The Open Door Day School
This
laboratory school, started in March 1994 has gained recognition as a model
school for children with autism in India, as well as South East Asia. As with
any quality institution, the students and their families receive direct benefit
and an improved quality of life. The school applies, modifies, and adapts
training techniques gathered from around the world to the Indian context. The
approach is eclectic, highly individualized, with an intelligent amalgamation
of various internationally recognised ‘best teaching’ methodologies like
Structured Teaching, ABA, VBA, to name some. In addition, new techniques are
continually tested and evaluated in a controlled setting, before being referred
to parents and professionals in other parts of India
Currently, the Open Door
Day School has six sections in which children aged 3 – 18 are placed depending
on their skills, needs and chronological age. In the early years the emphasis
is on developing communication, building basic interaction skills, pre-reading
and writing skills and concept building. The skills are taught both in
one-on-one sessions, as well as group activities. The group activities also
serve as a platform to develop important social skills and to generalize learnt
skills. Alongside, the child’s abilities to work independently and interpret
instructions in the general environment are developed and strengthened.
Gradually, the children learn independent work behaviours that enable them to
learn vocational skills. Children, who are ready, move onto mainstream
classrooms. For the others, we target prevocational skills, work behaviors and
functional academics. In addition to the group activities and one-on-one
teaching, music therapy, computer training and sensory integration are also
provided to the students.
In
some of our sections, in addition to prevocational learning, we have also
focused on academics. These classes follow the general school curriculum, which
is modified and adapted to make academic learning fun, interesting and
meaningful. Learning in these classes is made experiential by using concrete
materials, models and a ‘touch and feel’ aspect to the lessons. Demonstrations,
project work, presentations and educational visits are coupled with lessons.
The CCE ASSESSMENT (comprehensive and cumulative evaluation) format is followed
for gauging the progress.
Each
of the classrooms is led by a special educator with a formal training in
autism. In addition, trainees participating in the (D Ed Spl Ed- ASD), teacher aides and support
staff are also part of the classrooms, making the adult student ratio in the
classrooms from between 1:2 to 1:3. The ratio helps sustain quality of services
offered, as well as provision of individualized attention wherever required.
Interns and volunteers are also placed in classrooms depending on the
requirement in specific classrooms.
At
OPEN DOOR, we, at all times, strive to act as a catalyst for change that will
enable the children with autism be integrated in and live as fully
participating members of the community.
CONTACT
US
We welcome visitors to AFA National Centre for Autism. Our
working hours are 09.00 am to 05:30 pm, Monday through Friday and second
Saturdays.
Address: Action For Autism
The National Centre for Autism
Pocket 7 & 8, Jasola Vihar
New Delhi 110 025
India
The National Centre for Autism
Pocket 7 & 8, Jasola Vihar
New Delhi 110 025
India
Phone: + 91 11 4054 0991
+ 91 11 4054 0992
+ 91 11 6534 7422
Fax:+ 91 11 4054 0994
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