Autism Awareness Day - April 2nd 2013

The Autism Awareness Day organized by Ms. Parvathy Viswanath, Founder of AIKYA Foundation and the Lions clubs, went on well at Valiammal Matriculation School in Annanagr. Director Vasanth was the Special Guest. DG Ln S.P. Baskaran inaugurated, VDG Ln Venkatraman released the Autism booklet. The children had made beautiful placards about Autism. They also wore blue ribbon bows in their hands to remeber Autism. And the children formed a beautiful human chain in the road which attracted the attention of public.

Parvathy Viswanath with Director Vasanth and his daughter

Human Chain by Kids

 

AIKYA Founder Wins International Award

Lion. Parvathy Viswanath, founder of AIKYA, has won an international award for "Community Leadership" from Canada. She was unanimously selected for the award, which she received in person. Congrats ma'm. The award is a recognition for all people in India who work for special children. 

On World Autism Awareness Day, that falls on April 2nd, let us wear Blue and remember the foot soldiers who work for children with special needs. May God give them the courage and energy to continue their good work.

 

Parvathy Viswanath receives the award from Director Vasanth

 

 

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.

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. 

AIKYA participates in Community of Practice(CoP) for Disabled

CIOSA organized a CoP for disabled on 22nd September, 2011. Thirteen activists participated in the discussion. Gopi of Nethrodhaya and Ms. Parvathy of AIKYA were among the participants.

Lack of database and details/statistics about disabled population was a hiccup. Further issues like asking for reservation etc depends on a well-maintained computerized database. A good e-governance system for disabled must be implemented.

There are 200 wards in Chennai(Tamilnadu).  An active community inside each ward will interact with the corporation to check if a disabled-friendly government school exists, and if a hospital exists to give medical certificates for disabled and more. So, a role-model ward for rehabilitation of disabled, one inside and one outside Chennai has to be created.

Many NGOs are not aware of the numerous central and state govt schemes that exist. So, they do not apply and get grants. Last year, Vidyakar of Udhavum Karangal was the only NGO from Chennai who got a major grant.

Disabled should be trained  in new fields like cellphone repair instead of sticking to just candle making etc.

DDRO office has only 6 employees instead of 17 employees. The budget for disabled group has been reduced from 237 crores to 166 crores. This reduction is due to lack of awareness and lack of manpower to implement good schemes.

A decision to meet the commissioner has been made. Prior to meeting the commissioner an awareness platform with advertisements in Thinathanthi, Suryan FM , and a NGO meet will happen.

A Guide for Disbaled - Schemes and Office Addresses

AIKYA initiates Newborn Screening Program

AIKYA inaugurated the newborn screening program along with Mediscan and Lions club Dist 324-A5 at Mylapore on 17th September, 2011. Lion Parvathy Viswanth, Pediatrician Dr. Sudha from MediScan and Lions club Governor Mr. Nandagopoal spoke during the inauguration.

Lion Parvathy Viswanath introduces the program

Newborn screening is done by taking four drops of blood from the heel of a new born using a special syringe after 48 hours and within seven days( 1 week) after birth. The consent of parents to conduct the test is very important. In India now 5 disorders are found using newborn screening. MediScan is currently doing new born screening in 17 hospitals in Chennai and one in Ooty. Dr. Suresh of MediScan is the pioneer in India for newborn screening.

Lion Governor Nanadagopal inaugrated New Born Screening

MediScan offers to test adrenalin and thyroid levels in newborns at the rate of Rs. 750. Testing for all five disorders costs Rs.1200. Adrenalin disorder can lead to problems in genitalia developments and usually  occur due to marriages within same family. This symptom is prevalent in the Nellore-Tamilnadu border. Thyroid related problems can lead to mental disorders, slow learning, bloated body, memory loss and more. This symptom is prevalent in the Vandaloor belt. Early detection can cure an abnormality or atleast reduce the impact of a disease.

Dr.Sudha spoke about New Born Screening

In USA, they test for 41 disorders. In USA, 1 out of every 4000 children test positive. In India, 1 out of every 1000 children test positive!. In India, you need to increase and spread awareness about the importance of newborn screening.

Video: Excerpts of Speech by Nandagopal and Dr.Sudha



Let us know if you need to address a crowd of 25 to 30 people about NewBorn screening. AIKYA can arrange for the event. You can also sponsor a newborn screening. Mail info@aikya.org or call 9444960643.

AIKYA Founder Parvathy Viswanth Speaks about AIKYA

Parvathy Viswanth, Director of AIKYA, speaks about the philosophy of AIKYA and their work with thousands of special children. Parvathy Viswanth has won several awards such as the Woman of the Year 2000 award from American Biographical Institute, Who's Who and many more. She was nominated as a board member of the Tamilnadu Welfare Board for the Disabled. And she considers it as a great honour. She has organized job fairs and marriage engagement ceremonies (Naveena Suyamvaram) for the disabled.

Lion Parvathy also organized two events that entered the Limca Book of Records. The first event was at Nehru Stadium were 11,000 special children gathered and did Yoga and Painting. The second event was on World Service Day were a mega size cake was cut in front of 1000 children from orphanages.

AIKYA Founder Parvathy Viswanath about her son Prabhakar

Parvathy Viswanath explains how her son overcame his disability and is working in the mainstream now. He won a President Award for being a Role Model to special children.