Educate a poor hearing impaired child by Ashray Akruti

The Hearing-Impaired students of Ashray Akruti excelled in the SSC Board examination of 2021-2022 . The 26 (16 from Srinagar Colony and 10 from ChadrayanGutta) students performed exceptionally well– thus making the first attempt at a home run. P. Vaishnavi and S. Kalyani of Srinagar Colony and Maheen of ChadrayanGutta secured 9 GPA and the other students came close with 8.5 and above GPA. The 10 students of Chandrayangutta are the first batch of students that appeared for S.S.C board exams from this center. Ashray Akruti commends the determination and efforts of the students, faculty and parents on their outstanding accomplishment!

In Academics: The school follows the oral aural mode of communication. At the pre-primary level, the focus is on development of speech and language, assisting parents in developing strategies to nurture their child’s language, speech, auditory and intellectual abilities. Parents are involved in the educational program so that they understand the concepts and teaching methodology, and can practice the same at home. The school follows the state board curriculum from grades 1 to 10. Students of grade 10 appear for the Common Exam conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Telangana State at the end of the academic year.

Hearing Aids will be provided:The school actively encourages the children to use hearing aids to help them use their residual hearing power and trains them to listen and speak. The students are assessed and evaluated at the hearing clinic run by Ashray Akruti by qualified Audiologist & Speech Language Pathologist (ASLP) We ensure right type of hearing aids are prescribed and provided to the beneficiaries.

Auditory – Verbal Therapy Auditory-Verbal Therapy is specialized type of therapy designed to teach a child to use the hearing provided by the cochlear implant or hearing aids for understanding speech and learning to talk. The child is taught to develop hearing as an active sense so that listening becomes automatic and the child seeks out sounds in life. Designed to support the integration of children who are hard of hearing or hearing-impaired into a regular learning environment, this is vital for their future independence.

Speech therapy The Speech Therapist in the organization provides one-on-one training with children to speak and develop their speech and language skills. Speech therapy is a clinical program aimed at improving speech, language and oral motor abilities. Students also receive intensive auditory training to develop listening skills.

STEM Education Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are collectively considered the keystones of an advanced society. Some of the innovative and effective methods Ashray Akruti uses for a year to teach STEM subjects such as Electronic Building Blocks, Robotics & 3D Printing. Ed-tech tools provide students an exciting, exploratory learning experience while helping improve their analytical and problem-solving skills by honing the delivery through the best ed-tech tools.

Main challenge was to make the student understand the concepts so to overcome this we have started using more visual aids like relevant pictures and videos to make the student understand the concept better. Teachers have also started to use simple language so that they understand the concepts clearly.

Archita hails from a poor family. She hails from Mahabubnagar Dist Telangana. Her father works as a construction worker with a meager income, and her mother is a homemaker. She also has two younger siblings one of whom is hearing impaired. It was a moment of shock for the family when they realized that their daughter was hearing impaired. With very little resources in hand and barely any facilities for a child, the parents felt helpless and worried endlessly for the future of their child. They visited several hospitals in the city to get her treated but faced financial issues for the expensive medical tests. It was a tough situation for them as they were unable to provide any help to their child. They started exploring schools that could train her in special skills. On the advice of their friends, they visited Ashray Akruti and learnt about the organization and its services. She was enrolled here in 2019. She is a very silent and obedient girl. Her performance is good in all subjects. Her favorite subject is Maths. She secured A grade in the internal assessment conducted in the month of July. Her speech and Auditory levels are average. She is very much interested in extra-curricular activities like drawing and dance.

With the support of Give India, 40 hearing impaired students were provided special education with the help of Give India.

Activities

Special education, speech therapy, and academic training are provided to the hearing impaired children.

Activity Plan for 6 months

Jan to March

• Special educators will conduct online/offline classes for hearing-impaired students
• Conduct internal assessments and formative assessment and evaluate performance in all subjects
• Conduct supplementary activities including art and craft, and computer education
• Counselling for children and their families
• Training to caregivers and special educators
• Review the children’s progress in academics and additional activities
• To conduct the hearing aid assessment

April to June

• Special educators will conduct online/offline classes for hearing-impaired students
• Conduct internal assessments and formative assessments and evaluate performance in all subjects
• Conduct supplementary activities including art and craft and computer education,
• counselling for children and their families
• Training to caregivers and special educators
• Review the children’s progress
• To conduct the hearing aid assessment
• Tracking the academic progress of the children.
• Promoting the students to age-appropriate classes

Pravalika was born in 2007 in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. She was two years old but lacked speech or any reaction to sounds or words. Concerned, her parents had her hearing checked, only to realize that she was suffering from a loss of hearing. They were heartbroken. To make matters worse, her younger sister was also born with a loss of hearing. Determined to give her every opportunity to succeed in life, they enrolled her in a school nearby. Years passed, but she remained inattentive and dull. While searching for specialized schools, they were referred to Ashray Akruti. Pravalika was enrolled along with her younger sister in March, 2014. She is presently studying in Grade 7 and is progressing in her academics. With the help of special educators, therapy, and individual attention, she can recognize words in a paragraph and converse in simple sentences. She enjoys drawing and other arts and crafts. Her relieved parents are extremely grateful for the timely intervention provided by Ashray Akruti to both their kids. They can now dream of a secure future for their girls.

Activities UndertakenSpecial education was provided to 172 hearing impaired students at Srinagar Colony center Well qualified Special Educators certified by RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) Follows 1:8 teacher students ratio which enables every student to get the individual attention. Provided Speech therapy to develop the Speech and Language. Provided Auditory Training to improve the listening skills.Provided free hearing aids and hearing evaluation services to the students.Academic training is provided to students as per the syllabus of the State board. Our focus has always been on the quality of education that we provide. We maintain a healthy teacher-student ratio of 1:8 and also encourage parents to be part of their children’s developmental process. Free hearing aids are provided and routine screening is undertaken to ensure that every student is aided with optimum hearing range possible.Ashray Akruti follows the Oral Aural method of teaching for children with hearing loss if identified early. However, we also have solutions for children identified late and with additional challenges. Ashray Akruti’s Pre-school program assists parents to help develop their child’s language speech, hearing, and intellectual abilities. Parents are involved in the educational program so they understand the concepts and teaching methodology and practice the same at home. The school steadfastly maintains a low teacher-student ratio, which enables a special child to get individual attention. The teachers design individualized and customized education plan and develop curriculum to meet the individual needs of the hearing impaired children. The teachers are certified by Rehabilitation Council of India.Major Eventsa) Republic day CelebrationsWith the lockdown lifted Ashray Akruti marked the 72nd Republic Day on the campus with a limited number of children and staff observing all safety norms of physical distance and masks. The Tricolour was hoisted with great National pride and respect.b) Creating Awareness on Hearing Care by Celebrating World Hearing DayWorld Hearing Day was celebrated on 3rd March 2021. Dr. E.C.Vinaya Kumar Head of ENT, APOLLO HOSPITALS and Secretary SAHI TRUST, graced the occasion as our Chief Guest. Mr. MSB Sudheer Babu - Location Head, TECH MAHINDRA FOUNDATION,Ms. Rekha Srinivasan - CEO - UNITED WAY OF HYDERABAD & Mr.Ishakar, Secretary General, UVARD graced the occasions Guests of Honour.On the occasion Ashray Akruti inaugurated two units :1. Ear & Hearing screening equipment2. New born Hearing screening deviceThese are great assets and we are very grateful to BASAID for the equipment support. This addition ensures more Community Outreach Programs in Anganwadis across Telangana. The immense need to screen and to provide ear and hearing care to a large number of children, Newborns, high risk adults from marginalized section can now be better addressed.Ashray Akruti provides Ear & Hearing screening facilities, Early Detection of Hearing Impairment to Prevent Development Delays, improve quality of life and promote the importance of prevention and treatment through the Public Health Approach.Impact Created650 hearing impaired children were provided special education, 125 children were provided with auditory verbal therapy, 50,000 services offered at hearing clinic, 8613+ grocery kits were distributed to the needy during covid 19 pandenmic,

Challenges due to online ClassDue to online classes , regular hearing screening for the hearing impaired children was not possible. Special educators motivated the parents to be present with the children, while the child attends the online classes. This helped the student to concentrate better and submit work on time.Activity PlanThe teachers will conduct Summative assessment, Formative assessment and slip tests for the students and evaluate performance in all subjects, speech and auditory skills by special educators and speech therapist. The academic progress of the students will be reviewed every three months. The recording of the speech and auditory skills of the students will be done every three months,Covid Relief Work: Ashray Akruti’s Covid Relief services Team is trying to reach out to those who need to be protected in these times through our relief services.In the month of February and March 7331 grocery kits were distributed to person with disabilities, 956 kits to senior citizens, 1158 to migrants, 330 to transgender and 986 to poor needy families . Snacks kits were supported by Goonj were distributed to 500 families.Case Study:Person Name: V. RajanikanthEducation: InterAge: 38Marital Status: MarriedAddress: Thirumalgiri, Secunderabad.I am V. Rajanikanth, disabled, and used to do plumbing & electrical work, living in a rental accommodation. My wife Maria Florima earlier worked as a nurse Kim’s hospital & we have two children. Before the pandemic outbreak my wife had an accident and her backbone got fractured. Since then I have stopped going to work and have been taking care of her. She has been undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital. I did not take the ration for three months when I was attending at the hospital & was totally dependent on the pension given by the government for the disabled. Now, she is discharged and advised to be complete bed rest for 8 months.

Caste Study 2: Name of the student B.RohitThe students of Ashray Akruti have been attending the online classes since once and half year. Rohit is studying in Class VIII. He is a disciplined boy and his performance in academics is average. He does well in English and Maths but feels challenges while studying Science and Social. He participates in classroom discussions and activities. In the begining of the online classes , he used to hesitate to participate in online class discussion and would remain silent. But now he answers to the questions asked by the teachers.His speech level is average. He can speak in phrase level. His auditory skills are good. He is able to identify words and phrases. He secured 65% in internal assessment conducted in July 2021. He likes to play cricket and football. He is attending online classes regularly. He misses his regular school and hopes to meet his friends soon in future when the school opens.

Ashray Akruti continues its mission of providing special education to children with hearing loss and making an enormous difference in their lives. The education is provided to 650 children at 6 locations in Hyderabad and one location in Kadapa Andhra Pradesh.
The corona virus pandemic had resulted in the closure of schools for the academic year 2020- 2021.

The special educators and speech therapist took online classes for the children of Class 1st to Class 10th. Parents were given counselling and were also motivated to participate in class along with the children. The parents took additional responsibility to make their presence in the online class with their children. Parents made a note as to what was taught in class and shared the home work and assignment done by the children with the respective teacher.

The only challenge the students faced was unavailability of tablets, desktops and laptops. Most of the children come from vulnerable families. They could not afford to buy a tablet or a desktop for their child. Children used to either borrow phone from their neighbours or use parents phone to attend classes. Ashray Akruti with the support of individual donors and corporates could provide tablets to few students.

From January 2021 Ashray Akruti has started offline class to the students of Class VI to X.

Independence Day Celebration
Due to this pandemic situation of Covid 19 and closure of school, Organization couldn’t celebrate the Independence Day in school but one of the company (Wipro) gave the opportunity to Ashray Akruti students to participate in the celebrations virtually. On this occasion students have participated in drawing competition.
Special Olympiad
Students of Ashray Akruti participated in Special Olympics conducted by one of the MNC (Real page). 40 students took part in different activities like drawing, art & craft, dancing and skipping and showcased their talent.
Children’s day celebrations
Due to this pandemic situation of Covid 19 and closure of school, Organization couldn’t celebrate the Children’s day in school but one of the company gave the opportunity to Ashray Akruti students to participate in the celebrations virtually. On this occasion students participated in fancy dress and dance programme.

Success story:

Pavan Reddy

Pavan Reddy hails from a poor family in Hyderabad. His father works as an agricultural labourer in their village and his mother is a housewife. He stays with his mother in Hyderabad.
His parents were in a state of shock when they realized that he was born with hearing impairment.

They were clueless as how to support or take care of their child. They visited several doctors in the hope of finding a cure for their child but nothing worked. Their economic condition was not good and hence could not afford assistive devices and rehabilitation cost. They wished to provide him good education. They learnt about Ashray Akruti and services of the organization through references and decided to enroll him at Ashray Akruti. They were very happy to see the teaching methodology and techniques to deal with a hearing impaired child. He joined Ashray Akruti School in June 2016 in Fast Track Class.

He was promoted from Class III to Class V. He is presently studying in Class VII at Ashray Akruti. Initially when he joined the school he was not able to follow the teacher’s instructions in class but now he can understand and respond appropriately.

He has shown good improvement in studies. He is able to answer the questions asked by the teachers in the classroom. He can read in sentences, likes to draw and paint. His parents are very happy with his progress at Ashray Akruti.

Educating the bright minds

Project Objectives:
• To provide hearing impaired children academic training from Nursery through High School.
• To provide assistive hearing devices for children with hearing loss
• To help hearing impaired children use their residual hearing and develop expressive speech
• To provide counseling and guidance to students and parents

Ashray Akruti has been providing quality education for the children with Hearing Impairment since 1996. Medium of instruction is English. The syllabus and curriculum is set according to the curriculum of Telangana state board. The syllabus is adapted to suit the requirements of the students. The teacher and student ratio is 1:8. The process of teaching involves individually planned systematically monitored teaching methods, adaptive methods, accessible settings and other interventions designed to help students to achieve higher level of self-sufficiency and success in the school.

From the month of January 2020 to March 2020 - 25 hearing impaired children received support from Give India for Education.

Program Update

The organization has been following several unique techniques in imparting special education to the hearing impaired children, the main feature being that the children are encouraged to speak. The focus is to enhance the residual hearing power of the children thus encouraging the children to speak rather than rely on sign language for communication. The institution encourages participation of the mothers in effective development of their children. All the staff members are well equipped to train hearing impaired children. Children are given special training in auditory and verbal skills and also academic training as per Andhra Pradesh State Syllabus. The institution steadfastly maintains a low teacher-student ratio, which enables every child to get the individual attention.

A number of activities were carried out in the last quarter -
Ashray Akruti observes World Hearing Day 2019
Ashray Akruti observed World Hearing Day on 3rd March at Tourism Plaza, Begumpet, Hyderabad. Lt. Gen. S.M. Mehta (Retd.) AVSM, SM, VSM, Chief Executive Officer, The Hans Foundation was the Chief Guest on the occasion along with several other guests attended the event. The audience was charmed by the lively performances of the children who have undergone Cochlear Implant Surgery. The children also recited rhymes much to the delight of the audience. The parents shared their experiences of how their lives have been transformed after the Cochlear Implant surgery.

Ashray Akruti students express themselves through Art
As a part of celebrations of the ‘World Hearing Day’, Ashray Akruti organized ‘Voiced Colors – Edition IV Art exhibition’ at Shrishti Art gallery, Road number 15, Jubilee Hills on 1st March. An array of more than 90 paintings done by 29 students of Ashray Akruti were on display. The beautiful strokes on the canvas with colors spoke immensely of the enormous artistic talent and potential of these students. A huge thanks to our Art Teachers Mr. Ramakrishna ,Ms. Tanuja, and Mr. Ajay who mentored and brought out the best out of the students.

We are delighted to share -
It is a very proud moment for Ashray Akruti. Two students from the Multimedia and Computer Animation Training Centre, Mr. J. Tushar and Mr. K. Chandeesh have been hired by MAX and Flipkart respectively.
Tushar and Chandeesh hail from very modest families and successfully completed the four month course in Multimedia and Computer Animation at Ashray Akruti.

Congratulations! We wish them all the best for new assignment and a great future ahead.

Ashray Akruti celebrates Republic Day
70th Republic day celebrated by Ashray Akruti at its Srinagar Colony premises. Students from all the centres of Ashray Akruti centers participated in the programme with Mrs. Aruna Bahuguna, Rtd IPS officer as the chief guest.
Students put up a dance performance, a skit and a fancy dress show, leaving the audience thrilled with their performance.
Speaking on the occasion Ms. Aruna Bahuguna appreciated the performance of the students, congratulated the teachers for nurturing their talents, and wished the students a bright future.

Women’s Day celebrations at Wipro
Ashray Akruti students participated in the Women’s day celebrations at Wipro campus in Hyderabad. They charmed the employees with their dance. They also performed National Anthem in sign language. The different meanings of the words were brought to life through signs , and the zeal and arrogance on their faces made it a delightful experience for one and all.

Thank you Sponsors for bringing sound into their silent world.

Voter Awareness Walk for persons with Disability
30 students of the Ashray Akruti Multimedia and Animation centre participated in the voter awareness walk for persons with disability organized by the Chief Electoral Officer of Hyderabad at People Plaza, Necklace Road. Approximately one thousands persons with disabilities, and PwD activists participated in this walk. This was an event to create awareness on the importance of voting among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Volunteering -
Volunteering from various organization including FedEx, PwC, DRS Internations School, JP Morgan, CGI Information Systems and Management etc. visited and volunteered with us at different occasions.
The volunteers interacted with the children, and spent time painting on the pebbles and having fun along with them. The team also played a cricket match and kabbadi with the boys on the school ground. They also distributed play material, hygiene and stationary kits to the children. They conducted sports competitions for the kids. The winners were given medals by the PwC team on the occasion of Republic day celebrations at Ashray Akruti.
Volunteers from Cognizant came forward to fulfil the wish list of students and distributed the items the students had wished for.
HSBC volunteers also had an Origami session with the children.

Story from the field

Sai Praneeth hails from a very poor family in Hyderabad. His father works as a salesperson with an automobile company while his mother is a homemaker. The family income is barely enough to feed the family.
It came as a big shock to his parents when they realized that their child was hearing impaired. With no proper guidance and no access to facilities for a child with hearing loss, the parents felt helpless. They wanted him to have a normal childhood and wanted him to go to school. They enrolled him in a school nearby. He made no progress and could not get along with the other hearing children. Some of their well-wishers advised them to train him in special skills. Without further delay, they started exploring for schools that could train him and came across Ashray Akruti. They enquired about the school and the services offered by the organization for the hearing impaired. They approached the school for admission and enrolled him here in January 2013.

Current Status: Sai Praneeth is studying in Grade IV at Ashray Akruti. He is being helped with speech therapy and auditory training, which helped him to improve in his listening and speech skills. The special educators are helping him with academics. He shows good interest in studies especially English. He also responds well to the questions asked by the teachers in the classroom. His parents are very happy with his progress at Ashray Akruti.The special educators here help him to lip-read, speak and listen.
Interests and Hobbies: Sai Praneeth is a very active child. He enjoys playing games, drawing and craftwork. His favourite subject is Computer.