At ACLD, we focus on the overall development of persons with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD). Students in all our classes are grouped according to need, age and ability. We maintain a ratio of no more than 10 students in a class with one special educator and one assistant. We design an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for each student.
We have well-equipped, dedicated spaces for services such as occupational and speech therapy, physiotherapy, etc., conducted in one-on-one or group sessions by our professional team.
Our vision is to provide structured training for students with IDD that takes them from early childhood to a productive adulthood. Our goal is to make each student as independent as possible in their personal, social and vocational spheres. With this in mind, we provide a happy and safe environment along with a multitude of services and activities to enrich their quality of life.
The curriculum for students with IDD is carefully crafted keeping in mind the unique requirements of each child. It is entirely need-based and customized to the functional and cognitive level of each learner.
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the closure of schools and colleges across the country. Education has changed dramatically over the last few months, with a considerable rise of e-learning.
At Ananth we provide therapeutic interventions as per the requirement of each student, through individual or group setting as a part of their school routine.
The robust academic curriculum at Ananth is complemented by an equally nuanced set of co-curricular activities that include:
The robust academic curriculum at Ananth is complemented by an equally nuanced set of co-curricular activities that include:
Vocal music is taught to the children in a group setting. Songs and poems are thoroughly enjoyed by all. Music therapy is not only for fun, but also has a calming effect and enhances concentration. We provide individual classes in Tabla and Harmonium for students who show an interest in these.
Dance in particular is a great stress buster. At Ananth, our team of qualified aerobic teachers and classically-trained dance teachers facilitate classes with all kinds of music. Dance allows our children to experience freedom of movement. It also improves their motor skills, balance, posture, muscle strength, etc. Additionally, it boosts confidence. Some of our students even go on to participate in inter-school competitions.
The physical postures (asanas) and breath work practiced in yoga can be very beneficial for the general wellbeing of students with developmental disabilities. At Ananth, experienced yoga practitioners use a variety of suitable postures, combined with yogic pranayama, to improve students’ mobility, concentration, awareness, social and communication skills and reduce hyperactivity.
Painting, drawing and craftwork help to enhance visual perception, fine motor coordination, improve attention, concentration and social skills. We provide students with opportunities for self-expression through art, instilling self- confidence and a level of insight into their own abilities.
Our children love to work on the pottery wheel and create small diyas, clay pots, and other items. Working with clay is great fun but also has many therapeutic benefits for those challenged by sensory and developmental disabilities. As a creative medium that engages all five senses, handling clay, along with pottery activities on the wheel, helps soothe emotions and calm behavior. It aids sensory development, motor skills and problem- solving skills. This class is particularly popular with our students as they revel in the joy of creating and take pride in making their very own works of art.
No matter our age or ability, we all learn through play. Whether a simple game of catch, or more complex activities sport helps our students in improving physical fitness, eye& hand coordination, speed, stamina and flexibility.
We have trainers from the Special Olympics Bharat (recognized by the National Sports Federation) who take classes for all age groups and train our students in athletics and games like bocce, football, badminton & skating. Recently our student Vanshika Yadav was selected in the Roller Skating Championship 2022 from Special Olympics Bharat.
Gardening is a part of our regular curriculum. Our in-house gardeners and teachers teach the children to plant, water and tend to the fruit and vegetables in our garden. Through gardening, our children have the opportunity to connect with nature, learn new skills and gain hands-on knowledge, and of course, have a lot of fun working with soil and getting their hands dirty! Gardening channels their energy and makes them
happy, as being outdoors and working in nature releases feel-good chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine in the brain.
Ananth prepares students for the world of work by giving them opportunities and training them in adult living skills such as:
Hands on activities are conducted to train them in these skills and learning happens through fun and talk.
Vocation is an important aspect of everyone’s life. We train our students in vocational skills so that they can earn and live their lives with dignity.
We train our students in block printing, screen printing, hand painting on dupattas, scarfs, stoles, and masks. They learn to make bags, mobile pouches, rugs, mats, etc. They also learn to make jewellery with different materials such as jute, fabric and beads.
Our students learn learn the art of baking and produce goodies like breads, cupcakes, cookies, chocolates, etc. in our bakery unit.
We teach basic household skills such as making tea, sandwiches and simple food items. For our senior students, cooking is a part of their curriculum in occupational and life skills. The level of the skill is different for all classes and based on individual ability.
Our students are trained to make products out of waste materials and paper like newspaper baskets, coasters, paper bags, shagun envelopes, files, folders, writing pad, rugs, carpets, sofas and chairs. We also produce items like decoupage teacoasters, diaries and trays.
We have a dedicated computer lab where we run a program designed specifically to enable education in computer skills for the differently abled. We work with AIMS Media who teach various design and software courses in our lab. This unit has opened new avenues of employment for our students and some have gone on to sell their work to companies and even gained full-time employment.
This unit works according to the seasons and festivals. For instance, we make herbal colours for Holi, Rakhis for Raksha-Bandhan, and Diwali-related products. The unit functions throughout the year and children are exposed to new skills and learning as a by-product of their activities here.
We believe that parents play the most important role in a child’s learning and growth. We also understand that the siblings of a child with IDD face a unique set of struggles. We conduct regular training and workshops to help and equip parents and carers, as well as programs to support, counsel and train siblings.
We are dedicated to creating a community for people with IDD and the people who care for them. To this end, we conduct Facebook live series and webinars which have been extremely successful.
Parenting a child with special needs is a challenge only truly understood by those who sail in the same boat. We created our parent support group, to provide a forum where they can support each other. This group is facilitated by Ananth but led by parent participants who are encouraged to share their stories. It also creates awareness about government schemes and policies and facilitates discussion of the issues that face the IDD community
Admission to the Ananth Centre for Learning and Development follows the following process:
Your Child is Registered
He / She is assessed by a team of therapists and special educators
The Team recommends whether the child should be admitted to the school or would benefit from the OPD
Once a recommendation for admission is received, regular admission formalities are commenced
FOR REGISTRATION, YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:
The Ananth Shop is an outlet in the campus that exhibits products made by our students! It is a
great motivation for the students to have their products seen and admired by people.
Customized products are also made by the students as per the season and upcoming festivals.
For more information, and for images of the products, please click here.
VIEW CATALOGUEANANTH SCHOOL
SVAYAM OPD
& ANANTH TRAINING CENTRE
