Electronic teaching aids for disabled children

BALAJOTHI CENTRE FOR THE DISABLED

GLOBALGIVING PROGRESS REPORT (21529) DUE ON OCT 6, 2016.

Project title : Electronic teaching aids for disabled children

Rahul is a differently abled child, currently 15 years of age, who is fighting a challenging and formidable future because of the nature and level of his several disabilities.  Rahul has autism (PDD), is speech and visually impaired, intellectually challenged, has cerebral palsy and  is multiple-disabled.  Diagnosed as 100 % disabled when 7 months old, his family was informed of his condition and predicted his future as that of a vegetable.  The family’s sacrifices and painstaking efforts, coupled with guidance provided at Balajothi, brought out his astonishing talents and changed Rahul’s life in a remarkable manner. 

The caregivers at Balajothi recognized very early Rahul’s love for music and  propensity for numbers and focused on developing them.  The team hit upon the brilliant idea of painting the game of ‘Snakes and Ladders’ on the floor of his school (see picture) which fascinated him no end. Soon Rahul was able to recognize numbers and colors and today he is able to identify (with a pointer) answers to multiplication tables without the help of any calculator or other adding devices.

Like most children with autism Rahul loves music.  With help and encouragement at Balajothi he is now able to play music on the key board using numbers, instead of keys to recognize the notes.  He is able to play simple tunes such as ‘Twinkle Twinkle little stars……’ and ‘Humpty dumpty sat on a wall ……..’.

Rahul also liked to spend long hours watching funnies on the TV. To get him out of this habit Balajothi provided him with an I-pad.  The I-pad changed his focus and developed  his interest in electronic learning aids.  In a very short time he learnt to use the I-pad and now Rahul is able to download programs that catch his fancy, from the net, choose and play them at will, record happenings around him and even play them back on request.

From a Vegetable to a Super Star Rahul has come a long way. He is at the very top of his school (where non formal education is provided).  He is the role model and inspiration of over twenty special children at Balajothi who are now attempting to emulate him in learning to use these electronic learning aids.

With the funds provided by you, the donor, Balajothi was able to provide key boards to several children and has promised purchase of other electronic learning aids shortly. In short you have changed Rahul’s life for the better !!

Balajothi Centre for the Disabled acts as the catalyst to recognize hidden talents of differently abled children, enabling them to develop and use these talents to grow and lead independent and abundant lives, to the extent possible. 

Every parent who has entered the gates of Balajothi is now comforted with the thought that there is yet ‘hope’ for his special child in this challenging world. Rahul is  the inspiration to such children and the living example of this ‘hope’. (Story as narrated by Rahul's father and can be published on the social media).

Balaraj

Project Leader

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