Kodai: CSI Rehabilitation Center

We had a very nice visit to the CSI Rehabilitation Center. (In case you were wondering, CSI stands for “Church of South India.”) This is Mr. Jayachandran’s facility. In a word, this center is amazing. Bethania has partially supported this ministry for a long time. We used to call it the “CP Center,” but now it is so much more than a center for children with cerebral palsy. When I was a sophomore at Kodai School, I volunteered with the kids who had polio as part of a community service requirement. I was really pleasantly surprised to see how the center has grown and expanded. Today it serves over 50 children and young adults with cerebral palsy, polio, intellectual disabilities, hyperactivity, vision loss, and – you guessed it – hearing loss. (I will write more about hearing loss later.) The mission can be summed up in four words: “Education, Employment, Empowerment, Environment.” Their aim is to give kids the support that they need to complete their education or vocational training in an inclusive environment. Some kids reside at the center, some kids come only during the day, and many parents are volunteers at the center. Many of the kids are mainstreamed into the CSI school (grades 1-8) that is next door to the center, and sometimes kids will be pulled out of class for special education services – not unlike the USA system. For those who plateau in their academic abilities, they take part in some very cool vocational training programs. They learn how to make paper bags (out of used newspaper), paper cups, plates (made out of fallen leaves), and little crafts out of papier-mâché (from the unused paper from the products above). They are also starting to make laminated placemats using photos from unused calendar pages. Talk about eco-friendly! All of these products they have been able to sell at a profit, so they are working towards self-sufficiency. I am so proud of this incredible center.