Media Release
Mangaluru, Apr 9: In connection with International Autism Month (April 2025), the School of Education (BEd), St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) organised a series of activities with the theme ‘Bridging differences with compassion: An inclusive journey for autism awareness.’ These initiatives aimed to deepen understanding of autism and promote inclusive practices among teacher trainees.
A talk by Poornima Bhat, MS (Rehabilitation counsellor) and founder of the Arivu Early Child Intervention Centre, Shaktinagar, Mangaluru, provided valuable insights into autism and virtual autism, prevalent myths, post-COVID developments within families, the autism spectrum from mild to profound and current rehabilitation approaches, treatment options, and educational strategies. The BEd students gained clarity on various disabilities and inclusive care practices.
Field visits included:
Chethana Child Development Centre, Kodialbail, Mangaluru.
Mangala Jyothi Integrated School, Vamanjoor.
Vikasam Seva Foundation, Jodumarga, BC Road.
Arivu Early Child Intervention Centre, Shaktinagar, Mangaluru.
At Chethana Child Development Centre, students observed craft-based activities and special education classes, gaining hands-on exposure to fine motor skill development, various disabilities, and adaptive teaching strategies.
Mangala Jyothi Integrated School, Vamanjoor, provided exposure into specialised therapies and inclusive teaching methodologies. The school also conducted a session on types of disabilities and instructional techniques for diverse disabilities.
Students and staff participated in the International Autism Day programme organised by Vikasam Seva Foundation, Jodumarga, BC Road. Here, students learned about various disabilities, their characteristics, and classroom strategies for inclusion.
The concluding visit was to the Arivu Early Child Intervention Centre, Shaktinagar, where Dr Radha Krishna and Poornima Bhat, founders of the organisation, led an interactive session on autism, highlighting the importance of early intervention and therapy for children with disabilities.
These activities significantly enhanced BEd students' understanding of autism and special education, and helped them cultivate values such as empathy, inclusion, and professional responsibility in addressing diverse learning needs within the classroom.