Latika School

Latika School (formerly Karuna Vihar Special School and the Center for Child Development) is an innovative learning center for disabled children. Here children aged 7–14 learn to live as independently as possible. Through activity-based learning experiences, they develop their academic and social skills, behavior and communication so they grow into happy and confident youngsters.

What We Do

Personal Development and Growing Up Modules

Facilitated by psychologists or counselors, our students participate in PDGU modules to acquire the information and skills they need to navigate adolescence via worksheets, demonstrations, videos, role play and more. Group sessions with parents and doctors introduce them to these topics too.

My Body is Private
Puberty
Private vs Public
Personal Safety

Feelings and Emotions
Road Safety
Personal Hygiene
Relationships and Boundaries

Experiential Learning Visits

Many disabled children don’t get out as much because of mobility challenges or behavioral issues. Inaccessible public transport makes it difficult for parents, and stares from people add to their discomfort. As a result, these children often miss out on valuable opportunities to interact with people and the world around them and to develop confidence.

Our regular experiential visits are more than learning opportunities. It’s a way for our children to expand their boundaries from home to other places and it provides them much-needed exposure to the community. It’s also important for the community! The more disabled people are out and about, the richer and more vibrant our communities become.

Kids love these visits and are encouraged to try new things, hone their communication skills and develop positive attitudes about life while shopkeepers, neighbors and students get the chance to do the same.

Places We’ve Been

Petrol pump
Barber shop
Tailor shop
Cobbler shop
Vijayan Bhavan
Dairy farm visit
Plant nursery
Traffic light trip
Restaurant
Temple
Nature walks

Individualized Education Plans

Parents and guardians know their children better than anyone else. As a family-centered organization , we recognize that. Each of our interventions is guided by the parents’ vision for their children. Our team consisting of trained therapists, a special educator and counselor work together with the parent/guardian to create a learning plan that is followed at home and at school.

We focus on enhancing reading and writing skills and developing mathematical and problem-solving skills, adapted to suit a child’s specific learning needs.

Literacy & numeracy skills development

We focus on enhancing reading and writing skills and developing mathematical and problem-solving skills, adapted to suit a child’s specific learning needs.

Social skills training

For children with social communication disabilities, we facilitate appropriate social interactions and behaviors in various settings.

Fine and gross motor skills

All children benefit immensely from physical exercise and this is a core part of our learning experiences. Physical therapy and specific exercises could be a part of their ILPs, focused on their individual situation and aimed at improving their motor skills and overall mobility.

Personalized learning strategies

To address individual cognitive styles and processing differences, we use strategies and tools that help the child learn more effectively, such as visual aids for dyslexic children, autistic kids and those with Down Syndrome.

Assistive technology training

For children with speech delays, autism and other difficulties with spoken communication, we train both the kids and their parents on the use of augmentative and alternative communication systems and technology, such as communication boards and the Avaz app.

Physical Therapy

Our therapists make sessions so much fun that children begin developing strength, mobility and flexibility barely realizing they’ve done physiotherapy. Our staff incorporates correct postures and movements for the children in their daily activities, whether sitting in class, eating lunch, or walking from one place to another. We try to ensure that all aspects of the body’s actions are aligned.

Play way method

This unique method is aimed at practicing specific skills through play and other fun activities. For example, stretching is a lot more fun when a child is asked to track their favorite sound-making toy, and climbing stairs is more fun while singing or reciting a poem.

Gross motor activities

Zumba, yoga, dance, action poems, running and other fun activities help develop our children’s gross motor skills.

Sports and games

Simple games like hitting a target or hunting for ‘treasure’ in sand help achieve specific physiotherapy goals without the children even realizing it. They also engage in a variety of popular sports like cycling, badminton, and skating.

Communication and Behavior Management

All behavior issues are fundamentally communication related. Children who can’t express themselves get frustrated. Totally understandable!

Our specialized professional team helps children develop communication strategies to minimize stress and participate to the maximum extent. Our staff understand and appreciate that communication difficulties can trigger unhelpful behaviours. We employ a consistent, non-threatening approach to environmentally triggered behavior and encourage parents to do the same at home.

Some children may never use oral communication, preferring signs, visuals, computer-aided speech or a combination of these to express themselves. By providing and supporting a wide range of communication modes, we give every child the freedom to interact and participate in ways that work best for them. Many behavior issues resolve themselves as a result.

Parent Support Groups

Parent meet-ups

We help parents meet regularly and discuss common issues and concerns, so they can build their own circle of friendship and support. For many parents, our support group sessions offer a safe space for them to be their true selves and unwind with their peers.

Specialist sessions

We invite specialists from different fields to meet parents, make them more aware and discuss positive parenting practices.

Support Our Work

Help make a better world for disabled children