Sri Sathya Sai Special School was started with the objective to help the differently abled children in the society, especially from rural areas. This School is located near Machanapalli village, 5 km away from Jammikunta in the backward district of Karimnagar in the year 1996 in 2 acres land thus providing fresh air with greenery around. The students come from 6 Villages around. The project was established with a strength of 8 day scholars and gradually developed into 40 residential and 50 day scholars and was functional for more than 2 decades impacting 30 families. Currently, we have 35 students as Day scholars. In 2005, an vocational training centre was started with an intention to make the selected students self reliant and also boost their self confidence. Students are provided stipend to reduce their dependency on parents who have meager wages.

The classrooms are all well ventilated and equipped with good class room furniture. Mild and moderately affected children in the age group of 6 to 25 years are provided with therapy sessions in speech and physiotherapy by specially trained staff. They are trained in personal, social, academics, occupational and recreational areas. They are also provided training in culminary skills. The curriculum FACP (Functional Assessment Checklist for Programming) for the training is designed by National Institute for Mentally Handicapped (NIMH), Secunderabad. The training material is specially designed for them by Ed-Craft and National Institute.

The staff recruited with Degree Qualifications are also provided further selective trainings in Special B. Ed thus enhancing their skills. These teachers hail from economically poor strata and are from the nearby areas. This employment improves their financial status by being near to their home and most of them have been with the organization since its inception. Out of the staff, two are orphan boys who have been educated by the organization since their early childhood and thus providing employment in the organization.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF SPECIAL SCHOOL , Individual Awards

• The children with special needs are encouraged to participate in all cultural activities. Most of the students participated in district level, inter district, state and national level competitions and won prizes.
• Ms. K.Swetha won bronze medal in 100 m running at Chennai in National Games for disabled and won gold medal in 200 m running in state games at Gachibowli stadium.
• Mr. Kota Raju won silver medal in 200m running in state games for disabled
• The School cricket team participated in a week long national cricket coaching camp for disabled held at Anantapur.
• One team participated Bocce game for intellectual disabled help at Gachibowli conducted by the Special Olympics Bharat. In games and cultural competitions there is no bar for our students. Our school students won many number of medals, mementoes, shields and certificates
• Organizational Accolades
• Best Teacher Award from Rotary Club of Hyderabad in 2017.
• Best School in the field of Disability from the District authority on Telangana Formation Day 2017.
• Selected as District Local level Committee Member by the National Trust, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi (amongst 4 other NGOs in the District)
• Won 3rd prize as Certificate of Appreciation in Skill Training for Adult by National Institute for Persons with Disabilities in Intellectually Disabled, Secunderabad in the year 2011
• Certificate of merit from Amba Foundation

VOCATIONAL CENTRE FOR ENHANCING LIVELIHOOD FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED

As these differently abled children hail from lower economic strata of society and the parents do not have enough time and money to cater to their needs, they are mostly not given the due attention as required. The main intention of starting the Vocational Centre is to make them self reliant and engaging and thus make a difference to themselves and their parents. These students are trained in making envelope, covers, files, file pads, file wrappers, notebooks, notepads, spiral books, screen printing work and phenyl making. These products are marketed to educational institutions, government and corporate offices banks like: Schools and Colleges around the project area, District Collector Office, State Bank of India, Hetero Foundation, Dr Reddys Labs, Capital IQ, Amba Foundation.

As these differently abled children hail from lower economic strata of society and the parents do not have enough time and money to cater to their needs, they are mostly not given the due attention as required. The main intention of starting the Vocational Centre is to make them self reliant and engaging and thus make a difference to themselves and their parents. These students are trained in making envelope, covers, files, file pads, file wrappers, notebooks, notepads, spiral books, screen printing work and phenyl making. These products are marketed to educational institutions, government and corporate offices banks like: Schools and Colleges around the project area, District Collector Office, State Bank of India, Hetero Foundation, Dr Reddys Labs, Capital IQ, Amba Foundation.

A new diversed arena was opened up through Amba Foundation who came forward to train these students in data entry by supplying laptops and training. The work involved cropping of pics and uploading them, SIM card application data entry for which these students were provided with stipend. Registered under National Trust, Government of India: The school is registered under National Trust, Government of India under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment thus facilitating Niramaya Health Cards to the beneficiaries. The Scheme helps in claiming medical expenses covering Rs. 1 lakh per annum for each beneficiary.

The school is also registered under Deistical Local Level Committee to facilitate processing of application for legal guardian for the beneficiary. The committee facilitates the financial dealings of the beneficiary and maintenance of the same for life.