Shivaji
Park Lions School for Deaf
The
Shivaji Park Lions School for the Hearing Impaired was
started with just five children in 1975 in a small room
in Parel by Lions Club of Shivaji Park, Bombay.
Gradually by 1977 we had increased our strength to 25
and it was very difficult to accommodate these children
in the small room as we began looking out for a larger
space where we could shift and which would not cost too
much as Bombay has some of the most expensive real
estate prices in the world.
Fortunately
for us seeing the good work that was being done in our
school the BMC gave us a fairly large area in one of
their buildings at Shivaji Park at a very nominal rent
of Re 1 per month. This was like a goldmine to us
because now we could divide the children into classrooms
age wise and impart education in a systematic manner. We
then approached the Maharashtra Government for a grant
for the school so that equipment and salaries could be
paid to the trained staff.
By then our children’s strength had gone upto
40 and our parent body did not have the funds to equip
any further. Fortunately the Directorate of Social
Welfare, Maharashtra recognized our institution. Upto
1998-99 we had classes only upto std IV and we used to
integrate the good students into normal schools or send
them to other schools for the handicapped, but we found
this as inadequate so we sought permission to conduct
classes upto std X. But again space became a major
problem for us. We sought permission from BMC to build
the additional class room
on the terrace. By June 1995 we managed to finish
the work and equip the classrooms with Group Hearing Aid
Systems, Individual Hearing Aids for children and have
taken the school strength upto 100.
We
have children who stay in the slums of Dharavi in
Bombay. We do not charge any fees. Uniforms, books,
shoes socks and any other requirement is provided free
of charge to children through donations. We also provide
them with lunch (Vegetable & a banana) everyday so
that along with educational facilities their nutrition
is also looked after. Most of our children are form the
economically and socially backward strata of Shivaji
Park, Mahim and Dharavi Areas.
The
school has been equipped with a new sound proof room
where hearing impaired children impaired children can
learn how to speak with a visible speech viewer. This is
a software programme which IBM has specifically made for
children with speech problems. It is needless to say the
importance of early detection and early intervention for
the handicapped children.
It
is the enlightened support and encouragement that we
receive from the Lions Club of Shivaji Park which
encourages us to work with vigour. Their backing and
patronage is highly appreciated by the staff and has
been instrumental in the all round progress of our
school. Many of our former students are now doing well.
One has completer her diploma in J J School of Arts and
is working in a private firm.
The
medium of education at the school is Marathi &
Hindi. This is in keeping with the needs of children who
are mostly from Marathi & Hindi speaking areas. At
present only classes upto Std VII are conducted owing to
paucity of space for classrooms. There is plan for
construction of additional classrooms on terrace;
sizeable funds are needed the venture.
You
too can help us:
Adopt
a child for sponsorship for Rs 2000/- per year
Donate
hearing Aids
Classroom
–equipment such as group hearing aids about Rs 10,000
We
give a vegetable to the kids everyday. It costs about Rs
400 per week
Uniforms,
socks, shoes, textbooks for the year
Umbrellas
or Raincoats
Picnic
for a day within the city approx Rs 5000/-
Salary
of a speech therapist approx Rs 600/-
Further
construction of classroom on terrace
Annual
outstation picnic for 3 days approx Rs 10,000
Notes:
The school is well equipped with various special
educational aids such as speech trainers, audiometers,
group hearing aids and individual hearing aids which
enable the teachers to impart knowledge. The school
building needs maintenance and there is scarcity of
staff. Also the school is not able to provide the
children with proper midday meal because of paucity of
funds.
Shivaji
Park Lions School for Deaf
New
Muncipal Welfare Centre
82 Lt. Dilip Gupte Marg
Mahim
Mumbai 400016
Karmayogi: Ms. Swathi Damle, Principal
Tel: 24454238
Notes: Medium of education Marathi, Hindi. Established
in 1975. classes up to
7th standard, age group 2 years and above, no
fees are charged from children, providing snacks and
vitamin tablets every day, also providing vocational
trainings in embroidery, knitting and printing.
Rating: B
Visited, got brochure, activity report
