The Moving Ahead ceremony this year was celebrated on the 12th of April, 2024, the last day of the academic year. This signifies the children with developmental delays completing the Early Intervention Programme, Upanayan and moving onto school education in special and mainstream schools.
We have been celebrating this every year since 2007 and about 228 children have now been mainstreamed to other special or regular schools over the past 18 years.This year we had 13 children who graduated and it was a matter of pride for both the teacher and the parent that these children with Early Intervention, have met the challenges satisfactorily and become eligible to enter special schools or vocational schools.
In the process the children have been guided and directed by the Special Educators, therapists, combined with music, yoga and play and other therapies on how to use one’s individual strengths through individualized programme plans thereby enabling the children to acquire the age appropriate skills required in day to day activities.
The support system from the centre namely & Sanmargam – “Good Direction” is a project formalizing the ‘mainstreaming’ of children with special needs after receiving their early intervention in the Upanayan
The children donned their graduation gowns, received a school bag as gift and exhibited their talents by presenting skits, action songs etc. This year there were three presentations by the children. The children Moving Ahead performed a skit – “Katterumbuku Kadhu Kuthal” the children of EIC performed an action song “Chinna Chittu Kuruviye” and the Children of Jivikam performed the concluding dance of the programme.
Parents shared their experiences in reaching thus far and also mentioned the importance of following the advice given systematically to reap good results. The mothers also stressed on how important Early Intervention was and how effective it is later in life.
Mr.Karthikeyan Ganesan, Founder, Sristi Foundation, Villupuram appreciated the teachers and the management for doing such a noble service to the disability sector and promised to help in whatever way was possible by him. He said Sristi focuses on vocational training and children should be allowed to take part in outdoor activities from a young age that may pave the away for them to pursue vocations like farming, dairy farming or any outdoor activity.
He advised the mothers to look after themselves and to have a life for themselves to ensure they do not get stressed and worn out which would also help the child inturn.
The ceremony came to an end with the National anthem and light refreshments.
