Our History
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1987Development of Upanayan
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1989MNC Inaugurated
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20031st International Conference
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2004• Launch of Annapoorna
• 1st National Workshop -
2007Launch of Sanmargam
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2008• Inauguration of TN Government EIC
• In-house Developmental Pediatrician Consultation -
2010TN Government EICS Refresher Training
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2012• Launch of Sambhavam
• Inauguration of AVMVK Academy -
2013Launch of Samyam
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2014Inauguration of SRTC Autism Centre
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2018MNC-BMKT Integration
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2020Inauguration of Jivikam Unit
1987
Development of Upanayan
A research study was initiated in 1987 for an Early Intervention tool on the lines of ‘Portage’ to suit the Indian cultural milieu. The Intervention tool was an age-appropriate checklist of skills to facilitate early identification of potential developmental delays and disabilities. The study was documented, field tested and formalized into an official Early Intervention Program called ‘Upanayan’ in 19891989
MNC Inauguration
The Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children (MNC) was inaugurated in 1989 as an Early Intervention and Research Centre, built around the ‘Upanayan’ framework, for children aged zero to six years with Intellectual Disability and associated conditions2003
1st International Conference
The 1st international conference on the theme of ‘Early Intervention in Mental Retardation’ was hosted by MNC in 2003. The conference significantly enhanced the knowledge and services of participating NGOs and educational institutions by facilitating the sharing of international best practices in this field coupled with practical training sessions for staff.2004
Launch of Annapoorna
The ‘Annapoorna’ program was launched in 2004 to address thenutritional challenges faced by many of our children due to compounding disabilities and/or lack of awareness or resources. The program provides needed supplementary nutrition to both children and their mothers to promote health and attendance.1st National Workshop
The 1st national workshop on the theme of ‘Early Intervention in Mental Retardation’ focused on hands-on training on ‘Upanayan’ along with practical demonstrations and presentations.2007
Launch of Sanmargam
The ‘Sanmargam’ initiative, meaning ‘good direction’, was launched in 2007. It aims to facilitate children to move ahead, upon completion of the ‘Upanayan’ Early Intervention Program, to primary education and higher in either mainstream or special schools.2008
Inauguration of TN Government EIC
Based on the Government of Tamil Nadu’s vision of establishing an Early Intervention Centre (EIC) in each district, MNC was selected by the State to start a government-aided EIC in Chennai in 2008.In-house Developmental Pediatrician Consultation
The children of MNC have the benefit of regular consultation by a Developmental Paediatrician, with every child undergoing an assessment at least once per quarter. The doctor conducts a thorough medical examination based on which further specialised medical treatments may be recommended to the parents. The doctor also evaluates the training skills designed by the special educators for each child and the child’s progress.2010
TN Government EICS Refresher Training
MNC began offering yearly refresher courses in 2010 for special educators and therapists of Government-run EICs to promote skills enhancement and knowledge updates on innovative new methodologies and techniques, as well as new disability legislation and regulations.2012
Launch of Sambhavam
The ‘Sambhavam’ program was launched in 2012 to expose children to daily real-world experiences, like going to the market or visiting a museum, and help them to actualize skills learnt at the Centre.Inauguration of AVMVK Academy
In recent decades, increased awareness of intellectual disabilities has spurred a rise in early intervention institutions in India. However, the number of qualified special educators has not kept pace. To address this gap, the AVMVK Training Academy, the academic wing of MNC, was established in 2012 in memory of our Founder Director, Air Vice Marshal V. Krishnaswamy. The academy offers a 10-month Diploma course in Early Childhood Special Education (DECSE-ID).2013
Launch of Samyam
The ‘Samyam’ project was launched in 2013 to establish a hub at the center for connecting alumni, current and new students to facilitate an exchange and sharing of personal insights and experiences.2014
Inauguration of SRTC Autism Centre
In light of the rising prevalence of autism, the Tamil Nadu Government established an Early Intervention Centre for Autism at the State Resource Training Centre (SRTC), K. K. Nagar, Chennai, and appointed MNC to run and monitor its operations.2018
MNC-BMKT Integration
MNC and Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust (BMKT) both serve to enhance the well-being of young children from disadvantaged backgrounds and provide them with better care. While BMKT specializes in early childhood care for children on a typical development trajectory, MNC focuses on early intervention for children with Intellectual Disability and associated conditions. Given the shared and overlapping objectives of both organizations, MNC and BMKT integrated their activities on 01 April 2018 to promote the optimal use of resources, such as infrastructure, expertise, research and funds, of both organizations and accordingly, provide better quality services to a wider cross section of children.2020
Inauguration of Jivikam Unit
‘Jivikam’ was conceived in 2020 tofulfill our mandate of training every child with Intellectual Disability to go on to lead a socially useful and productive life. The unitoffers both pre-vocational training based on the Madras Developmental Programming System and training in vocational skills towards placement in jobs.Our History
A research study was initiated in 1987 for an Early Intervention tool on the lines of ‘Portage’ to suit the Indian cultural milieu. The Intervention tool was an age-appropriate checklist of skills to facilitate early identification of potential developmental delays and disabilities. The study was documented, field tested and formalized into an official Early Intervention Program called ‘Upanayan’ in 1989
The Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children (MNC) was inaugurated in 1989 as an Early Intervention and Research Centre, built around the ‘Upanayan’ framework, for children aged zero to six years with Intellectual Disability and associated conditions
The 1st international conference on the theme of ‘Early Intervention in Mental Retardation’ was hosted by MNC in 2003. The conference significantly enhanced the knowledge and services of participating NGOs and educational institutions by facilitating the sharing of international best practices in this field coupled with practical training sessions for staff.
The ‘Sanmargam’ initiative, meaning ‘good direction’, was launched in 2007. It aims to facilitate children to move ahead, upon completion of the ‘Upanayan’ Early Intervention Program, to primary education and higher in either mainstream or special schools.
1st National Workshop
The 1st national workshop on the theme of ‘Early Intervention in Mental Retardation’ focused on hands-on training on ‘Upanayan’ along with practical demonstrations and presentations.
Based on the Government of Tamil Nadu’s vision of establishing an Early Intervention Centre (EIC) in each district, MNC was selected by the State to start a government-aided EIC in Chennai in 2008.
In-house Developmental Pediatrician Consultation
The children of MNC have the benefit of regular consultation by a Developmental Paediatrician, with every child undergoing an assessment at least once per quarter. The doctor conducts a thorough medical examination based on which further specialised medical treatments may be recommended to the parents. The doctor also evaluates the training skills designed by the special educators for each child and the child’s progress.
MNC began offering yearly refresher courses in 2010 for special educators and therapists of Government-run EICs to promote skills enhancement and knowledge updates on innovative new methodologies and techniques, as well as new disability legislation and regulations.
The ‘Sambhavam’ program was launched in 2012 to expose children to daily real-world experiences, like going to the market or visiting a museum, and help them to actualize skills learnt at the Centre.
Inauguration of AVMVK Academy
In recent decades, increased awareness of intellectual disabilities has spurred a rise in early intervention institutions in India. However, the number of qualified special educators has not kept pace. To address this gap, the AVMVK Training Academy, the academic wing of MNC, was established in 2012 in memory of our Founder Director, Air Vice Marshal V. Krishnaswamy. The academy offers a 10-month Diploma course in Early Childhood Special Education (DECSE-ID).
The ‘Samyam’ project was launched in 2013 to establish a hub at the center for connecting alumni, current and new students to facilitate an exchange and sharing of personal insights and experiences.
In light of the rising prevalence of autism, the Tamil Nadu Government established an Early Intervention Centre for Autism at the State Resource Training Centre (SRTC), K. K. Nagar, Chennai, and appointed MNC to run and monitor its operations.
MNC and Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust (BMKT) both serve to enhance the well-being of young children from disadvantaged backgrounds and provide them with better care. While BMKT specializes in early childhood care for children on a typical development trajectory, MNC focuses on early intervention for children with Intellectual Disability and associated conditions. Given the shared and overlapping objectives of both organizations, MNC and BMKT integrated their activities on 01 April 2018 to promote the optimal use of resources, such as infrastructure, expertise, research and funds, of both organizations and accordingly, provide better quality services to a wider cross section of children.
‘Jivikam’ was conceived in 2020 tofulfill our mandate of training every child with Intellectual Disability to go on to lead a socially useful and productive life. The unitoffers both pre-vocational training based on the Madras Developmental Programming System and training in vocational skills towards placement in jobs.