The leadership of Sri Math in caring for the Specially Challenged and neglected children has resulted in the development of some excellent institutional services such as Sahana. This institution became a reality due to the dedicated efforts & benediction of His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji.  His wholehearted concern and affection towards the specially challenged has been a great source of inspiration to many differently-abled aspirants towards education and placement services.

JSS Sahana is a unique institution catering to the needs of the Specially challenged, it comprises of two main wings, an integrated school mainstreaming special children with their normal counterparts from Nursery to Secondary stream & a Special School for children with intellectual impairments.

The Integrated school enables children with disabilities to develop their potential and participate in all walks of normal life and the special school provides opportunities for children who require special environment and skill training to be placed in a normal mainstream.

JSS ‘Sahana’ started its Journey on July 4^th, 1984, with only 3 children and a teacher in a small room on the premises of JSS High School, Jayanagar, Bengaluru.

Gradually over the years, the number of children increased as the institute became popular through service-oriented activities. Within a span of 2 to 3 years JSS ‘Sahana’ could reach the hearts of many special parents and secured a firm place in the field of education of children with special needs.  Ever since ‘Sahana’ has continued with dedicated foot-steps on the ladder of success.

J.S.S. ‘Sahana’ Integrated School provides services to Special Educational Needs Children in and outside mainstream education.  Children with special needs are identified, assessed, and prepared in the areas of deficits so that they can work on par with their normal peers.  A well-established educational plan provides the necessary guidelines for tackling the problem areas and many times it is these special children who shine above the rest and bring laurels to the Institution.

J.S.S. ‘Sahana’ Special School was established alongside the integrated school to reach those special kids who are always neglected by school admissions.  These children with intellectual impairment need a programme tailored to their abilities and requirements.  A functional academic programme coupled with skill-oriented training has been organized in this Special School.

As Howard Rusk has rightly said, “It is not arms and legs, eyes or ears but the spirit that makes a man and he shall be judged for what he can do rather than what he is unable to do”.

His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji takes a personal interest in the development of the institution for the specially challenged.  Swamiji’s divine support and guidance has been the driving force of Sahana.

1. To provide a common pattern of education to specially-abled children along with normal children based on the principle of “Education For All”.
2. To uphold the rights of children with disabilities and to provide equal opportunities on par with the normal peer group. To enable them to overcome their disabilities and to highlight their hidden abilities and potential for development.
3. To mainstream children with Special needs into society.

Admission Procedure, Intake:-

Any specially challenged child in the age group of 4 to 10 years can seek admission to JSS Sahana School. Admission is based on appropriate identification and assessment reports, birth certificates and internal assessments by the teachers after a brief observation period. The teacher-pupil ratio of 1:8 is maintained in order to provide individual attention; therefore admission depends on the existing number of teachers and children.

• Course Details:- The institution provides inclusive education to the specially challenged in the normal educational environment and follows the same curriculum as that of the regular educational mainstream. Various types of services are provided in Sahana which are supportive to the general educational mainstream to create an environment which is least restrictive to the specially challenged. Some of the services are :

• Identification and assessment of children with special needs with Hearing Impairment, Mental Challenged, Locomotor problems, Learning Disabilities, and children with Multiple Disabilities.
• Skill training with reference to each type of disability.
• Speech therapy and Communication Skills.
• Physical training through regular exercises and Yoga.
• Training in self-help skills and living skills.
• Development of social skills through various activities such as conversation, play, dance, drama etc., along with normal children.
• Behaviour modification programmes are based on individual needs through simple techniques.
• Individual Educational programmes.
• Pre-vocational skill training to refine motor skills.
• Integration of normal children with special children in various cultural activities, call for cooperation and generate a feeling of togetherness among children of both categories.
• Guidance and Counseling to Parents of Special Children.
• Peer group awareness programmes and sibling counselling.
• Training the special children for sports, and competitions along with normal children.

Medium of Instruction: Kannada

Building: ‘L’ shaped ‘Sahana’ building is part of an educational complex comprising  Pre-primary, Higher Primary, Secondary schools and Pre-university, this section has big and spacious rooms with sufficient light and ventilation with long and broad corridors.  Rooms specially designed for speech therapy and vocational therapy is in the same building.

Furniture and other equipment: – To facilitate group teaching in resource rooms, wooden tables and chairs of small, medium, and big sizes are provided suiting the individual needs of the children.  Specially designed furniture has been provided to facilitate the development of good eating habits.  Cupboards, almirahs, and book racks are provided to store teaching aids and materials.

Instructional Materials: – Specially designed teaching aids and educational kits are being used to train disabled children to improve their speech and communication, day-to-day activities etc.  Multisensory teaching aids based on the Montessori principle are used to improve the coordination of sensory organs, and physical and mental development. To mention a few: Charts, Picture books, posters, alphabetical and numerical boards, peg boards, abacus, number towers, number bridges, colour concept rings size variation rings, number blocks, sort and count number rings, recognition chart boards, rattlers, counting beads, beads sequence sets, puzzles.

The above-mentioned aids and equipment are used to develop fine and gross motor skills and other concept formation (colour, size, number etc.).

Special apparatus: – Audiometer, Group Hearing aids, speech trainer, Individual hearing aids. To develop the sense of hearing certain materials are used in speech therapy rooms, like triangles, kanjeera, drums, rattles, whistles, bell wooden blocks etc., Audio-Visual aids and educative cassettes are implemented for better educational interventions.

JSS “Sahana” has been striving for the enrichment of abilities in differently abled children since 1984. Many Specially Challenged children of “Sahana” have been placed in various capacities in firms, organizations, institutions & companies. It is a pride to acknowledge the dedication and sincerity of our Special Friends who have excelled in their respective fields.

JSS “Sahana” is elated by the success and overwhelming appreciation received by Special Wards in an assortment of activities in the National and International arena.

JSS “Sahana” has reached the heights of glory in the field of art and culture achieving National and State Awards for magnificent performances by Specially Challenged Children, though disabled, artists & dancers by nature.

Magnificent performances of dance drama, skits, and folk ballet have enthralled audiences far and wide bringing in prizes and laurels to the institution.

Athletics and Sports are integral components of the personality development of the Differently Abled, to excel in this requires tremendous physical strength and determination.  JSS “Sahana” is proud to state that it possesses great athletes and sportspersons who have time-honoured awards, prizes and praises.  The Special Athletes of “Sahana” have reached euphoric heights in the international arena attaining medals of achievement mesmerizing the nation.

Teachers in  “Sahana”  have received appreciation in the form of Best Teacher awards from the State Government and other agencies. Appreciation in the form of mementoes, certificates, support, enthusiasm, and zeal has flown towards “Sahana” from many NGOs.

“The Government of Karnataka has recognized JSS Sahana as Best Institution for the year 2008-09 and has conferred ‘State Award’ through the “Directorate for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens”.

J.S.S.  ‘Sahana’ has received appreciation at the international level.  Dignitaries from various countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and England have visited the institution.  The principal of Teesside Tertiary College, Middlesbrough, England, was generous enough to sponsor two teachers of ‘Sahana’ to visit special and integrated schools in Middlesbrough.

The Teaching Staff of JSS ‘Sahana’ are invited to various institutions and departmental workshops and seminars as Resource Persons to train the general teaching community.  Many enrichment programmes under the UNDP, Jana Shala, DPEP, and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan organized by the department in the field of IED have benefited by the inputs given by the Specially Trained Staff of ‘Sahana’.

The Department has utilized the services of the ‘Sahana’ Staff in preparing handbooks and guiding materials for Parents and Teachers.  Many Teaching materials prepared by ‘Sahana’ staff have been implemented by the department.

In commemoration of 20 and 25 years of service in the field of disabilities JSS ‘Sahana’ celebrated the Bi-decennial year in 2004-05 and the Silver Jubilee Function in the year 2012 which was presided by his Holiness Jagadguru Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji and other notable dignitaries witnessed a grand success of JSS Sahana.

JSS Sahana is a unique Inclusive Education Institution and a role model for the Education system in the field of Inclusive Education.

The specially challenged children of JSS Sahana have been a proud lot for having secured placements in various firms, organizations, offices etc. There is a long list out of which we would like to name a few for significance.