school for autistic child

KolCB 2016-03-30 17:19:59

 

@Sumitra Paul 

Following mainstream schools in North Kolkata has Special Educators and Special Counselors (Educational Psychologist) for inclusive education set-up. There are instances where these institutions have shown co-operative gestures to the special-child as reported to me by various renowned therapists of the city. However, they may favor it to some limits only and beyond that they can also act unpredictable.  There are provisions of various slow-learners relaxations in terms of subject choices, extra time etc. However, you can only avail that only if your school-authority is willing to pursue it to the respective CBSE/ICSE board and most cases they do not want to do it for whatever reasons.

• Adamas International School (Optional Cambridge board introduced for slow-learners)
• Aditya Birla World Academy (Dumdum) - Very co-operative 
• Usha Martin School (Barrackpore, Dankuni) - Have unique teaching methods
• Apeejay School (Salt Lake) 
• North Point School (Dum Dum)

PS: As per law - all CBSE schools should support inclusive-education but I am not sure if KV, DPS, Narayana School, Techno India School etc. are having inclusive set-up. I have came to know many instances where DPS have not provided very tolerating standpoint. 

Bin1980 2016-09-27 20:55:26

 

Thank you KolCB !!

I am trying to find the details of Aditya Birla World Academy (Dumdum) but I dont find anything for KOlkata.

Do you have link for Aditya Birla World Academy (Dumdum) ?

Please post here..Thank you !!

sanjub22 2016-10-20 20:00:22

 

Dear All ,

Almost have a similar question . My 4 years old son is suffering from Global Development Delay and having problem in speech. Though he started talking on need basis for the last few months and picking up other things satisfactorily. He already had an uncanny inclination towards  writing and writes a lot without any issue. Initially we didnt had much hope on his schooling and all but due to this sudden and recent development and also as par Doctor's advise , I am in search for a mainstream school preferably on South/Central Calcutta, Bhawanipore, Park Circus, Park Street    ( or at Howrah )  where there is a facility to handhold such a slow going/special need kids . I already started searching by my own but still though to ask in this wonderful forum if somebody can provide any kind of clue or having some experience to share.  

By the way , I have put mu kid on constant treatment since last 2 years and have some positive result to some extent . I will be more than happy to share my experience if anybody is looking for that .

Thanks in advance .

Bin1980 2016-10-20 23:39:36

 

Hi Sanjub22 ,

Can you please share your experince about the treatment you have put for your Son. Appreciate your help !!

getkoushik 2016-11-08 14:25:47

 

Hello Sanjub22,
my 3 yrs 9 months old son has mild Autism. He has speech delays and hyperactive though he learns real quick and has started to make his own sentences. Could you share your contacts so that we can talk and take proper measure with therapy. Also, is your kid going to mainstream school?

getkoushik 2016-11-08 14:48:22

 

@KolCB

I'm not able to find the Aditya Birla academy. Could you please, provide more details.

KolCB 2017-04-05 12:08:03

 

Aditya Birla Academy is just besides Diamond Mall. A very reputed, genuine heart Special Educator referred me citing that they were very co-operative and she has send many to them. However, she later said to avoid as the school is no more so tolerant, may be because they have got CBSE affiliation and want to upheld standards. After hearing this, I have admitted my son in St. Mary and Jesus School (Bangur, Kolkata). They also have a start-up branch at Rajathat. For details visit:  www.stmarysandjesusschool.com

They have very good support structure with lots of Special Educators who stays in all classes along with normal teachers. They provide inclusive-education means your child will do some periods with normal children in general class in presence of special educators and then may depending on needs, spend some time in resource-room under a dedicated special-educator. They make adjustment in questions and answer sheet evaluation. Sometimes Speech therapist and Clinical Psychologists visit for additional free consultation. They also engage child in Marital Art, Dance, and Swimming. The bad thing is that they charge Rs. 3500 tuition fees for special-child (irrespective of level) whereas normal-child is charged Rs. 1200 but facilities are adequately provided and always co-operative.

The other good inclusive school is the Army Public School of Barrackpore but getting admission is very difficult there. 

KolCB 2017-04-05 12:29:32

 

@ getkoushik My child is also similar case like you. I am suggesting something based on my vast consultation experience both in India and US. First of all, you need to do Praxis Test done by a licensed Occupational Therapist and address sensory issues that is indirectly hindering the speech development. An example if your child has vestibular issues (e.g. Enjoys spinning), then speech nerves will sluggish. If vestibular is okay, then he must have proprioceptive seeking with tactical dysfunction that is making him sensory overload (inattentive, fidgeting, and quickly shifting focus from one to another). We mistake this nature saying him hyperactive but it is not. Due to inattention and lack of interest, he is not taking speech stimulations from environment or participate in conversion other than needs. You can engage child in cycling, marital arts, dance with music, and swimming (hydro-therapy) to overcome some deficiency. You need to take him interesting places and discuss about it on the spot as well as after coming back to force him speech stimulation to develop languages. For attention, engage him in sticker pasting, coloring with thubs, counting beeds/coins, matching pictures, and throwing balls to a bucket from a distance (or shooting with a gun or darts). Please note in Kolkata, there are many Speech Therapists but very few Language Therapists who can properly guide your child to higher language development.     

arundhati85 2017-08-16 12:05:41

 

Hi All,

These pieces of information were really helpful for me for my 3 year old boy recently diagnosed of mild autism. With the help of some behavioral therapies and he is improving. Can anyone help in letting me know inclusive schools at South / Central Kolkata.

Best Regards
Arundhati

KolCB 2017-08-16 16:42:53

 

@ arundhati85 There are many good inclusive schools in Central / South Kolkata. In fact, opportunities are better at South Kolkata than Norrth and East Kolkata.

Aksar School (Probably Best inclusive school in Kolkata)
South City International School
Apeejay School (Park Street)
Calcutta International School
St. Sebastian's School
Heritage School
Birla High School
Even Scottish Church School is also very considerate.

Please contact Autism Society of WB (ASWB) at D/1/A Katju Nagar, Jadavpur (Bus Stop: South City Mall), Kolkata 700032, Tel: (033) 6458 1576, 90380-08536  for better guidance on other probable schools.

arundhati85 2017-08-17 11:45:16

 

Hi, Thanks for your assistance. I'll also like to know, how tolerant would DPS or Future Foundation be? My kid is mildly autistic with an above average IQ, perfect eye contact and social abilities but with some sensory disintegration due to which he his speech and language getting hindered (though he is pretty vocal, but keeps repeating things and uses one-two words to convey his basics and unable to form a complete sentence/conversation yet) and also now with intervention, he is showing improvement. Is there a chance of his complete recovery? Have consulted two psychiatrists and both of them agree that he would recover, yet as a mother I'm extremely concerned.

KolCB 2017-08-17 15:01:58

 

@arundhati85 Unfortunately so far I have experienced, DPS and Future Foundation schools are neither friendly nor having adequate infrastructure to accommodate special children. They will intake your child as they cannot deny at par Right to Education (RTE) law but it would be increasingly difficult to cope up thereafter. Our children need inclusive education and that needs co-operation from all - principal, teachers, resource persons, students, and even their parents (all very important). Several instances I know where parents (even celebrity ones) were compelled to withdraw the child. These children I refer here were Asperger, Autistic Feature or PDD-NOS autism cases that are theoretically higher compared to Mildly autistic grades. Hence, it is best to look for inclusive and co-operative schools that care for all the students equally over those schools who care (rather search) for only top-scoring students. In case you are die-hard fan for DPS or Future School, it would be then worth meeting their principal taking appointment and openly discusses all points.

arundhati85 2017-08-17 16:16:07

 

True to the core...Thanks for your advise, would love to stay in touch! 

KolCB 2017-08-17 16:27:37

 

Do not be overconfident or under confident over Autism grades. A child cannot be properly accessed before 7-8 years of age until his brain development completes. Whatever grade you are told by whatever psychometry e.g. ISSA, CARS2, M-CHAT, INCLAN, VSMS, GADS, Conners, IQ etc. are purely an assumption based on current trend/traits. Autism is mostly progressive, so your child will move up from Mild to Borderline to Autistic Traits/Asperger to something even better. Few cases it is regressive and usually suffer frequent seizer or chromosome problems. As on today, Autism cannot be fully reverted (lifetime condition) but people can live adjusting. Autism is like a glass-cover over your body through which you get problem in normal interaction but this glass cover will become thin over the time under therapy (hammering to sensory systems). Major improvement zone of autism is (4/4.5 to 6/6.5) years where the child needs maximum therapy and right guidance. Usually such children get some inherent special abilities at least in one area e.g. art, literature, music, math/science, or sports (indoor/outdoor) and it is very important to encourage them accordingly.

As of 2017, there are 6/7 medicines that are on clinical-trial in USA for autism treatment. The most prominent one is suramin that is century old drug usually treats sleeping sickness carried by flies in sub-Saharan Africa. Initially tested on adult mice, this was under clinical trial involved 20 boys with autism between the ages of 5 and 14. They were found improving rapidly for language ability, social interactions and repetitive behaviors starting after 45 days but improvements went away after they stopped taking drug. So, we can hope better innovations are coming up soon.

Pkmonu715 2017-08-18 06:59:32

 

Hi tats really a great msg.. But I wish it should not be a life Long condition which hurts us a lot.. Expecting medicines as soon as possible which solves all problems of worried mommies like me...

arundhati85 2017-08-18 13:23:12

 

Yes...thats what even my special educator says, we have to implement the behavioral in our daily routine in such a way that it becomes a practice and the child knows that he is getting help. If not 100% but in certain cases there is a lot of improvement and just residual symptoms left. People have various opinions of Autism...but true that therapies and intervention at the right age and time does helps to great extent. It's good to exchange knowledge on such a complex subject as it will only equip us more to help our children better. Our aim should be to make the child more functioning and never stop guiding the child and administer simple therapies which should become a lifestyle of its own not giving the child a chance to regress. There is no harm in being hopeful as there are real life cases of amazing recoveries.

KolCB 2017-08-18 16:34:41

 

@arundhati85 For Language Development, you have to first set a visual schedule of daily activities and communicate past, present, future. Then gradually you have to start Social Stories to aware him about planning a forthcoming event especially any diversion from daily routines e.g.  going to park, going to occasions, going to therapy class, visiting someone etc. You have to take him through a lot of different places for his visual experiences and take a lot of photos together. Later try to show photos and see if child recognizes it (read his face and excitation but do not force to speak). Do not show same photos and same picture cards same way as that will build rote memory. Discuss over a lot of picture books but again do not force child to speak, child should only learn to take interest. In parallel, start choice based Q&A. Always give choices in Yes/No format or give two options or show two pictures to let child express his thoughts whether saying or pointing. I have seen that the choice system creates first impact in brain towards reasoning. I recommend you to read this books for early language development: The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders by Mary Barbera. Play Therapy with Sensory integration is very important for language development. You can consult this great book: The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, Revised Edition: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Kranowitz.

arundhati85 2017-08-19 10:02:33

 

This is exactly what my therapist has guided me to do...I'v created a picture calendar to make him understand time and events. Not that he always understands when explained, but he has started to relate to events when actually in the situation. Also she has asked me to stimulate the choice options with visual aids. But my child has already started making choice of food and clothes. Since he is verbal he uses just one word to describe his choice. But he is still not answering questions consistently and asking as well. His aggression has lowered to a remarkable level, as he can communicate and I can understand him better. I'm too new to this format and my kid has been diagnosed not even a month back, though he has started improving at a good pace right from the beginning of the intervention. But such exchange of knowledge would help me help him better. Thanks once again :)

dips78 2017-08-28 18:30:44

 

Can you suggest me any Behavioral Therapist for my 3.4 years old autistic daughter... Thanks in advance

KolCB 2017-08-28 22:46:25

 

@dips78, I would like to suggest you to consult Ms. Manisha Bhattacharya who is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Behavioral Therapist on High Functioning Autism (HFA) and Anxiety Spectrum that often contributes Attention Seeking Behaviors, Withdrawal Behaviors, and Temper Tantrums. She works with Autism Society of WB (ASWB) and private-clinics of most reputed/oldest psychiatrists in Kolkata like Dr. J. R. Ram (Mental Health Foundation) and Rima Mukherjee (Crystal Wellness Clinic) etc. Her contact number is +91 98741-54409 and Email mb.manisha87@gmail.com

bncchat 2017-09-19 12:15:30

 

Hi KolCB,

Thanks so much for your insights on education for special needs kids. I also have 2 such little ones of 5 yrs, both with ADHD and one with additional Asperger. We are visiting Dr. Ram for them. Also trying to move them to an integrated school for their benefit only as current normal one does not seem to help any more. Can you share some schools which will be beneficial for them, around Rajarhat, Dumdum, Salt Lake, Newtown etc.

Has the St. Mary and Jesus School been beneficial to your son? Would very much like to hear from you.

Basu 

KolCB 2017-09-19 15:03:00

 

@Basu

St. Mary and Jesus School (SMJS) has been quite beneficial for my child. The school has limited physical-infrastructure (building, open space etc.) but true integrated environment. They provide everyday additional classes by special-educators to my child in small groups of 2-3 people max. I can freely discuss any educational and behavioural concerns with the principal and coordinator. It has quite number of children with special needs whereas normal students are mostly from local non-Bengali families. You can also approach Apeejay School (Salt Lake) which could be better option if you are lucky to be selected because SMJS is not officially CBSE affiliated.

bncchat 2017-09-20 14:34:54

 

Thanks KolCB, for an honest answer and suggestion. Will see what we can do, next session being class I for the kids, will be tough anywhere.

Basu

1810 2017-11-13 17:35:02

 

Hi My son is 4 years old and has recently been diagnosed with ASD... frequently engages in thumb sucking. Speech is limited to a few words as per his convenience and is mostly repetitive..echolalia is the term I believe. Speech therapy has not yielded much of a result though special education has contributed significantly to his learning. He is in a reputed Playschool at the moment but at every ptm I am constantly told to shift him to an inclusive school. Now my question is that is it advisable to look for a new school at this stage or shud we start occupational therapy to modify his hyper behavior and then look for options? Kindly suggest.

1810 2017-11-13 17:55:37

 

Is Bloomingdale a good option for an inclusive school? His special educator suggested this school.