Making them 'live' every moment of their lives:

The special child is the focus of all the activities at Tamana. We make them enjoy every moment of their presence at the campus, encourage them to bring out their inner feelings and talent, help them learn things that make them able and confident citizens. On one hand, we provide them education, while on the other, we assist them in acquiring physical abilities and strength. Excursions are taken up at regular intervals so that they can see the different dimensions of the world they are part of, and social/cultural programs are organised to  facilitate their interaction with the society. All this has just one aim: to make our children a normal citizen in every aspect and to make them feel they are. 

Tamana Special School educates and rehabilitates over 150 mentally handicapped children with the help of two directors, twelve trained professionals and twelve teachers/aides. Admissions are not restricted by economic factors and as a result, forty percent of the school's students, who belong the the weaker sections of society are beneficiaries of freeships.

In house professional expertise is available in the form of a speech therapist, occupational therapist and a special educator trained in the US with two Masters Degrees in Special Education. It also has a panel of highly competent doctors- physician, pediatrician, neurosurgeon and eye specialist. Tamana is fortunate to have on its Governing Council professionals from different fields who are extremely adapt at taking quick decisive action as the need arises.

A dayfull of fun and hardwork:

A day-school, Tamana caters to special children and adults from the age of 5-30 years, coming from all sections of the Delhi community. The programme looks after children with severe problems, autism, as well as slow learners and those with learning disabilities. Grouping of these children is a skilled job in which each child is simultaneously programmed for and taught in a one-to-one situation and in a group. This optimum training module requires highly qualified staff and a maximum of five children to one teacher.

A day a Tamana is a blend of fun and learning- both being interdependent on each other. Each child has an individualized educational plan. The common point in all programmes is an emphasis on the child's strengths, the child's interest and making education as functional and age-appropriate as possible.

Unconventional style:

A typical day consists of a few basic divisions: reading and writing, math, social studies, science, painting, free play, outdoor games, speech therapy and physiotherapy, depending on the need of the child. The programme is implemented in groups of 4 to 6 children, in addition to one-to-one intensive.

We follow an integrated curriculum i.e. there is no formal demarcation between the subjects. We choose the topic of the month and learn all about it in various forms, so that a lesson in reading often links up to social studies and even math. Arts is an integral part of the programme. We use creative movement, drama, music, drawing and clay to acquire and reinforce concepts, to foster learning as well as the joy of creating.

In short, a day at Tamana taps the total child: encouraging his/her creative as well as logical side, structured as well as free expression. The children come at 9:00 am eager to enjoy a new day and go back at 1:30 pm, tired and happy.

Recreational outings

Varied and interesting trips are organised for students to familiarise them with the environment they live in. These trips are aimed at providing opportunities for the children to assimilate real life situations and to make their academic education functionally meaningful within their environment. Trips are therefore organised and paced in line with each group's academic, physical and vocational level.

Field visits include functional training at shops, post-offices, banks, bus stops, traffic squares, railway stations, restaurants, etc. Children at Tamana also enjoy visits to parks,  zoological gardens, amusement parks, circuses and museums.

Integrated camps are held annually to promote interaction between child and society. This experience has brought moments of unimagined joy into the lives of the college volunteers who have participated in our programmes.