Uniforms, blackboards, crayons and toys.

Across the world, these words bring alive memories of childhood.

Why should it be any different for a child with a disability?

It was as a reply to this question that led to the establishment of Shradhanjali Intergrated School (SIS) in 1973. Each day the excited chatter of children with different type of disabilities reverberates through the school block at the campus of APD in Lingarajapuram, Bangalore.

Shradhanjali Integrated School gives admission to children with cerebral palsy, speech and hearing impairments, muscular dystrophy, and locomotor disability. It teaches students from nursery to Class VII after which they are ready to study with students in regular schools. The exposure to this eventual mainstreaming begins from day one as 25% of SIS’s students are those with regular physical and mental abilities.

Children with disabilities, however, need something more than text books and toys in the course of their learning. At SIS, blocks of empowerment build the foundation to prepare them for the journey of a lifetime.

SIS’s holistic approaches progress from parent counseling to medical interventions. If required, the children undergo surgeries. They are providing mobility aids and appliances parallel to physiotherapy services. The school is fully equipped with physical facilities to make the classroom and playground a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Special seating arrangements are in place. SIS follows an academic curriculum prescribed by the Government of Karnataka. At the same time, the mode of teaching encourages activity based education.

Admissions take place on the basis of their mental and physical ability. This ensures that children are placed in environs that are commensurate with their natural aptitude and interest.

SIS caters to children from different socio-economic segments and provides mid-day meals and uniforms to the needy. Its dedicated buses reduce the responsibility of arranging for transport for the parents. SIS is sustained through different ways, with options of sponsorship to suits various pockets and profiles.