Janesh owes it to the training he received at Bala Vidyalaya. Unlike other similar institutions, here the focus is on early intervention. In fact, most children here have been able to develop verbal language skills.
The humble beginnings of the school dates back to 1969. The current honorary principal, Saraswathi Narayanaswamy, saw a serious lacuna in the field of education for the hearing- impaired. She began in a small rent-free premises. "There were five students and two teachers—myself and a friend," she recalls. "Hearing aids with custom-made ear moulds were provided and free training was given. All five developed verbal language skills and moved to regular schools."
With 180 students currently enrolled, Bala Vidyalaya continues to be a free institution. "The child needs help from day one," insists the 62-year-old Saraswathi. "The youngest we have had is a 48-day-old. And we’ll admit even younger ones," she adds.
Over the years, she has seen that most parents ignore the problem. They don’t realise that unless children hear, they will not talk. It is only when the child doesn’t talk that alarm bells ring. "Often, family doctors, paediatricians and ENT specialists don’t inform parents about the importance of the first three years in acquiring verbal language skills. And if they do manage to get the correct advice, parents don’t take it seriously. They shop around, going from doctor to doctor, wasting precious time," she regrets.
Fortunately, Janesh’s parents and others like them did not dither. They accepted the problem and acted fast. Today, these people make every effort to spread the word. The alumni of the school, including CAs, engineers, architects and management graduates, still remain in touch.
The methodology used is non-conventional and incorporates the tested practices in child education like the Montessori and play way methods. "The emphasis is on developing early auditory skills resulting in early language and speech acquisition," Saraswathi explains. "The auditory training we give helps the child learn to ‘listen’, without relying on ‘speech reading’ the teacher."
An important basis of Bala Vidyalaya’s approach is the role of parents. Says its principal: "Whatever their educational or economic backgrounds, parents remain the best caregivers. Empowering them is a key aspect. Regular counselling, workshops and demonstration classes form part of this process. By the time the child leaves, (in 3-5 years) at least one parent is trained to be the resource person for the child until he/she is self-sufficient." Even after the child integrates into the mainstream (in the first or second standard), the school provides any support the child or parents may require.
A charitable trust manages the school. There are six honorary members. The rest, 30 teachers and administrative staff, are paid salaries. They get an annual grant from the ministry of social justice and empowerment that meets part of the payments and contingencies. The rest of the money is generated through donations.
Creating enough number of special schools to educate every child is an impossible task, concedes Saraswathi. "It is early intervention, parental empowerment and integration into mainstream education that can be a viable alternative for our country."
Contact details: #18, 1st Cross street, Shastri Nagar, Chennai 600020 Tel: 044 2491 7199, Fax: 044 2498 2598, e-mail: hear@balavidyalayaschool.org, website—www.balavidyalayaschool.org
