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The Happy Home and School for the Blind

History

Happy Home and School for the Blind is a school exclusively for the blind children. The school opened in 1925, in Worli, Mumbai. The Happy Home and School for the Blind was founded by Coomi Sohrab Bharoocha about 90 years ago. It was a home establish for blind children to help them overcome by viewing alternate ways of life. The Happy Home is where children with visual / multiple impairment begin their first steps to understand their environment and the need to learn that their world is connected to what they hear, feel, touch but cannot see. Those first steps were taken 88 years ago in a restricted, rented space with only five blind boys.

Programs

Mobility- is a cornerstone of independence. For the visually impaired, mobility is more than clutching a white cane. It is the honing of an internal antenna to gauge physical hurdles and work their way around them. More importantly, it is the emotional and mental confidence to be unafraid of the unseen. Before a visually impaired child can walk down a corridor across a classroom to a desk, or reach out to a cup of milk, the child must learn not to be afraid to move in his physical environment. Mobility is about familiarization and orientation of the child to move about in any space. Only after a child feels comfortable in physical space can he embark on a safe, stress-free and fearless journey. http://happyhomeschoolfortheblind.org/mobility.html Music- is also a very important part of the programs that the school offers. The all boys choir and the musicians have all excelled and bought smiles to many faces. On Par- The pre-school years allow for an informal, unstructured curriculum planned for each child’s unique ability. Arts and Crafts- At the happy home and school for the blind (HHSB) they also have arts and crafts for the children to do, they do this not for sympathy. For eight decades arts and crafts have been organized to show the strengths and the abilities of each visually impaired children. "This is organized so that the public should learn about the abilities of the blind children. People generally tend to look at them with pity, charity or sympathy; this is not what the children actually need. They just need an opportunity to be independent and lead a meaningful life as contributing citizens," says Meher Banaz, Principal of the school. (Banaz). Web. 12 Sept. 2010. .At the arts and crafts festive Victor Bannaerjee a veteran actor while inaugurating the exhibition states that, "You will find the exhibited products are far better than what people with sight can possibly manufacture. One doesn't need to buy these products out of sympathy or kindness. They are brilliant indeed. And they are made by blind children”. (Bannaerjee). Web.12Sept.2010.. Although the children were great at making arts and craft they were also in a film about seven blind kids who do tap dancing. Komar Bhatia came up with this idea to make this film. Komar said that, "My film doesn't treat the children as physically challenged, marginalized children, but as part of the mainstream. When the idea of training seven blind kids to tap dance came to me, I decided I'd make it with kids who were really blind.” (Bhatia).Web.12Sept.2010..For this film he searched several places but chose the “happy home and school for the blind”, and out of all the children that were there he chose seven whose names were Gaurav, Mukesh, Rahul, Sanjay, Pradeep, Saif and Shrikant between the ages of 6 and 10. These children were chosen for this film because of their special abilities other than being blind.

now a days they started quaayer singing. from that visually challenged boys improving there singing tallent. for music and for learning living skills this school is very useful.

here we can live easyly. they started computer basic subject which is very essensial now a days. school principle always ensures that this boys how they can survive in future. example if a student is a dull in study for them they will teach them other work like pottery and craft. Commitment

No learning can occur without dedicated staff. To teach the visually impaired, teachers require sensitivity, imagination and vision. They learn to simplify pedagogy, to innovate and adapt efficiently to every learner’s unique situation. A student-teacher ratio which never exceeds ten students per teacher allows emotional bonding to occur. Students view teachers as friends and role models and many return to join the HHSB as faculty members. These skills and support are given to each child to gain independence. Their family ties are sustained by regular week-end visits Adding to the teaching reservoir is the steady group of talented volunteers who have stayed with HHSB walking the children from inception through to their departure and beyond. Not just hours or weeks but in many cases this involvement has extended to decades. Volunteers contribute their own preferred skills, ranging from academics (including audio-textbooks), and ophthalmic surgery to pediatric care, music, weaving, pottery, ceramics, drama, mime, yoga, swimming and a variety of sports. < http://happyhomeschoolfortheblind.org/commitment.html>

Present

Today, The Happy Home School for the Blind is a special place where 200 happy, smiling boys cross barriers of language, religion, and creed and make you forget trivial problems. St. Francis of Assisi said “Make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is darkness, let there be light, where there is sadness, joy.” (Assisi). THE HAPPY HOME AND SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND. Web. 12 Sept. 2010. .

Miscellaneous

Ram Ghodke attended the school for the blind in Worli; once he had graduated he was very concerned about how he would succeed in college because of his blindness. Ghodke stated that, “Much as I’d like to believe I am as normal as anybody else, the fact is that I have a severe disability.” (Ghodke) Web. 12 Sept. 2010. .

Volunteer Information

If you would like to know more about any aspect of the Happy Home & School for the Blind, or would like to volunteer your time or support please do not hesitate to contact us using the details below.

Happy Home & School for the Blind Tel: +91 (0) 22 2492 3198            +91 (0) 22 2492 3198 Dr. Annie Besant Road Worli 400018 Mumbai, India http://www.happyhomeschoolfortheblind.org/

School for the blind gets visit from VVIP grandpa http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/39609054.cms

Contact Information

School Name: The Happy Home & School for the Blind Address: Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai - 400 018 City: Mumbai State: Maharashtra Pincode: 400 018 Telephone Number: +91 22 2492 3198             +91 22 2492 3198 Email : happyhome_school@hotmail.com Website: http://www.happyhomeschoolfortheblind.org/home.html Board: Maharashtra State