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

Disabled children don’t get out as much because of mobility challenges; sometimes their behavior can be tough to manage in public. Transport issues make it difficult for parents and stares from people add to discomfort. As a result, these children often miss out on valuable opportunities to interact with people and the world, and 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 rganization, 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 their sessions so much fun that the children get more strength in their limbs and mobility and flexibility without even realizing that they have been through a physiotherapy session. Our staff incorporates the correct postures and movements for the children in all their daily activities, whether sitting in a 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 or other fun activities. For example, stretching is made more fun for a child when he /she is asked to track his /her favorite sound making toy. A child is asked to climb stairs while singing a poem or counting each step.

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, treasure hunt (in sand) helps 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 behaviour issues are fundamentally communication related. Children who can’t express themselves get frustrated. Totally understandable!

Our specialized team of professionals helps children develop communication strategies which are crucial for an stress-free, productive life. All staff members are trained to understand and appreciate the role of frustration and ineffective communication systems in children’s unhelpful behaviours. A consistent, non threatening approach to environmentally triggered behavior is developed which parents are also encouraged to employ at home.

We recognize that many children will never use oral communication as their mode of choice. A child may use sign, visuals, computer-aided speech or a combination of these approaches to express themselves. By providing and supporting a wide range of communication modes, we give children the freedom to participate at their own level. Behaviour issues tend to 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