Partial Sponsorship for Online Sessions and Home Based Services for Children with Special Needs at Spastics Society of Karnataka (Centre for Developmental Disabilities)

Spastics Society of Karnataka (SSK) (Centre for Developmental Disabilities) is a NGO established in 1982 dedicated to the welfare of children and young adults with Developmental Disabilities (Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Challenges, Learning Disabilities, ADHD, Autism and other Multiple Disabilities).

SSK’s Aims:

§ To promote activities for the prevention and management of Developmental Disabilities

§ To provide for the diagnosis, treatment, education, rehabilitation and generally for the care, welfare and advancement of children affected by developmental disabilities

The organization addresses the key issue of quality rehabilitation services to the socially and economically deprived population of infants, children, adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities. Our work is based both in Urban and Rural areas of Karnataka in the areas of Prevention, Early Identification / Diagnosis, Intervention and Rehabilitation for Children with Developmental Disabilities.

 The Society provides comprehensive services in medical, para medical (therapy; assistive technology; psychological and educational assessments), early intervention, education (special education; inclusive education), vocational training , tele rehabilitation, family support and human resource training through a multidisciplinary team.

Nearly 85% of the children are from the underserved and underprivileged sections of the population and SSK strives to provide quality services to all children and parents. 

Annually, the society provides direct services to 6000 children in the main campus in Indiranagar, and at 6 locations of Karnataka (Ramanagaram; Kolar; Devanahalli; Doddaballapura; Harohalli and Kanakapura district) and 2 government Hospitals (Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health; Air Force Command Hospital) where free rehabilitation services are provided to infants and school going children by the multi disciplinary team of professionals.

 Medical services for children include Developmental Neurology; Orthopedics; Ophthalmology; ENT; Dental; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Children receive regular physiotherapy; occupational therapy; sensory integration therapy and speech, language and augmentative therapy to support their physical and communication development. Assistive technology services include modification of the child’s requirement for independent living (mobility and communication) as well as learning and leisure.

Educational and Vocational Training support our children’s holistic growth towards inclusion into society. Early child education; Formal education (state board recognition and National Open School recognition); Basic Education and Life Skills Training; Vocational Training in Computers; Printing and Visual Design; Office Skills; BPO training; Catering; Baking; and allied skill training in Paper Conversion; Tailoring; Clay etc support the children towards higher education, internships, employability and models of employment.

SSK provides diploma and certificate teacher training courses recognised by Rehabilitation Council of India and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to develop manpower resources in the field of Special Education.  

It is heartening to see that each and every child progresses through his / her own pace of learning; learning styles and strengths overcoming their challenges. The happy faces of our children even through their very disabling conditions are a source of inspiration to their families, staff, volunteers and the community around them. Children completing NIOS examinations at the Learners’ Centre have gone on to complete college education with assistive technology in place; have certified in vocational training through accredited colleges and institutions; have been employed in jobs in the IT, hospitality, printing and other areas. The most wonderful and disabled groups of adolescents have been trained in sheltered skill training and are placed in such environments to earn a livelihood and live a dignified life and respite care programs gives hopes to many families for supported rehabilitation. 

With the volunteer support of IBM, we have successfully completed training 20 batches of senior students in Computers and Personality Development. This initiative has greatly supported their skills in public speaking; confidence and employability. The volunteer grant has supported the organisation in developing resources for children. Through this support, a new initiative, Montessori Classroom was launched in 2018 which focussed on a specialised early learning classroom and Montessori teaching to children with special needs. The grant has also supported development of disabled friendly toys for early learning classrooms and upgradation of classrooms with computers and projectors for common learning programs.