Support Services
Physiotherapy
We are well equipped with a team of physiotherapists and assistants who strive to provide quality services to the students. Whether it is helping a child catch up with developmental milestones or providing the right aids and adaptations, mobility devices to the young adults or providing maintenance therapy to adults with disability; our team is committed to support in every way possible.
What We Do
Wheelchair assessments are carried out to provide customized wheelchairs to ensure the maximum functional independence and postural ability of the students.
Seating assessments are carried out to provide proper cushions and support needed to maintain the posture in the classroom and at home , also suggest home modifications.
Training on use of various assistive devices like orthotic aids, mobility devices; activities of daily living and providing adaptation.
Training and conducting workshops on various topics related to mobility and functional skill training for interns, parents, and teacher trainees.
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Family Aspect
We encourage the family members and caregivers to play an active role in achieving the goals set for each student.
We also facilitate students to become more active participants in the development of their functional skills and movement.
Glimpses of our Work
Occupational
Therapy
Vidya Sagar’s Occupational Therapy department deals with a wide range of needs of people with special needs, across the ages, disabilities and departments. The OT department takes individual as well as group therapy sessions. The session includes developing hand skills, coordination, Gross motor skills, Sensory integration therapy, activities of daily living skills and oral motor skills and feeding.
What We Do
OT is involved right from Early Intervention of family based rehabilitation group to day center up to pre-vocational skill development unit.
Home visits, classroom and home modifications are carried out. Apart from doing assessments, OT is responsible for procuring hand splints and different adaptations.
Under community based rehabilitation projects, time and again OT department’s participation ranges from parental workshops, assessments to guiding the special schools on appropriate modifications within their environments. Providing different adaptations for independent living, adaptations for the classroom, training staff regarding adaptations form an integral part of the department.
Hands-on workshops, interaction with parents, home programmes, and conducting awareness programmes are special efforts from the department. It has helped in creating a resource room within Vidya Sagar with adaptations for independent living.
Counselling & Social Work
Department
The Social work and Counseling Department of Vidya Sagar works with students and their families to ensure emotional and social well-being and building self-esteem through individual and group counseling
The department facilitates the home visit and community assessment for every child along with the rehab team to understand family issues and community acceptance with regards to disability
The department closely works with the Disability and Legislation Unit, to help students to understand their rights and responsibilities and become self-advocates.
Interact Club
The students are members of Interact Club. It gives an opportunity for students to take up community initiatives such as helping with community cleaning, collecting money from friends and helping people affected by natural calamities. The club also participates in rallies and signature campaigns.
Medical Aspect
Another major area of work of the department is building relationships with the medical professional. We believe it is important that a medical professional and rehab professional work together to support the families and persons with disability.
The social worker accompanies the parent to visit the doctor and explains the course of treatment to the family, facilitates financial support for medication or a caregiver.
The department mentors social work interns and psychology interns from leading organizations like Women’s Christian College, Madras School of Social work, Ethiraj College for Women Patrician college of art and science.
Department Of Speech, Language & Communication
Vidya Sagar has been a pioneer in the field of Augmentative and Alternative communication and spearheading the research and development of indigenous assistive technology.
Thus the speech,Language & Communication department serves not only as a service rendering center but also acts as a resource center for Persons with speech difficulties .
What We Do
Children and adults with speech difficulties are assessed and provided with appropriate communication systems .
The department conducts training for Special Educators ,Educators ,rehabilitation professionals,technologists,parents on AAC and assistive technology which leads to independence in communication and work .
Vidya Sagar has played a crucial role in establishing ISAAC(International Society for Augmentative & Alternative Communication),India Chapter.
We are invited as faculties to provide solutions on Assistive Technology by NISH(National Institute of Speech & Hearing) at Kerala .
The department serves as an Advisory team at MOP(Museum Of Possibilities)at Chennai.
More About AAC
Two major institutions ,Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (SRIHER) and SRM Medical College and Research Centre send their speech & language pathology students for internship at the department to learn about AAC and to get hands-on training working with children with disabilities.
We network with Premier Educational Research Institutions like IIT,Madras,Anna University,IISC Bangalore,InventionLabs and Enability Foundation to develop software ,hardware and free downloadable APPS.
Our years of networking has brought in Avaz (voice output software) ,and co develop ADITI (non contact movement sensor switch) with IIT Chennai and Chetna foundation ,and Sweepsticks-a complete onscreen access software by Anna University.
We also have an in-house developed and manufacturing of vinner Vboss, an access switch for persons with limited upper limb Mobility.
Department of Speech,
Language & Communication
Vidya Sagar has been a pioneer in the field of Augmentative and Alternative communication and spearheading the research and development of indigenous assistive technology.
The speech, Language & Communication department serves not only as a service rendering center but also acts as a resource center for persons with speech difficulties.
The department conducts training for Special Educators, Educators, rehabilitation professionals, technologists, parents on AAC and assistive technology which leads to independence in communication and work.
Our Initiatives
Vidya Sagar has played a crucial role in establishing ISAAC (International Society for Augmentative & Alternative Communication), India Chapter.
We are invited as faculties to provide solutions on Assistive Technology by NISH (National Institute of Speech & Hearing) at Kerala. The department serves as an Advisory team at MOP (Museum Of Possibilities) at Chennai.
We network with Premier Educational Research Institutions like IIT, Madras, Anna University, IISC Bangalore, InventionLabs and Enability Foundation to develop software, hardware and free downloadable APPS.
Our years of networking has brought in Avaz- a voice output software, co-developed ADITI- non-contact movement sensor switch with IIT Madras and Chetna foundation, and Sweepsticks- a complete onscreen access software by Anna University.
We also have an in-house developed and manufacturing of Vinner Vboss, an access switch for persons with limited upper limb mobility.
Two major institutions, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research (SRIHER) and SRM Medical College and Research Centre send their speech & language pathology students for internship at the department to learn about AAC and to get hands-on training working with children with disabilities.
Physiotherapy
We are well equipped with a team of physiotherapists and assistants who strive to provide quality services to the students. We have a team of 11 members with immense experience and knowledge for handling the needs of the students. Whether helping a child catch up with developmental milestones or providing the right aids and adaptations, mobility devices to the young adults or providing maintenance therapy to adults with disability – our team is committed to support in every way possible.
What We Do
Wheelchair assessments : to provide a customized wheelchair to ensure the maximum functional independence and postural ability of the students.
Seating assessments :to provide proper cushions and support needed to maintain the posture in the classroom and at home , also suggest home modifications.
Training:
-
on use of various assistive devices like orthotic aids, mobility devices.
-
on Activities of daily living and providing adaptation.
-
Training and conducting workshops in various topics related to mobility and functional skill training for Interns , parents, and for teacher trainees.
Family Aspect
We encourage the family members and caregivers to play an active role in achieving the goals set for each student.
We also facilitate students to become more active participants in the development of their functional skills and movement.
Physiotherapy Photos
Vision Rehabilitation
Over the years, Vidya Sagar's services have grown to meet the evolving needs of its children and adults with multiple disabilities. In order to offer quality services to the growing number of infants and children with visual impairment and additional disabilities, the Vidya Sagar's Vision Rehab Centre was started in 2006, under the mentorship of Dr. Namita Jacob. The Vision center has since then been working across ages and children and adults with Multiple Disabilities with Visual Impairment (MDVI) needs to support use of vision functionally. This has made a huge difference in the quality of life for these children and adults with multiple disabilities.
What We Do
We provide services for children and adults with minor and major (ROP, ONA and CVI) eye conditions who struggle to use their vision functionally.
We have/get referrals from different hospitals like Sankara Nethralaya, Radhatri Nethralaya, Frontline, The Eye foundation - Coimbatore, special schools, inclusive schools, Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), Rehabilitation centres and through parents from all over the state, other parts of India and abroad too.
Every year we see 80-120 beneficiaries and based on different factors we provide appropriate interventions. Many professionals like doctors, optometrists, social workers, special educators and others who work with children with vision issues have day-long observation and undertake internships at our vision center.
Our Specialty
We focus on functional vision assessments, programme planning, interventions and trainings for parents and other professionals.
Our partners include parents/caregivers, clinical professionals such as Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Paediatricians, Neurologists and Rehab professionals.
Physiotherapy
We are well equipped with a team of physiotherapists and assistants who strive to provide quality services to the students. We have a team of 11 members with immense experience and knowledge for handling the needs of the students. Whether helping a child catch up with developmental milestones or providing the right aids and adaptations, mobility devices to the young adults or providing maintenance therapy to adults with disability – our team is committed to support in every way possible.
What We Do
Wheelchair assessments : to provide a customized wheelchair to ensure the maximum functional independence and postural ability of the students.
Seating assessments :to provide proper cushions and support needed to maintain the posture in the classroom and at home , also suggest home modifications.
Training:
-
on use of various assistive devices like orthotic aids, mobility devices.
-
on Activities of daily living and providing adaptation.
-
Training and conducting workshops in various topics related to mobility and functional skill training for Interns , parents, and for teacher trainees.
Family Aspect
We encourage the family members and caregivers to play an active role in achieving the goals set for each student.
We also facilitate students to become more active participants in the development of their functional skills and movement.
Physiotherapy Photos
Art & Craft
At Vidya Sagar, we believe that art and special education should always go hand in hand.
All students benefit from various art forms being a part of their curriculum, and students
with special needs are no exception.
How We Make Art Interesting
When we consider art for special needs students, it may be daunting to imagine how some students overcome their disabilities to create art. However, with the appropriate materials and instruction, art is truly a possibility for every student at Vidyasagar.
Vision-impaired students will need help focusing on what they can hear and touch during art class. Teachers can help by describing all the materials in front of them as well as techniques they might use. Additionally, it can be helpful to focus on art forms that require lots of touch, such as finger painting, clay modelling, sticking, roller painting, crush paper art, stencils. These adaptions are used by children according to their choice and needs.
7 Things We Do Within Art & Craft
Creating
Creating awareness for all occasions including National and religious festivals through
art medium.
Providing
Providing teach aids to special children according to their lesson plans.
Motivating
Motivating each of our students to provide them with the opportunity to create art.
Supporting
Supporting students who may be physically unable to hold a utensil or mould clay
themselves can still participate in art with the help of a teacher or aide.
Demonstrating
Demonstrating how to use materials or allowing these students to watch others create
art will help them find their own stride in art class.
Building
Building a creative outlet for our students. We are guided by the belief that art is just as
beneficial as other academic subjects.
Enrolling
Enrolling children from Vidya Sagar to participate in many competitions outside school. We are so proud of our students who have won numerous awards and accolades.
Sports
Our sports day (which takes place during the month of January) is very unique. Our students using various aids & adaptations in taking part along with their peers and we take advantage of the space granted thanks to nearby schools or colleges.
We focus on making our students active participants of any game. Apart from academic
and therapy focus, we want our students to enjoy leisure through sports as part of their holistic well-being.
What We Do
Therapy equipments such as wheelchairs, prone boards and scooter boards are also used for positioning while doing activities. Some Early Intervention games also have tunnels for creeping and crawling activities. Many switches have been adapted for press- and-play toys which enables children to independently interact and play with the device independently.
More recently, there was an initiative for involving mainstream school students to participate in our sports day along with our children. Children across age groups participated from 3 nearby schools and inclusive games/activities were designed and the children all enjoyed taking part in the sport activities together.
