Tamana Association

Tamana Association
Founded 1984
Type Special School
Focus Disability
Special Education
Research
Location
Area served
 India
Key people
 Shayama Chona
Tamana Chona
Website tamana.org

Tamana is a non-profit voluntary organization registered in March 1984 in India,[1] created solely with the purpose of helping the cause of cognitively impaired, intellectually challenged and for individuals with autism.[2] Tamana is recognized by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, Department of Social Welfare; Govt. of NCT Delhi, Rehabilitation Council of India[3] and is registered with the National Trust.

Recognized nationwide for its contribution in the field of disability and for providing rehabilitative services, its involvement was accredited & granted a Special Consultative Status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council [4] in 2005.

The Founder/President Dr. Shayama Chona was awarded the Padmashree, a Padmabhushan and two national awards for her commendable contribution in the field of disabilities in India [5][6]

Aim and Vision

Tamana offers an Individual Educational Program for every student, aimed at social and economic independence, which incorporates special education, regular academic program through the NIOS, therapeutic interventions and vocational training. Each Centre of Tamana offers -speech, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, life skills training, computer education, music and dance, weight management and physical fitness, sports and extracurricular activities, counseling, behaviour modification, diagnostics and assessment facilities, family counseling.[7]

Under the cherished dream of seeing each child become an independent adult the aims of the organization include  :

• Providing therapy and Counseling to children and their families.

• Maintaining a motivated, dedicated and quality conscious team of professionals.

• Contributing to the training and development of manpower in the field of special education.

• Providing legal advocacy services.

• Introducing relevant technology to enhance the effectiveness of special education.

• Conducting research in key areas of special education and training.

• Creating and enhancing greater public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with special needs.

• Networking with organizations worldwide.

Special Schools

Tamana Special School

The first branch of Tamana, The Tamana Special School was inaugurated by the Late Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales, on 12 February 1992 and the foundation stone was laid by the then High Commissioner of Britain, Sir David Goodall.[2] The Special School caters to the individual needs of 115 children coming from all strata of the society, age ranging from 4–17 years. At Tamana special school, the program focuses on over all development of child depending on needs as well as potential. Functional academics are imparted with parallel intervention with allied therapies depending on the needs of the child. The regular school curriculum is a vital reference points for students who have potential to be included in a regular classroom or join the open school program.[8]

Nai Disha Vocational Center

With the realization that the young adults at Tamana have to be equipped with skills to adapt appropriately to the needs of adulthood and thereby function as an independent whole-physically and emotionally, Nai Disha was conceived. The program aims creates an infrastructure, which ensures a smooth graduation from school to the outside world, for the young adult and the family. It also aims to ensure training and placements of the young adults in various vocations and organizations.[9][10]

Major skills targeted include:[11]

Tamana School of Hope

Tamana was the first institution in India to recognize autism as a disability distinct from others and to start programs for autistic spectrum disorder in 1985. The Autism Center-School of Hope is India’s first rehabilitate and research center for autistic individuals providing holistic services under one roof – a special school, sensory integration clinic, early intervention center, diagnostic center, research cell and an outreach cell.[12] [13] His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam the ex- president of India inaugurated the School of Hope, a full-fledged school dedicated to children with autism, on 19 August 2003.[14]

The highlights of the program offered are :-

Teacher Training Cell

Tamana has been recognized as a special study center by the Rehabilitation Council of India[15][16] and IGNOU[17][18] since 1994. The courses offered are:

Research

Tamana, in collaboration with Deakin University, Australia, launched TOBY (Therapy Outcomes by You) Playpad Laboratory on the 5th of July 2013 at its Autism Center, School of Hope.[19][20][21] TOBY, is an iPad based, therapist-and-parent application for Early Intervention therapy with children with Autism.[22]

In association with Deakin University, Australia for TOBY, Tamana won the Victorian International Education Award for Excellence in International Education – Research Engagement in 2013.[9]

Fundraising

Tamana has been organizing Fashion Shows annually as part of its fundraising. Leading fashion designers of the country have participated in the show including Manish Arora, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Ritu Kumar, Suneet Varma, Mira and Muzzaffar Ali, J.J. Vallaya, Satya Paul, Abhishek Gupta and Nandita Basu, Namrata Joshipura, Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna.[23][24][25] Students from the Tamana Special Schools walk the ramp hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder with the professional models.[26] [27] The objective of the event is to create and ensure public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with special needs.[28][29][30]

Tamana organizes its annual winter carnival for showcasing the products developed by the students with special needs and for providing a platform to market them.[31] .[32] The aim of the event is to create awareness about the differently abled and promoting their social integration.[11][33][34]

Honours, Awards and Recognition

References

  1. ↑ "Tamanna Winter Carnival 2010". Meri News. August 2011. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Tamanna Winter Carnival 2010". Times of India. December 2010. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  3. ↑ "Training Institutes approved by RCI" (PDF). Rehabilitation Council of India. August 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  4. ↑ "Tamanna Winter Carnival 2010" (PDF). United Nations Economic and Social Council. September 2010. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  5. ↑ "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2009)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs.
  6. ↑ "Shayama Chona Former DPS Principal". www.engineeringwatch.in. January 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  7. ↑ Official Website
  8. ↑ "Tamana- Official Website". Organization. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Tamana Association launches Nai Disha - a unique 'group home-living' concept". India Today. July 1998. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  10. ↑ Tamana Official Website
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1
  12. ↑ Raising Barriers - Hindu
  13. ↑ Tamana School of Hope transforming lives
  14. ↑ Tamana School of Hope
  15. ↑ Rehabilitation Council of India Special Study Centers
  16. ↑ Rehabilitation Council of India Special Study Centers
  17. ↑ IGNOU Special Study Centers
  18. ↑
  19. ↑ Launch of TOBY Playpad
  20. ↑ TOBY Playpad Deakin Research
  21. ↑ New iPad application to help autistic children
  22. ↑ TOBY Playpad
  23. ↑ tamanna ramp walk traditional fashion show westin hotel ntv
  24. ↑ tamana winter carnival 2013
  25. ↑
  26. ↑ Designers share the ramp with special kids
  27. ↑ Tamanna Ramp Walk Westin Hotel
  28. ↑
  29. ↑ For tamanna fashion a part fashion apart
  30. ↑ Tamana winter carnival 2013
  31. ↑ tamana winter carnival 2013
  32. ↑ chappals british high commissioner
  33. ↑ tamana winter carnival-2013
  34. ↑

External links