Delegates from all over the country converged at the 6th National Workshop on Early Intervention in Mental Retardation conducted by Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children (MNC) on 20-21 November 2009 at the Pastoral Centre, Chennai.
The State Commissioner for the Disabled, C Vijaya Raj Kumar, IAS and Poonam Natarajan, Chairperson, National Trust graced the occasion. The key resource persons included Prof P Jeyachandran, Dr M Pappa Kumari, Dr Sujatha Jagadeesh, Dr Kalpana Gowri Shankar, Dr Chithra Sankar, Dr Prithika Chary, Dr Nandini Mundkur, Dr E S Krishnamoorthy, Dr S Sunder, Dr Roopa Nagarajan, Dr K Prabakar and Sheilaja Rao, Rajul Padmanabhan and Nirmala Venkateswaran.
Physiotherapy demonstrations in early intervention, self-management, eating and feeding management, alternative and augmentative communication for non-verbal children and diet for the child with disability were showcased from MNC.
Jaya Krishnaswamy, Dr M Pappa Kumari, Prof P Jeyachandran and Vimala Kannan at the inaugural session.
S Krishnan, welcoming the delegates: Vimala Kannan, Prof P Jeyachandran, Poonam Natarajan and Jaya Krishnaswamy on the dais.
Demonstration session: Children of MNC with a special educator.
Poonam Natarajan distributing participation certificates.
Founded in December 1989 with three children with developmental delays, the Madhuram Narayanan Centre has trained over 4000 children and empowered their families till date.
Started as a corporate social initiative of The Sanmar Group, this pioneering Centre imparts individualised training programmes with its developmental package called ‘Upanayan’ which means lead along. What began as a predominantly sympathetic response to help educate children with disabilities has evolved as a premier centre of excellence for early intervention of children with mental retardation and its associated conditions including cerebral palsy, autism and Downs Syndrome. This Centre aims to empower the Children and their parents on whole life issues based on the Rights of Persons with Disability, which has been ratified by the Government of India.
Madhuram Narayanan Centre celebrated its 20th Anniversary on 12 December 2009. As a sterling role model to many emerging centres in this fledgling field, Madhuram Narayanan Centre has come a long way.
‘Vanavillil Vannajalangal’, a thematic presentation by parents, teachers and children of MNC relating the rainbow colours to child development.
Chandra Sankar lighting the kuthuvilakku.
Patron K S Narayanan being presented a memento.