Department

This Institute provides assessment and evaluation covering case history, physical and medical examination, intellectual and developmental assessment, special educational assessment, therapeutic needs assessment and vocational assessment. A program plan made for home based training and demonstrations are given to parents for carrying out the skill training or therapy program for home management.

The Clients were clinically examined for their nature, extent and causes of disability in the department of physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Following the medical examination, medicines are prescribed if needed and the clients are referred to other specialists for further investigation and rehabilitation. Medical & Genetic counseling, referrals for psychological, therapeutic and special education inputs were also provided. This department has the units of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Prosthetics & Orthotics Material development unit and sensory integration, provides services for persons with Multiple Disabilities. Besides Medical Services therapeutic services are also provided through the department to make the clients mobile and independent through exercises, electro and sensory integration therapies and by providing various aids and appliances including artificial limbs. The main objective of the department is to make "life in the years" of the clients and the focus is on training the parents in doing exercises and activities to help their child with disability.

Physiotherapy unit provides services for clients with Cerebral Palsy, developmental disabilities and other clients with orthopaedic disabilities. This unit aims at improving functions and developing activities of daily living. clients are assessed for the function of musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular and pulmonary systems and they are provided with age appropriate goals which are concerned with achieving and restoration of functions. These goals are reviewed periodically and new goals are set to achieve greater function. The clients are provided with regular follow-up and consultation. Neuro developmental therapy, Rood's Approach, Temply Fay's approach and other exercise protocols are given to the clients. Equipments like therapy ball, Prone wedge, curb and ramps, wall ladders are used to provide physiotherapy.

Occupational therapy unit caters to the needs of persons with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other developmental disabilities. Goals of the therapy is to improve the functional abilities of the client, including both gross motor and fine motor skills, achieving developmental mile stones, enhancing the cognitive-perceptual abilities and activities of daily living. All clients are subjected to initial evaluation, followed by goal setting and treatment implementation. Progress of the client is regularly observed and documented. Neuro developmental therapy, Rood's approach, play therapy and sensory integration are provided as modes of therapy. Sensory Integration services are provided to clients with Pervasive developmental disorders such as Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Equipments such as therapy ball, supportive and adaptive devices, hand function tools, sensory integration equipments are being utilized for client service. Splints and adaptive devices are prescribed for the clients. Fitted splints are regularly checked for their being suitable and the wearing schedule. Maintenance of splints is also explained to the clients and the parents.

Prosthetic & Orthotic unit provides services to the persons with disabilities in terms of assessment, measurement, fabrication, fitment and training of various types of orthotic, prosthetic splint, adaptive devices and seating devices as per their needs and requirement to perform and make accessible to environment and community. The fabrication and fitment technologies are based on low cost and low weight, to reduce the energy demand cost expenditure in performing day to day activities.

Psychological services include intellectual and functional assessments and interventions programs for persons with multiple disabilities. A detailed psychological assessment through standardized tools, behavior management programs and psychotherapy for the parents having children with disabilities. Family system approach is widely used to get the child to be accepted in the family in terms of his/her physical, emotional and psychological differences from others. Apart from the intervention model for the children, the family members are also guided various training programmes to enhance the total quality of life of the family as a whole.

Children with Multiple Disabilities are assessed with use of functional approach.Individualized educational programme with periodical evaluation has been followed for the children attending special education services. The role of parents is emphasized all through the training program. Multi-sensory and low cost teaching learning materials are designed for increasing the effectiveness of teaching and learning process. Curricular and co-curricular activities are taught with special emphasis on making them inclusive.

The early intervention services are provided for children at risk/developmental delay from birth to three years. The children are assessed for different developmental aspects such as motor, language, cognitive. self-help and social skills. Play way method is imparted to stimulate the developmental functioning of the children. A home based program is also prepared and explained to parents to follow the same.

This unit provides clinical services for all referred persons such as diagnostic, assessment, therapeutic intervention, home training programme, parents counseling, sibling training and group communication programme. As an extension service, group communication therapy program are organized for the benefit of parents and staff of special school. Children with hearing impairment are provided with hearing aids, ear moulds and auditory training program. This unit has audiology labs and ear mould lab for audiological assessment/ evaluation and fabrication of ear mould. Diagnostic instruments such as pure tone, impedance audiometer have been procured. A Client centered approach is practiced, highlighting the abilities of the children, rather than their disabilities. A format called "My talented child' is used for this purpose, where the parents and family members are included as partners in the intervention program.

The department functions with the objectives of providing adequate support for adults with multiple disabilities to lead an independent life. The service includes, assessment and vocational guidance and various skill training and vocational training programmes for the adult's with multiple disabilities. In addition to this, concept of empowering the family members introduced, by conducting Income Generation Programme for the economic independence and better quality of life.

The department has dedicated its services for the unreached areas through extension services, outreach programmes, parent's group meeting and capacity building programmes. The department also manages the case registration and case records of the clients.

This Institute established a Model School name as "Thiramai" (means 'Ability' in Tamil) Special school in the year 2007-08 to cater the educational needs of clients with Multiple Disabilities. The school functions with the following units based on the disability categories.

In ECSE class children below 6years with developmental delay are enrolled. All children are assessed on their residual capabilities and the programmes are implemented accordingly. Montessori method of teaching is predominantly applied in the teaching learning process. The focus areas for training are self help skills, activities for daily living, socialization, language promotion, motor and cognitive skills. Play way method is used to develop deficit areas. The main focus for training is to promote inclusive education. The children with developmental delay are given Pre School training to facilitate inclusion as much as possible.

This unit was divided into Primary class, Secondary class and Prevocational class. Primary classroom: Children of age group 7-10 years are given training in functional skill areas such as personal, social, academic, occupational and recreational activities. Secondary class room: Children between the age group of 11-14 years are trained in functional areas focusing on academic, domestic and occupational skill development. Prevocational class room: Children above 14 years of age are prepared for transition from school to vocational training. They are given training in work related behaviors.

Children with deaf blind / dual sensory impairment are trained in three major areas such as communication, orientation & mobility and basic concepts. Experiential learning approach through concrete educational aids /materials are used for the same. Tactile and kinesthetic methods are used to teach.

Children diagnosed as autism spectrum disorders with additional disabilities are trained in this unit. The module includes training to improve the communication and socialization in these children. A holistic model is applied to enhance the specific and general abilities.

The Extension programme of NIEPMD activities are where a comprehensive programme is given towards the rehabilitation of persons with Multiple Disabilities. NIEPMD in collaboration with State Resource Training Centre (SRTC), Chennai initiated rehabilitation services for the urban population. The Professional Team, comprising of Special Educator, Speech & Language Pathologist and audiologist, Pediatrician and psychologist attends to clients on regular basis and referrals were made for clients.

The Institute was entrusted with implementation of ADIP scheme. To provide Rehabilitation aids and appliances to the persons with disabilities living in tribal and interior areas in different parts of the country, the Institute conducts Rehabilitation camps under its Extension Service programme. The main objective of the scheme is to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential. The aids and appliances supplied under the scheme shall confirm to Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) specifications to the extent people. NIEPMD had conducted various camps in several places of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.