Students at CanBridge Academy showcased handmade products created by them at their annual Christmas exhibition. (Supplied)
For most parents with a special needs child, the primary goal would be to raise them as independent individuals. However, most often our community isn’t equipped with enough awareness or opportunity to facilitate that.
The CanBridge Academy, a training space for young adults with autism was started in Chennai in 2018. (Supplied)
Kavitha Krishnamoorthy is one parent who took the matter in her own hands. Along with fellow parents and professionals she started CanBridge Academy, a training space for young adults with autism in Chennai.
“I am a parent of a young person with autism and he used to go to a special school, which is a resource center for autism. It was more for younger children. I found that a lot of the older kids, once they graduated, were not doing much because there were no services, or a space where youngsters above 18 with autism could go. There were centers to cater to different disabilities where people with autism were not fitting,” explains Krishnamoorthy.
What would her son do once he grows up and graduates from the school? This question prompted the idea to actively work towards starting a whole program.
Currently at CanBridge, there are nine students. Of them, three from the first batch have already found opportunities in the community to work.
The academy facilitates opportunities for the students to be part of the community. (Supplied)
“When these youngsters come into our space, we try to identify what their interests and strengths are. In that sense, it’s like a college where they are figuring out what they want to do so as to build skills for it. The difference is that here, it’s not the academic subjects but training in vocational areas or an artform,” Krishnamoorthy shares.
Two students from the first batch are pursuing internship at a catering company.
“That’s something we built up. They were very interested in cooking and began with small activities like chopping and making salads. Then they started to make their own lunch and now, they are working. So it’s been a full progression,” she notes.
There is a third student who goes twice a week to a farmer’s market where he helps with sorting vegetables, and putting them on their trays etc.
“We are facilitating these opportunities as a way of supporting them to work in the community,” she adds.
At CanBridge, students are being trained to do different tasks — from weaving to cooking to working on the computer.
“Some of the students love typing, so they could be trained to do data entry. What we have noticed is that everyone was attracted to one art form or the other — from music, movement to visual art and photography,” Kavitha points out.
So they include learning goals in every activity.
View this post on Instagram
She adds, “If they like cooking, we train them to make their own lunch. For that they need to go shopping, so they are trained to do that. Now everyone in the community knows the kids, how they communicate, what their challenges as well as potential are.”
To integrate them in the community, the team takes the students on outings around the city — to malls, shows and performances.
“People have started recognising us. That’s what we are working towards. People have started seeing them as part of the community.”
Also, there is another goal. To make the youngsters become a little more independent of their families. While complete independence may not be possible for all of them, CanBridge is trying to move the caregiving from family to a slightly larger community, Krishnamoorthy tells South First.
“By taking them on outings which they would otherwise do only with families, we become the next circle of caregivers and the circle expands. So they also get used to communicating with new people, asking for what they need. That’s a skill they are going to need all their lives because they are going to be having to communicate their needs to different people,” she details.
In the last couple of years, CanBridge has started training students to make arts-based products. And around Christmas time, they showcase their work.
Photo frames made using digital art done by CanBridge students. (Supplied)
Every training here is inspired by someone’s interest, Kavitha notes.
“Everyone shows an inkling towards some kind of art and craft. There was one boy who would find it difficult to sit for a long period of time with any activity. But, stringing beads was something that he would very comfortably do for about half an hour. So we started experimenting with beads. We got a designer who helped us with material and soon we developed a full line of beaded items like chains, bracelets, key chain etc.”
For this year’s exhibition, they explored painting as well.
“The students would paint on paper using different techniques. We then converted those into an array of products like photo frames, tissue boxes, envelopes and such. They also do digital art and convert them to trays. Now we feel there is scope in taking this arts program forward,” she adds.
It’s not necessary that if one person is interested in an activity, everyone would do it.
“Our attempt here is to create several options so they can find what they like best. Even those who like it, he may do it for one year or six months and after that might get bored and would want to do something else. It changes as they grow,” she elaborates.
Tissue box holders made out of paintings. (Supplied)
Yes, there is a challenge in creating options but it’s a creative one.
“Our vision, in its broadest expression, is to find ways in which they can be engaged in activities which are meaningful to them. A lot of initiatives for special kids fall into this trap by making them do the activities without seeing if the kids are interested or not. Our approach is just the opposite,” she shares.
Opportunities like these should be given to every kid, special or not.
“We have to try and identify their strengths and interests and then help them take it forward. That’s our responsibility as a community. Many parents push their kids to pursue what they want whereas the kids may not be interested at all. Every kid should get this opportunity,” Krishnamoorthy signs off.
Apr 25, 2024
Apr 21, 2024
Apr 10, 2024
Apr 09, 2024
Apr 09, 2024
Apr 09, 2024
