Inspiration Fungama 2009

We celebrated our Annual Day Inspiration Fungama '09 on 2 November 2009 at India International Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. The Guest of Honour for the occasion was Dr. R. K. Hora, Officer Incharge of National Institute For Mentally Handicapped, New Delhi Regional Centre. The heads of several other organizations graced the occasion with their presence. Continuing our tradition, an hour-long Kathak performance by the renowned French dancer Isabelle Anna was the highlight of the occasion. Isabelle has been actively supporting the children of Inspiration Centre.

ABOVE: Dr. Hora and Mr. Gadkari felicitate Isabell Anna and Release the Inspiration brochure.
BELOW: Students of Inspiration Centre performing Vande Mataram and Shiv Vandana.



There were many other performances by the Inspiration family including Vande Mataram and Shiv Vandana. For Shiv Vandana – Kathak performance our students were trained by Isabell’s student – Lily. Mrs. Saswati Singh gave a multimedia presentation on “Supported Decision Making”, a United Nations Pilot Project about which we shall post soon. Mr. J.P. Gadkari, President of Parivar addressed the audience and praised our children’s efforts. The programme concluded with a bhangra dance performance and all joined hands for a group song – WE SHALL OVERCOME.

Inspiration Fungama 2008

'A free race cannot be born of slave mothers', says Margaret Sanger and the Inspiration Family concurs. Inspiration is a Registered Non-Profit Organization working for the welfare of the developmentally disabled (autistics, mentally disabled and slow learners) and empowering the mothers for the last 13 years. The organization celebrated its Annual Day as Inspiration Fungama '08 on 4 October 2008 at the New Delhi YMCA Tourist Hostel.The special guest of the occasion was Smt. Poonam Natarajan, the Chairperson of the National Trust. The heads of several other organizations graced the occasion with their presence.The highlight of the program was an hour-long Kathak performance by the renowned French dancer Isabelle Anna. First trained in Kathak in France, Isabelle joined Kathak Kendra, where she passed Honours and Post Diplomas, as a scholar of ICCR under the guidance of Pt. Jai Kishan Maharaj, son of Pt. Birju Maharaj of the Lucknow Gharana. Isabelle enjoys sharing her passion with children. She has been actively supporting the children of Inspiration Centre, Tilaknagar, New Delhi. Her aim is not only to teach them Kathak, but through dance, enable them find a means of expression, and thereby improve their everyday life.The event also comprised of other items by the students of Inspiration Centres, from New Delhi and Dehra Dun. The students left everyone spell-bound by their enthusiasm and commitment which is rare even in the so-called normal human beings. Their innocent faces proved that they are really 'special'. Inspiration released a Souvenir to raise funds to build up the corpus, in order to expand the services in the hill state of Uttarakhand, where they have the first Group Home geared to autistics in India. Mrs. Singh also announced the launching of the NAV PRERNA PROJECT in Nainital on 25 September '08, in order to help mothers in the remote areas to form parent associations to help the special children, who do not have any services in the hills.The event was a delightful experience that helped to spread a smile and encouraged many to come forward and make a difference. These students are truly an inspiration for all of us.

More About Inspiration

• Over the years Inspiration Centre has succeeded in striking a balance between professionalism, institutionalization and community involvement, as well as active involvement of the families, especially the mother.
  Its salient features are:
• Young children below 6 years are taken into the classroom and early intervention services are provided on a regular basis. This has resulted in rapid improvement of the children, and checking many of the behaviour problems which otherwise become established by that age. There's no substitute for early detection and intervention. Through proper care, stimulation and intervention almost 75% of damage may be prevented from deteriorating into disability. It has been seen practically that in a nurturing environment in the least restrictive conditions the child may reach a remarkable level of improvement. Most schools in Delhi do not have these services.
• IQ is not taken as a criterion for admission. Children below IQ50 are also taken, and given specialized training in self-help skills. This is a deviation from other special schools in Delhi. Children from slums and low-income bracket are given free training at the Centre.
• The mother is encouraged to come along with the child. Free hands-on training is given to parents, as a result of which consistency is maintained at home and the institution. This results in rapid improvement of the children.
• Inspiration Centre is the 1st Institution in Delhi to conduct the Ist, IInd and IIIrd level Care Giver's Training under the National Trust, a statutory body, under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• All Teachers and Caregivers are highly qualified and dedicated, who jointly work as a multidisciplinary group to provide quality services to the special children. Stress is given on prevocational and vocational training of boys and girls, depending on interest and family requirements.
• From the very beginning, Inspiration has being giving particular stress and care in the empowerment of the mother. The development of a positive mindset helps in improvement of the child, who is nurtured in a positive and scientific environment. The "Care Givers" program focused on training of such potential mothers from the low-income bracket, and Inspiration has been successful in helping society by such training. Regular meetings and trainings are held, free of charge, so that all families may participate in the rehabilitation of these special children. The active involvement of parents also encourages the development of positive attitude in the parents. In June 2000, the parents from Inspiration Centre went in a large group of 24 for training at NIMH, SECUNDERABAD. These parents are now regular and motivated parents who are helping in the classroom also. Inspiration has regularly conducted free training programs, some of which have been sponsored by NIMH, SECUNDERABAD & LAJPAT NAGAR. Parents from different states also participated and were able to take benefit from this free training.
• There is a separate section for slow learners, who have been rejected from normal schools. These children are assisted to attain a certain level, depending on age, and are then prepared for the National Open School. Use of computers and other modern devices have helped them to develop interest in education and some of them have successfully passed some of the exams. Most of these students suffer from inferiority complex and low self-esteem. At the Centre, a lot of activities have been introduced such as Music, Dance, Drawing & Painting, Taek-won-do and Participation in Special Olympics. Due to these the children develop a lot of confidence, which also boosts their performance in Academics.
• Inspiration has regularly conducted awareness programs to create sensitivity in families and community at large, through entertainment programs, where various resource persons were invited to speak on preventive measures and treatment and rehabilitation programs.
• Various Medical Camps were held to identify high risk mothers and give them counseling at an early stage.
• Participation in Inter school activities. Students from Inspiration Centre have participated in several functions and inter school competitions. Students have won Third prize at the YMCA Group song competition in 1999. Number of students has won Gold & Silver Medals at the Special Olympics, Delhi in 2001. Number of children participated at the National Olympics in 2001 and National Special Olympics on 7th Sept.2002. In 2003 ,Inspiration team won the Gold Medal for Bocce, a new game. In 2005, In the Special Olympics games ,Delhi, Inspiration team won the Gold Medal for Cricket. Also, In the Uttaranchal State Games, Two of the participants, from the newly set up Dehra Dun Branch, won a number of medals in several items.

Genesis, Dehradun Centre

INSPIRATION-a non-profit organization, working with the intellectually challenged, for the last 10 years, has now gone into its second phase On the completion of 10 years of service delivery, Inspiration launched a new project in Dehra Dun, from the 1st of October’05. The new Centre was opened in Dehra Dun, as there is a dearth of such institutions in the whole of the North Zone. Being associated with several apex bodies in India, dealing with Disability, Inspiration chose this particular state, due the call from parents & society in general.PHOTO : The Inaugural Ceremony at Inderlok Hotel. Seen here on Dias -Director with Chief Guest- Late Gen. Ranbir Bakhshi of the Raphael International Centre. Principal, Welham Girls' School addressing the Parents.

The inaugural ceremony took place at Inderlok Hotel, on the 25th Sept’ 05. Late Maj.Gen. Ranbir Bakhshi, Chairman Emeritus of Raphael Home, also a well known stalwart from the disability sector was the Chief Guest, while Mrs. Brar, Principal of Welham Girls’ School, and Mr. C.P. Dang, Chairman of Doon Girls’ School were the Guests of Honour. The Group Home presently consists of 9 inmates, and as many day scholars. It offers a variety of services with special emphasis on self-help skills and activities of daily living, besides games and therapies like, alternative therapies, behaviour therapy and recreational activities, music therapy, Vocational Activities etc.After coming to the Home, the students have shown a lot of improvement in their independent living skills. Peer tutoring, role modelling, high motivation and parent involvement are the key factors, which have played a vital role in the improvement of these young adultsFrom the morning till bed-time, there are a lot of activities which keep them gainfully occupied. Vocational training is incorporated to develop a positive work culture, so the students’ self esteem is boosted. In the Remedial Tutoring Centre, which operates in the evening, children from regular schools attend, & are a positive presence in the Home, since the integration gives the development of a lot of healthy attitudes in the regular students, when there are group integrated games ,dance & music.

SPECIAL FEATURES

The Special features of the Dehra Dun Centre are as follows:

Diet Therapy for autistic children.

Alternative therapies to control impulsitivity/aggression.

Special emphasis on Group Therapy & Role Modelling.

Training in Self-help skills & life skills.

Regular yoga & exercises.

Meditation Sessions for parents/volunteers.

Involvement of overseas volunteers.

Integrated group play & involvement of Students of Regular Schools.

Panel of highly experienced professionals on the Board of Advisors

Advocacy in Society, about Autism & Intellectual Disabilities.

Networking/ Liaison with Govt Depts, like IT Dept, & Social Welfare Dept of Uttaranchal Govt.