Page 32 - EW March 2021

Eyewitness

MODEL SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL

NEEDS CHILDREN

Promoted with modest academic goals ten years ago, the remedial therapy and skills training
Chettinad-Sath Sadhana is rapidly transforming into a programmes were confronted with
the challenge of translating hands-
model school for children and youth with disabilities on practical education to the virtual
mode for students with disabilities.
The CSS management prides itself
SHIVANI CHATURVEDI
for successfully adapting its es-
sentially experiential pedagogies to
ited on a tree-lined two- aged 10-22 years with special focus continue the education of the institu-
acre campus in the heart on developing their functional, com- tion’s differently abled adolescents
of Chennai (pop.7 million), munication and behavioural skills. and youth.
SChettinad-Sath Sadhana With the Covid-19 pandemic The successful transition to
(CSS, estb.2011) has earned an excel- forcing the closure of all education virtual classes apart, the past year
lent reputation in this southern port institutions countrywide last March, was also momentous for CSS as it
city for providing functional academ- the past year has been especially discontinued its affiliation with the
ics, life skills development and skills challenging for special needs institu- Delhi-based National Institute of
training to children and youth with tions such as CSS. Even as most Open Schooling (NIOS) exam board
special needs. Its 13 special educa- top-ranked mainstream private and transformed into a fully-fledged
tors provide training programmes schools have smoothly switched to life and skills training institution for
in vocations ranging from paper online digital teaching-learning, adolescents with special needs.
technology to baking to 63 students special needs institutions providing CSS was promoted in 2011 as Sri

32 EDUCATIONWORLD MARCH 2021