RITHAM special school for mentally challenged children is
established in 2004 in Rajapalayam (a small town in backward Virudhunagar
District), Tamil Nadu, India to serve the students in the town and its nearby
villages. Ritham School is registered under the Tamil Nadu government.
Ritham started its first step with 4 children in 2004. Now
Ritham has more than 100 special students and 24 staff members.
What is the need of Special School?
Mentally Challenged (MR) and Cerebral Palsy(CP) children
have trouble speaking, understanding social rules, solving problems and
thinking logically. They find it hard to remember things. There is no known
cure for these medical problems. medical intervention is limited to the
treatment and prevention of complications possible from MR's consequences.
If these kids are not identified early and given
physiotherapy their muscles will contract and will attain a permanent deformity.
Identifying the condition early and starting education early is the only
option.
Today so much is being written about early intervention.
Every day the children lose by sitting at home, is a day lost in their lives.
Training/educating any child, with or without disability must start early, even
as the brain is in the formative stage. The later they come to school the more
difficult it is for them to catch up with the process of learning.
And we sincerely believe the kids deserve a chance, they can
be educated, and they are trainable, depending on the severity of the
disability. All it takes is an open mind.
Our motive is to teach them how to improve their daily
living skills, such as getting dressed, using the bathroom, and eating on their
own; communication skills, such as understanding what is said and being able to
answer; social skills with peers, family members, adults, and others. And where
possible educate them for an independent, productive life.
