At La Martinière Girls’
College, Special Education & Counselling sessions provide students with
identified disabilities specialized instruction designed to meet their unique
learning needs, giving them the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. It is a purposeful
intervention (preventative, remedial or compensatory) designed to overcome or
eliminate the obstacles that keep children with disabilities from learning.
Some children with disabilities require special accommodations to achieve
success while other children must be taught skills to compensate for the
existence of a disability. We believe that students flourish when given the
tools for success within a caring environment.
In 2006, Late Mrs. Farida Abraham launched the
Special Education Unit (SEU). Her vision was to build an environment where
children who cannot learn in the conventional way, have an opportunity to
maximize their potential. Her mission was to provide specific tailor-made
techniques for individual success. Additionally, trained counselors
would offer a
therapeutic educational environment designed to meet the needs of
students with emotional disturbance, specific learning difficulties, slow
learners, motor coordination issues,
sensorial deficits, psychological issues, physical handicaps and other disabilities that may affect their
behaviour or academic success in the school setting.
The SEU believes that help provided at
early or middle academic stages has the maximum impact for lasting success. A
formal assessment is used for early identification to ensure that the child
receives academic benefits and subject concessions within Council guidelines.
Early intervention strategies include liaising with classroom teachers and
parents to provide customized help to the child. The techniques involved in
teaching and the concessions provided to the children are individualized. The
goal is to provide maximum support up till classes VI and VII. By class VIII,
the support is gradually withdrawn so that by the time the child transitions to
senior school, she can apply the learning techniques independently to manage the full load
of ICSE standards for all academic areas.
Counselling services at LMGC assist
students who may be experiencing life-threatening circumstances, current or
recent traumatic crises or severe psychological difficulties like:
1. Suicidal thoughts
2. Acute emotional distress of an
overwhelming nature
3. Thoughts about harming a person
4. Recent assault or abuse
5. Concern about their own safety
6. Knowledge of another person being abused
or assaulted
7. Recent death of a loved one
8. Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic
event
Counselling services at LMGC recognise
the importance of effective communication as an important social skill.
Frequent workshops and talks are conducted on topics such as anger management,
effective communication, handling stress, memorising techniques etc. Each
student has a distinct persona that can be developed, polished and refined.
With counselling, the students’ outer and inner self is enhanced and groomed to
bring about a positive and lasting change in their lives.
Important:
Information about each student’s ability, concessions and progress is held in
strict confidence by teachers and counsellors.