- The Hindu, July 12, 2006 – Reaching out to the physically challenged
- The Hindu, June, 2006 – When the past comes into play
- The Hindu, February, 2006 – Graduation Day at Madhuram Narayanan Centre
- The Hindu, February, 2006 – Sports day
Reaching out to the physically challenged
Nimitha (17), a former student of the Madhuram Narayanan Centre, was all smiles as K.R. Shyam, physiotherapist from the Freedom Trust, bent her legs, stretched her hands and assessed her at the camp for physically disabled children held at the centre. Jayavarshini was among the 50 children who participated in the assessment for disability.
S. Sunder, Managing Trustee of the Freedom Trust, said he had been associated with the Madhuram Narayanan Centre for the last 10 years, after a music performance he gave there. A specialist in physiatry, he chose to apply it for treatment of special children using physical methods, avoiding drugs or surgery. "We also study how to prescribe a calliper or artificial limb to suit the needs of each child," he said, pointing out that the Trust also worked in the field of pain relief. Freedom is an acronym for Foundation for the Rehabilitation, Empowerment and Education of the Disabled of Madras. The Trust also provides orthotic appliances that are fixed to the body, after a two-stage process of assessment and prescription. In one of the largest camps conducted in Madurai, 215 patients were screened and 165 appliances were distributed. Prosthetics are artificial limbs and orthotics include callipers, splints and mobility aids.
At the Madhuram Narayanan Centre, physiotherapy training is part of the curriculum, said R. Balamuruga, physiotherapist.
If children do not have neck control by three months, do not sit by six or eight months or do not crawl/stand by 10 months or walk by the 12th month, the problem needs to be looked into. It could be because of brain damage during birth or before birth. With cerebral palsy being the main reason for dysfunction of limbs or motor activities, therapeutic treatment is part of early intervention, he says. The assessment and provision of orthotic and prosthetic devices for the patients will be free of cost.
Swahilya © Copyright 2000 - 2007 The Hindu
When the past comes into play
Ludo, pallankuzhi, five stones, snakes and ladders — do these games bring back fond memories of playing with cousins and idling away time?
But Dr. V. Balambal, a history professor, says such games are a lot more than just a way to spend time. They can help special children develop motor skills, dexterity, hand-eye coordination, comprehension and understanding.
The professor, who has authored a book on traditional games in Tamil Nadu, was speaking at a workshop on how traditional games can help special children.
At the workshop held at the Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children, she said pallankuzhi was known as `mancala' in Europe. Researchers from the Netherlands and Spain were studying the subject of traditional games, she said.
"Even in early times, men and women played to express happiness," she said, pointing out that it contributed to mental and physical welfare. The games still not disappeared from villages.
In the course of her research, she discovered that there were nearly 100 games relating to moving coins on squares. "Dice games have been inscribed on the stone floors of ancient temples. This shows that people gathered to play games in temples, which were the centres of activity."
The study of games such as chaturanga (a form of chess) — which had lost its glory in India, the land of its origin, but had spread worldwide — revealed information on the sociological, psychological, anthropological, economic and historical factors of life, she said.
Jaya Krishnaswamy, programme coordinator, said the workshops began on May 24, and included preparation of materials for activities by Prema Daniel, using Upaneetha software by Sudarshan, behaviour modification by developmental psychologist P. Jeyachandran, feeding techniques by S. Jayam of Vijaya Health Centre and flower remedies by S. Balakumar.
Vimala Kannan, principal of the centre, said the training, organised each year before school re-opened, served as a refresher for teachers and trainers working with exceptional children.
V. Krishnaswamy, director, said Vimala Venkatesan, Educational Consultant and director of Bhavani Child Development Centre would be speaking on care and specialised remedial services for children.
Staff Reporter © Copyright 2000 - 2007 The Hindu
Graduation Day at Madhuram Narayanan Centre
The Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children at T. Nagar organised a graduation ceremony for 14 students on Thursday.
The students had completed the "Upanayan" Early Intervention Programme at the institution.
Of the two groups of students, one will continue education at special schools while the other group will enrol in mainstream institutions. Parents were left to choose the schools for their children depending on affordability and accessibility factors.
The Centre has also been in touch with schools that the students will be joining to ensure a smooth transition for them. Over 100 children attending the Centre and their parents were present at the graduation ceremony, which also coincided with the celebration of Tamil New Year's Day at the institution. All the young graduates were felicitated at the passing out function.
Staff Reporter © Copyright 2000 - 2007 The Hindu
Exceptional enthusiasm marks sports day
The annual sports day of Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children held on Friday featured games and events designed for children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
The centre, promoted by the Sanmar Group of Companies, focusses on early intervention in children with disabilities. At the centre, the children have been categorised into two groups — from birth to two years and from two to six years — and are given training accordingly. The meet began with a march past led by one of the parent coordinators.
Special events
Picking up balls from one bowl and dropping them into another, picking up stones from a bucket of water, dropping coins in a piggy bank (all within the given time), abacus number games and sorting vegetables were some of the games conducted.
"For children whose mobility is restricted we chose games that could be played sitting in one place," said Vimala Kannan, principal.
For the other children, running race, walking race and lemon and spoon race were conducted.
"We are planning to approach the heads of mainstream schools and discuss how these children could be integrated into the mainstream after receiving training here," said Jaya Krishnaswamy, wife of retired Air Vice-Marshal Krishnaswamy, director of the centre. Former cricketer Bharat Reddy gave away the prizes.
Staff Reporter © Copyright 2000 - 2007 The Hindu
