A girl around 13 came to D.K.’s along with her younger
sister. The younger sister was a child with dyslexia and wanted remedial help.
In the course of conversation I came to know about the elder sister. She was
deaf and mute. She was dropped out of normal school because of her disability. But
she had her niche in the world of drawing and painting. All she did was attend
2 hours of drawing class every day.
We then admitted her
in D.K.’s to support her in continuing her education. Slowly we started off
with communication classes along with her younger sister’s remedial. We started
teaching her concepts and techniques to read and got her to pass 10th through National
Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Later she did her diploma course in drawing and
became a good professional. She was so good in her work that she had her own exhibitions.
Most of her paintings were sold for more than Rs. 1500 each. We advised her to
take up multimedia courses.
She involved herself in many projects and won prizes and
became well recognised. She never placed her work for commercial business
alone. She also took up projects in the interests of the society. Her works
were majorly focussed on creating awareness against alcoholism, poverty and
many other societal evils. Her works were technical and computerised where as
her partner would present it verbally.
Now, after passing her 12th through NIOS, she is working
for an institution teaching around 6 students and taking drawing classes for
around 8 students all of whom we call normal children. She earns around 8000 rupees
per month. She is also pursuing her bachelors’ degree via correspondence mode. She
balances well between her academics and her interest in drawing and painting.
She says that her academics stay as a backbone for her to continue her career
as an artist.
What is so great
about her, you must be thinking. Yes, I received a message suddenly one day
saying that she is very much interested to teach children with special needs
and wanted to work with D.K.’s which is working for children with learning difficulties especially dyslexia. She insisted that she will not charge even a single penny. As a
teacher myself, what more will I ask for? It was a proud moment for me as well
as for the girl’s family. Tears roll down my cheeks even as I write this
article.
- Jayanthi Kannan
(D.K.'s Learning Centre)
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