On a cloudy day with a slight drizzle in 1981, Fr. Frank Toner and Fr. Ladislaus Mendonca, the Rector, laid the foundation stone of the Sevadaan Welfare Centre, a joyful moment witnessed by some Parishioners.
The Sevadaan Welfare Centre which included the Sevadaan Special School was inaugurated on 31st May, 1984, by Mother Teresa. A highly honoured Guest, now St. Teresa. Since then, the students increased from 5 to 40 presently, touching 50 in some years, the full capacity of the school.
The Special School is a Charitable Trust managed by the Redemptorists in Chembur. They have a professionally trained Staff of Special Educators to support them. It was the brainchild of Fr. Frank Toner, C.Ss.R, the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church, Chembur. He realized the great need to start a Special School, to cater to the requirements of the economically disadvantaged.
The school stresses on the all-round development of the Special students who are intellectually disabled. They come from Mondays to Fridays to school, as day scholars from 9.15 am. to 3.15 pm. Admissions emphasize on self-care skills and being independent. Special Education focuses on holistic and wholistic learning.
It's a delight to watch the Special Educators and the trained part-time Staff, namely a Counselling Psychologist, a Speech Therapist, an Occupational Therapist, a Sports and Physical Trainer. Even Animal Assisted Therapy Staff impart therapeutic training with a trained Labrador dog who is calm with the students. Each student has an Individualized Education Programme (IEP). Volunteers come from TISS, St. Xavier's College, different branches of Dr. Pillai 's College, SIES College, Swami Vivekanand College, from England and the U. S. A. for their Social Work. A great help to the School. Also, students come from Gateway School, Ryan International, to interact with our students. At times, even St. Anthony's and OLPS Schools.
The Special students also participate in Outreach programmes organized in Panvel by Dr. Pillai's College, Special Olympics, Inter-School Sports at Jamnabai Narsee School in Vile-Parle, picnics, outings and field trips.
The school functions solely with help from generous sponsors and donors, and donations from some Trusts. Sales are held in the School and Church compound, Lions Club and Rotary Club venues of the work done by the Special students. They make candles, tea-lights, costume jewellery like necklaces, mangalsutras, bracelets, ear-rings, greeting cards, torans, cloth bags, paper-bags, pencil holders, wall hangings and paper quilling picture frames.
Do come and visit Sevadaan Special School. God's " blue roses " will touch your heart deeply.