Taarana school's differently-abled students show that they are different, not less

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Taarana Special Needs School was thrilled to host its annual day event on Nov 1, where 24 of its students, who had been practicing since July, showcase their talent on stage. 

Assoc Prof Dr Annapurny Venkiteswaran, a parent whose son attends the school said she was delighted with the event and was grateful for the school’s effort in improving her child.

“Today was a wonderful day for all of us, and we are thankful to the RYTHM Foundation, fantastic teachers, and the principal of Taarana. 

“Many of us parents have hopped from school to school to find the right one for our children, and at Taarana, we have strong communication with the school’s dedicated teachers, which means a lot,” she said. 

The celebration was filled with various performances by the students, each showcasing their immense talent to the audience. 

Joel Joshua Augustian, a student of the school who has progressed by leaps and bounds in the development of his speech, cognitive, math and communication skills, mesmerised the audience by his heart-warming rendition of Josh Groban’s ‘You Raise Me Up’. 

His sister, Ann Madeline, said Joshua had improved his communication skills ever since he joined Taarana in 2020. 

“Since joining Taarana, he (Joshua) now holds eye contact and gestures to communicate his experiences. I am so thankful to have teachers who have moulded my brother into the best version of himself.

“The Taarana school teachers are leaving an extraordinary legacy right here amid young minds,” she said.

Taarana, which means ‘awakening’ in Sanskrit, was established in 2011 by RYTHM Foundation, the social impact initiative of the QI Group to address the urgent need for resources and support for children with special learning needs and their families. 

“The special education needs school seeks to unlock every child’s ability through a personalised curriculum to empower them to become independent and contributing members of society,” said RYTHM in a statement. 

-- BERNAMA