handle a child with ADHD. This session will benefit parents, special educators, counselors, and therapists.

Entry Fee: Rs 300
Contact   : 9444960643,  info@aikya.org
Venue     : 2/9, Karpagambal Nagar Main Road, Luz, Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004  

Friday, November 25, 2011

Mentally Retarded and Mentally Ill - Is there a Difference?

Lay people confuse the terms mentally retarded and mentally ill. Mental retardation is a birth defect and is usually found from birth. But, mental illness sets on during or after adolescence, especially after a major setback in life.

Mental illness is due to chemical malfunction in the brain and can be cured or reduced with medicines. But , mental retardation can be reduced only by vocational and behavioral therapy.

People with mental illness can work in the mainstream after treatment. But, people with mental retardation can only do jobs that match their ability.

NGOs working with mentally ill people, demand that mentally ill and mentally retarded must be under the same category and/or premises. But, mentally ill people may turn violent and mentally retarded people who are child-like cannot defend themselves. So, the debate continues. 

Singer SPB wearing an AIKYA Garland


AIKYA's 20th Annual Day - An Article in HINDU Downtown


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Advithiya Awards Function - Event Highlights

AIKYA honored 30 special people with Advithiya awards. Advithiya means 'Second to None.' Ofcourse, the special people who are educated and employed are second to none.

                         

"A great mind imprisoned in a disobedient body"  - One of the speakers highlighted how Stephen Hawking, a great physicist has achieved inspite of a neuro-motor and speech disorder.  A poor mother in Tirunelveli has four children with special needs. Even though neighbors gave her tips to get rid of the children, the brave mother is helping her children grow well. There are many special schools in Chennai, but rural areas lack such schools.

One of the speakers said that HR managers in MNCs discourage people with special needs and colleagues tease the special people. Sometimes, the eager employees stop going to work after few days. Proprietors tell that they cannot control the behaviour of all their staff. Sometimes, house owners do not let out houses for rent to a family with a special child.

IAS Kannegi Packianathan 
When Chief Guest and IAS Kannegi Packianathan spoke, she recalled how Ms. Parvathy always meets her to discuss about special people. Ms. Kannegi asked the parents of special children to voice their concerns. This confession will help the government in formulating policies that reflect real-world issues. The government has been appointing 'Care Givers' who can take care of disabled people in a home.



Thursday, November 17, 2011

ADVITHIYA - A Function to Honor 40 Achievers with Special Needs


AIKYA will honor achievers with Special needs on 23rd November at Tattvaloka Hall in Chennai.  Ms. Kannegi Packianathan, IAS, Secretary for Dept of Welfare for Differently Abled will be the Chief Guest. People with special needs such as Autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, LD  and Cerebral Palsy have a social stigma attached to them.  Society and employers always have a doubt about how the special people will perform in a job.


AIKYA plans to honor around 40+ people with special needs who are graduates and/ or work in a steady job. These are people who have made a mark in society against all odds.  The government now gives 3% reservation to disabled people.  PWD  who get benefits are hearing impaired, visually impaired, and persons with orthopedic impairment. Through this event, AIKYA plans to request the government to give a 1% reservation to the four categories of disabilities namely AUTISM, MR,CP and Multiple Disabilities  recognized by National Trust ( a wing of Social justice and Empowerment) .

There are many advantages of employing people with Special Needs:
  • ·         Low employee turnover – Loyal employees
  • ·         Manpower willing to do repetitive work without getting bored
  • ·         Honest, Sincere, Hard working, and Reliable employees
  • ·         Customers would love your Social responsibility.
  • ·         Government recognizes your Goodwill  with certain benefits.
AIKYA also runs a work centre that trains young adults in making products such as garlands, towels,  fancy jewels, incense sticks, areca leaf plates, xeroxing, lamination, computer skills and more.  The trainees learn filing and skills reqd for an office assistant. Soft skills like communication, socialization, and grooming skills  are also taught. Prospective employers can source trained manpower from AIKYA’s work centre too. Look forward to see you all at the function that starts at 5:30 pm.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Annual Day Celebration on 11/11/11 - A Recap of Bliss

The Annual Day and 20-year-service celebrations of AIKYA went on very well. Kids of AIKYA danced with karagam on their heads, guitars in their waist, and colorful cloth in hand. They recited numbers 1-10 with different props like water bottles, caps, and flowers. They sang songs. And also did a fancy dress competition and dressed themselves as carrots, cows, and more.

Singer Sudha Raghunathan was the chief guest. When she spoke, she asked the audience to give a standing ovation to the founder and teachers of AIKYA. She sang the Bharathiyaar song "Chinanj Chiru Kiliye Kannamma" and became emotional in the end. She also gave chocolates to AIKYA kids. She promised to do a charity show for AIKYA also.

AIKYA founder Ms. Parvathy told that the growth of special children and their parents is the growth of AIKYA. Anitha presented a summary of 20 years of AIKYA's contribution to society. Sudha Raghunathan gave prizes to all the kids. The parents were very jubilant and took photos and videos as their kids performed.

Two parents and one grandparent spoke about AIKYA. They told how they had changed their kids to 3 or 4 special schools before they came to AIKYA. After their kids joined AIKYA, they showed a good improvement in social skills, arithmetic, and were eager to go to school. So, 11/11/11 became really special for everyone at AIKYA.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Invitation to AIKYA Annual Day on 11th November

AIKYA centre invites you with family and friends to celebrate their 20 years of service and Annual Day on 11th November at Ragha Sudha Hall. Padmashri. Sudha Raghunathan has agreed to be the guest of honor. AIKYA children will dance and sing. Please share the invite with everyone. All are welcome.
 

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Online Chat with Psychologist Parvathy Viswanath about Special Children


 

You can chat online with Lion. Parvathy Viswanth over Skype or Gmail chat on Special needs of children with ADHD, AUTISM, and Learning Disabilities. Ms. Parvathy Viswanathan is the Founder-Director of AIKYA – Centre To Integrate the Different, an NGO that has been serving special children for 20 years now.

You can discuss about behavioral problems in children with ID, Early intervention, vocational training, and/or parental guidance. And cover the entire spectrum of queries about people with Special Needs.

Parvathy Viswanathan has won several awards such as the Woman of the Year 2000 award from American Biographical Institute, Who's Who Professional and many more. She was nominated as a board member of the Tamilnadu Welfare Board for the Disabled in 2007. She has presented many papers at national and international conferences. She has authored books on ADHD and Autism. She is advisor to many special schools.

She has organized job fairs and marriage engagement ceremonies (Naveena Suyamvaram) for the persons with Disabilities. She has conducted Special Olympics for the children with Intellectual and developmental disabilities. And two events have entered the Limca Book of Records.

So, never miss this chance of your lifetime.

Date:  19th November, 2011

Time: 7 pm – 9 pm IST

Chat IDs: aikyachennai@gmail.com (OR) parvathy.aikya (Skype ID)

Connect soon with Ms. Parvathy with the chat IDs given for an audio chat. 

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Social Media Summit 2011( 4 - 5th Nov) - AIKYA Will Display Products

Social Media is no more a buzz word in India. It is now the most crucial word for businesses that look forward to secure their Business Communication's future. SMSin2011 is a 2 day International event organized by EchoVme in collaboration with M.O.P Vaishnav College (Department of Commerce).

The growth phase of Social Media is augmenting rapidly as we see more than 200% usage of Social Networking Sites year on year since 2004. India has emerged as one of the leading Internet user in the world and as estimated by Forrester we’ll soon be the 3rd largest Internet using country in the world.

Social Media Summit 2011 is a forum for some of the top marketers, entrepreneurs and businesses in the country to congregate and learn the scope of Social Media from experts that will help them get the sharpest edge. So, AIKYA felt that SMSin2011 will be a good platform to showcase their products and spread awareness about service to special kids. Thanks to  EchoVme, Sorav Jain, and MOP Vaishnav College for their cooperation.

Venue | Date : MOP Vaishnav College for Women   | 4-5th November 2011

Click here to read  the Agenda (Speakers, Topic, Time) of the Social Media Summit.


Sunday, October 16, 2011

Introduction to Instructional Design - Training Programme


Instructional Design is the study of designing learning content or training material. After a learning or training event, the learner is expected to exhibit a positive change in knowledge, skills, and/or behavior. Keeping this positive change or learning objective in mind, an Instructional Designer has to design and then write content. Instructional Design is an art as well as science. 

Are you familiar with the names Bloom, Gagne, Robert Mager, and Ruth Clark? They are people who proposed several important theories and principles for Instructional Design. As a teacher, special educator, trainer, content developer, or instructional designer, you need to know the principles behind designing and developing learning content. 

After completing this course on Instructional Design, you will 
  • ·         Define Instructional Design
  • ·         List Bloom’s Taxonomy and Bloom’s Verbs
  • ·         Write Learning Objectives
  • ·         List Gagne’s Nine Events of Instructions
  • ·         Define Instructor Led Training(ILT), eLearning, and Blended Learning

Date|Time: Saturday, October 22, 2011 | 10:00 am to 01:00 pm
Venue: 2/9, Karpagambal Nagar Main Road, Luz, Mylapore, Chennai – 4
Course Fee: Rs. 300
Contact: 9444960643, info@aikya.org

Sunday, October 9, 2011

AIKYA Exhibits Products at Kamarajar Hall

AIKYA exhibited products made by special children at Kamarajar hall on 9th October. This display was during the music show of Murali's Mouna Raagam. The troupe performed A.R.Rahman numbers from the movies like Uyire, Sangaman, Roja and more. AIKYA met few prospective buyers at the show. Thank u Mouna Raagam Murali.


Saturday, October 8, 2011

AIKYA trains 16 Participants on Art Tools for Healing on 8th Oct

AIKYA conducted Art Tools workshop for special children, medical students, special educators, and parents. The 16 participants did Mandalas, Group Mandalas, Magazine Photo Collage, Masks and other art interventions. Drawing a Mandala was equal to meditation and the learners were asked to draw Mandalas daily in their Art Journals. Hope the training helps in emotional healing of participants.




Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Self Advocacy workshop at AIKYA

Self-advocacy refers to the civil rights movement for people with developmental disabilities, also called cognitive or intellectual disabilities, and other disabilities. It is also an important term in the disability rights movement, referring to people with disabilities taking control of their own lives, including being in charge of their own care in the medical system. The self-advocacy movement is  about people with disabilities speaking up for themselves. It means that although a person with a disability may call upon the support of others, the individual is entitled to be in control of their own resources and how they are directed. It is about having the right to make life decisions without undue influence or control by others.

AIKYA had Self Advocacy gathering on 24th, September. Ms. Parvathy Viswanathan spoke about how a gathering of 4000 children with ID at Valluvar Kottam in front of the then Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi had led to a grant of Rs.500 per month for persons with Inellectual challenges.

She also spoke about SASI (Self Advocate Society of India). Even though many parents seek guidance, when a program is organized very few turn up.

At the workshop, It was sad as well as inspiring to see a woman manage and help her disabled husband and disabled son. But sometimes when disabled people go for work, they are asked to clean toilets and do other menial jobs.

Anitha gave a few tips on communication skills. Bobby spoke a few words about self advocacy.

Bobby and Parvathy Viswanath


Monday, September 26, 2011

AIKYA Children get Certificates from ZICA

Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA) gave certificates and CD for 10 children of AIKYA who completed an animation workshop.



School Bus of AIKYA


Sunday, September 25, 2011

Art Tools Workshop at AIKYA on 8th October


A
rt Therapy helps to improve the emotional well being of a person. Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy. The process of creating or making different forms of art is therapeutic. So, it is "Art as Therapy."

There are simple tools to practice Art Therapy. The common ones are Mandala, Magazine photo collage, Masks, and Art Journal. Anyone can learn or practice Art Therapy. There is no minimum educational qualification or drawing skills that a person needs. The client needs to understand the techniques and learn to use colors and other art aids to express themselves.



Entry Fee : Rs 300
Contact      : 9444960643,  info@aikya.org
Venue         : 2/9, Karpagambal Nagar Main Road, Luz, Mylapore,
                       Chennai - 600 004

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Pratham Books Story Telling on 24th at AIKYA, Chennai


Pratham Books Banner at AIKYA Centre

The storytelling session went on well at the AIKYA centre in Chennai. The audience of 20 people included special children, parents, and special educators. All the stories were narrated in Tamil and Tanglish! Pratham Books' Champion Anitha started the session with a brief about Girl Child Day. Next she told the story "Subbu, the Signal." At the end of the story, the children recollected the traffic lights of green, orange, and red and what each color meant.

The next story was "Ting Tong." The boy in the story tries to sleep but is disturbed by various noises. At the end of the story, the children were asked about the various noises that disturbed their sleep. One boy was quick to mention "generator noise"...rrrrrrrrrrr..... Another boy barked like a dog. Ting Tong story was a favorite of parents too. Parents felt that the story was simple and children could easily understand it.

Story Teller Anitha with the audience
The next story was "En Udal Pesuvathai Kelungal"( Hear my body speak). At the end of the story, one of the boys told a lot of noises like coughing, sneezing, snoring, and clicking fingers etc that was not part of the original version :)

A boy answering questions after 'Subbu the Signal' story

After the warm up with the three short stories, everyone was geared up to hear the "Ulta Pulta Girl" story. Everyone laughed when they heard that the Ulta Pulta girl could not bear the stink of dog poo.

The children were glued to their seats and listened to the stories keenly. Parents were eager to know where they could purchase Pratham books in Chennai. On the whole, it was a successful event. Three cheers to Pratham Books and all the participants.



Video: Excerpts from the Storytelling session: