Director’s Message
CADRRE constantly evaluates its inputs and sets higher goals for itself in our pursuit of becoming the best institution in the field of Autism. In the wake of the coronavirus global pandemic, children have been advised not to come to school and my team has started working on an online program which would help parents to continue the therapeutic and academic programs that were planned for the year. If this works well, we hope to start an online program for parents and should be able to launch that by June this year.
We are looking at multiple projects and have plans to set
up an independent campus in the city. We will let you know about these projects soon.
Over the last three years we have been supported by our Donor Patrons SunTec Business Solutions and UST Global and we are grateful to them for their continued support. We also express our gratitude to Trivandrum International School, and Malayalam Manorama, for their contributions. We will soon be initiating a fundraising exercise and look forward to the support of all our well-wishers, individuals and organizations who wish to support the cause of individuals on the Autism Spectrum.
– G. Vijaya Raghavan,Hon. Director, CADRRE
Our first theatre movie experience
The cinema hall at Carnival Cinemas, Mall of Travancore, Trivandrum witnessed moments of joy, anticipation and thrill when our students arrived to watch Mr. Dolittle on the big screen. An autism diagnosis takes away the many simple pleasures and inherent experiences of life from the children on the spectrum, their families and caregivers. They are forced to limit their lives to their rooms and immediate surroundings because they have varying levels of sensitivities that is rarely understood by the society. To watch a story unravel on a wide screen in all its intensity is something that remains an alien experience for many children on the autism spectrum because loud noises, dark surroundings, a crowded place can all be very distressing to them. A special screening was made for our children wherein the screening was made accommodative making the sounds softer, a few lights left turned on, allowing the children to move around and sit in positions that they chose to. One of our six-year-old who enjoys observing fishes for hours found a friend in Dr. Dolittle and was amazed when he realized that the doctor can talk to animals. While some of them became engrossed in the movie, some jumped up and down in their seats with joy. Those who found the sensory experience very overwhelming were allowed to move around the cinema hall and also move out when they wished to. The movie hall represented an ideal world where there were no restrictions on how one should enjoy art. A completely new experience can sometimes be distressing for children with Autism; gradually exposing them to a new activity can relieve their tensions.this moving out was possible due to week-long preparation by members of team CADRRE where they sensitized their children and families to corporate and participate activity.the theatre experience was simulated at CADRRE the day before the trip to the theatre by playing the trailer of the movie on an LCD screen in a dimly lit classroom.
The trip was thoroughly enjoyed by our students,and inspired by the success of this outing,a parent took their child to a movie the very next day.
Members of Singapore International Foundation visit CADRRE
CADRRE hosted Sunitha Vijayasingam and Angela wu from Singapore International Foundation when they came to Thiruvananthapuram for scoping a special educational project in Kerala.SIF aim to strengthen mutual understanding,ties and trust between global communities through colloborative projects that bring about a positive change.We enabled visit for them to the Rotary institute for children in need of special care,NISH,BUDS school at Venganoor.The team already met with Smt.K K Shailaja Teacher,the Hon Minister of Health and Socail Welfare Govt; of Kerala Dr.Mohammed Asheel,Executive Director of Kerala Social Security Mision(KSSM);S Harikishoe IAS Executive Director of Kudumbasree.
Tips For Parents
One of the major challege faced by individuals on Autism Spectrum is difficulty in social communication.But many of them are visual thinkers and ythis quality can be used in processing information,expressing ideas and emotions through drawings and other artistic mediums.Expressing themselves through art is easier to most of them and give rilief from daily struggles of using word effectevely.
Here are few tips for intraducing chindren to art.
- You can give them materials otherthan brushes like stamp,sponge,rolling brushes,drabbing brushes,stencils etc.
But do not expose to multiple formats or objects at a time.Intaduce one by one,showing them to how to use it,they can be allowed to use thier fingers also. - You have to allow them to explore themselves and give the freedom to get messy.Just supervise to ensure they do not consume paints or bites the crayons
- If you want to work with them to make something in particular,make a model beforehand,this motivates the child to finish the task,plan something that they love like animals,vehicles,flowers,fruits etc
- Let them make breaks don’t force,if they want to take a break and are not keen to continue,do not force them.
- Some kids might enjoy craft more than art,like making a 3d object by upcycling things like cardbord boxes or enjoy doing orgamy,quilling etc.
- You have to give the child a lot of time and show them different craftformts and art.Every time you intraduce something,observe their response and interest towards it.
- If you can find out what they enjoy doing,you can use it to calm them when they are having a meltdown.
WOW! Moments
No matter how small the gesture,atouch or sometimes even just a nod can make teacher’s day! This section will highlighte the best moments a from a compilation of a few that are recalled by teachers everyday before they reaches classes.
February was a month filled with small mild stones.Some students started requesting their needs in two words and some are able to type the letters from A-Z without a prompt.But the most special one was the the surprising response from a student while engaging in an activity helping them to identify colours.Various coloured liquid is filled in transparent bottles and students were asked to name the coloue and one of our students started name the colour along with the fruit.He said “blue for blueberries,green for green peas,red for red strawberries,pink for peaches,yellow for bananas and orange for oranges”.He spiced upthe activity for every student in the class.
Organizational Announcement
Please join us in welcoming two new members to the CADRRE family.
Thought for the month
“Patience, Patience, Patience. Work to view my autism as a different ability rather than a disability. Look past what you may see as limitations and see the gifts autism has given me. It may be true that I’m not good at eye contact or conversation, but have you noticed that I don’t lie, cheat at games, tattle on my classmates or pass judgment on other people? True that I probably won’t be the next Michael Jordan. But with my attention to fine detail and capacity for extraordinary focus, I might be the next Einstein. Or Mozart. Or Van Gogh”.
– Ellen Notbohm, Internationally renowned author
Art Corner
Each artwork is the expression of students from different grades. The children are guided by the teachers to imagine and explore different media through art.
