Sheltered Workshops

In today's world each one is looking for better job prospects and making their life more meaningful in their terms. It is an irony that our special students find themselves at cross roads not knowing what to do or how to engage themselves after the basic schooling and vocational training. Many of our students have come of age and now need to become economically independent. Even after vocational training, the special needs persons are unable to obtain jobs in industry and commercial establishments in wider society

The result is loss of hope and confidence, which sweeps their life when they have no option but to sit at home, actually resulting in unlearning what they actually have learnt over the years. Thus started the need for sheltered workshops. The training program along with employment is a step towards working for their economic rehabilitation. The philosophy behind the sheltered workshops is to train students in a vocation, which will help them in becoming financially independent and productive members of society and to teach the students work place ethics.

Keeping this thought in the mind, in July 2005, Tamana set up two sheltered workshops - Bakery at Nai Disha(Vocational Center) and Laundry at Tamana Special school. Simple steps have been devised for teaching baking and laundry to individuals with special needs which take into account their abilities and limitations

Baking (bread, cakes biscuits) is a simple cooking activity and after the process is broken into simple steps (task analysis) like identifying ingredients, weighing the ingredients, mixing, transferring to moulds, baking, decorating, packing and making the bills. Technological advancements have made the process simpler as now state of the art baking equipment are available which are easily operable by a single button and simplest of instructions. Additionally baked products have a good market in Indian urban areas and are fast moving products. The sales of products help us in raising funds for our organization and providing stipend to students who train in it. Thus, leading to greater self-sufficiency at student and institutional level. At present there are 12 students working in our bakery unit. A special educator and a baker train these students.

In the laundry unit the students are sent to collect linen and clothes from clients (beauty parlours). The students make a record of the number of clothes they collect from each client. After returning the students sort the clothes according to size and colour and put them in different washing machines. The students then pour the requisite quantity of the soap in the automatic machines and start the machine. After the wash cycle is over, the students dry the clothes in the sun. The students under supervision iron the dried clothes. The students make the final bills for each client.

Besides leading the students towards self-reliance, these two workshops have started rebuilding their self-esteem and fulfilling their emotional needs.

Best Buddies Program

Best Buddies is a non -profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of the people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one to one friendships and integrated employment. Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shrives, Best Buddies is a vibrant international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1200 middle school, high school and collage campuses. This program has been accredited in six continents.

People with intellectual disabilities are often excluded from society because of their differences. Best Buddies is determined to end social isolation for people with intellectual disabilities by establishing meaningful and lasting one to one friendships with their non-disabled peer. These friendships help increase self- esteem, confidence and the self worth of people with and without intellectual disabilities. What is most wonderful about the program is that it provides them with a 'friend', a buddy. This buddy accepts them as they are, wherever they may be in their social skill development. They initiate conversation and show a genuine interest in these kids.

Keeping all this in mind Tamana Schools started this program with class XI students of Delhi Public School R.K Puram. The students from DPS School visit Tamana School regularly. They participate in various activities such as drama, dancing, cooking or academies. This sort of program gives disabled children something that can't be bought a -friend. It provides children with disabilities more and better social contacts. Interaction with peers with disabilities has positive impacts also on those who do not have disabilities. They are learning to be more tolerant and sensitive to differences as they spend time with their special buddies. By training children with intellectual disability in the skills necessary to succeed in the community and workplace the non-disabled students have the key to change society's mind and heart.

Best Buddies meets the immediate needs for social inclusion and affects long term change in people's attitude towards individuals with intellectual and multiple disabilities and autism.

Tamana Kindergarten

Children from lower strata of the society have not been overlooked by Tamana. In July, 2006 Tamana has started an afternoon preschool catering to children in the age group of 2-6 years residing in the slum settlements near Tamana. The school is run in the premises of Tamana Special School between 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. This is very special endeavor by Tamana to reach out to the underprivileged and make optimum utilization of its facilities. The program uses non formal teaching methods to impart pre-primary education to the children and focuses on every area of the child's development. Once, the children complete their pre primary education, Tamana will help the parents enroll them in government run primary schools. The school started with 5 children, presently has 55 ( March 2007) and is constantly growing.

Physical Fitness Program

Special Children too tend to become lethargic and over weight once they enter adolescence and adult hood. Parents always wish that their child remain active and fit. Parents are apprehensive about sending their ward to commercial gyms and fitness centres as they worry about acceptance of their child in such centres and the heavy fee charged by them. Tamana has started a physical fitness program after school hours at Nai Disha .

Most parents complain that their child after returning home becomes lethargic and inactive. Keeping that in mind Tamana has started with a program, which will help them regain strength, increase their endurance level and channelize their energy levels in a conservative manner. Each child attends two sessions in a week and the timings are from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. The Sessions Include: -

Ø Weight reduction and physical fitness program.

Ø A comprehensive O. T. program

The Activities include the following-Treadmill (electronic), walking, running, Jogger Manual; Gym Activities - Chest Pressure, Rowing; Stepper; Stair Climbing; Twister; Strengthening exercises; Relaxation Therapy

Dance and Movement Therapy

Tamana has introduced Dance therapy in its three branches. Dance Instructors from Shaimak Dawar Institute of Performing Arts assisted by the special educators of Tamana teach dance to the students. Children are guided through experimental movement activities to become aware of their bodies and develop deeper understanding of themselves. While engaging in body preparatory exercises, movement activities and games they have been stimulated to think, memorize, feel and express ideas through their bodies. The movements help improve their body coordination, attention span and imitation skills. The dance sessions have led to a feel good factor in the students and they are loosing their inhibitions. The students also get opportunities to perform their dances in front of varied audiences thus giving a boost to their self confidence and self esteem.

File Making Unit

A new vocation has been introduced at Nai Disha Vocational Center -manufacturing Cobra office files. This unit was set up keeping in mind our philosophy of introducing vocations which can easily be learned by our students and the end product has a demand in the market. The fact that the machines are manually operated makes the learning accident free. The file making process has been broken into simple sequences. A core group of 9 students have been selected to make the files. The process of file making involves cutting, creasing, putting rivets, moulding the edges and printing. We hope to cater to the offices, nearby markets and schools. As this unit is simple in its functionality, we hope our young adults may open up a sheltered unit later in life.