Jan/08/2006
After
successfully completing the pilot project of a special school lasting
4 weeks in December it is planned to continue this work three days
a week at the Moravian Mission School. Longterm plans are to locate
the scholl at the "Enablement
Centre" of the Moravian Mission School.
Concept
for a School for Children with Special Needs and for an Ability
Development Centre in Leh/Ladakh
1.
Targeted Clients:
- children with learning disabilities
- mentally challenged children and adults
- children and adults with physical disabilities
- children with severe multiple disabilities
- social dropouts
2.
Aims and Objectives:
- Helping children in the Ladakh region, who are not able to attend
a regular school and who need intensive
support, to get a formal or non-formal education
- Supporting challenged adults in finding ways to become as independent
as possible
- Inclusion of disabled people into society by encouraging them
and equiping them with the necessary skills
3.
School for children with special needs
- Academic Classes for children with learning and physical disabilities
in small groups (10-15 children per class) ' use of computer and
aids for the physically handicaped children
- Classes for children with mental disabilities (max. 10 children
per class) ' academic, social, fine/gross motor and vocational skills,
activities of daily living
- "Active Learning" Class for children with severe multiple
disabilities (up to 6 children)
- Activity Groups, e.g. cooking, sports, dancing, singing, wood-workshop
..., that take place once a week and are chosen by the student once
a year
In
the classes the children should be - if possible- together with
children of their agegroup. The Activity Groups are open for children
of all classes and ages. Every child gets an Individual Education
Plan (IEP) which will be discussed with the parents at the beginning
of each year.
4.
Ability Development Centre for young adults
- Workskill Class (after school education has finished)
- Voluntary Academic Class to improve skills in reading and writing
- Sheltered Workshops (e.g. products from recycled paper, shop for
second hand clothes)
- Sheltered Work Employment in local enterprises and shops
- Job Placement (helping to find a job and regular visits)
5.
Further services of the school and centre
5.1 Therapies and medical care
- Physio-, Speech- and Occupational Therapy if indicated
- Medical care provided by a nurse
- Providing/organising the necessary equipment and aids
- Supporting and working together with the teachers in the classroom
- Individual therapy sessions
- Group therapy
- Consulting the parents (e.g. homevisits)
- Hippotherapy (= therapy on horses)
- Sensory Integration Room with swings, hammocks, bubble bath ....
- Dark Room with light effects
5.2
Programme for parents
- Implementing a Self-Help-Group
- Workshops for and with the parents (e.g. during school holidays)
- Consultancy by teachers, nurse, social workers and therapists
- Round tables with professionals working with the child
5.3
Programmes for professionals of the school and the community
- Regular round tables with all persons involved
- Supervision and training of the teachers by special educators
- Workshops for health-workers and teachers of classes from regular
schools, where children with disabilities are integrated
- Consultation of teachers from remote areas and the possibility
for visits at the centre
5.4
Inclusion and Participation of people with disabilities
- Being present in the community (e.g. articles in newspapers, TV)
- Taking part in contests or events (e.g. Special Olympics, Paralympics,
local events)
- Organising events (e.g. Jog-a-thons, Day of the open door)
- All kind of children living together in a hostel
6.
Staff
- Management Board
- Principle
- one teacher for each class
- one helper for each class (no special professional training needed)
- professionals (e.g. tailor, singer, painter ...) from the community
for activity groups
- therapists
- nurse
- volunteers (Ladakh-Hilfe and others)
- social worker (job-placement ...)
7.
Facilities
- class rooms
- therapy rooms (can be also used for classes)
- equipment for the individual needs of the children ' chairs, tables,
aids for walking and standing, "active learning" equipment
(e.g. little room), wheelchairs ...
- teaching equipment: books, computers
- therapy equipment: positioning aids, swings, rolls, benches ...
- school uniforms
- school-bus with special seats for the physically disabled children
- horses
- facilities for outdoor sports and play
- accomodation for teachers and volunteers
8.
Hostel for children of remote areas
For non-residential children there is a hostel. The hostel should
be run seperately as it needs a different form of organisation.
As the hostel takes as well students from the Moravian Mission School
it will be a mean of inclusion.
