Over 30 volunteers from Thuvakkam (an organization that believes in making change happen rather than waiting for it) helped transform the walls of our home’s dormitories, class rooms, dining halls and physiotherapy room into learning portals, by painting them with vibrant and colorful themes. Our children were simply overjoyed with the bright, fresh look – which not only gives the home a happy feel but helps visually stimulate their minds.

Thanks Thuvakkam for brightening their day! As the saying goes: “Volunteers aren’t paid because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless!” And that’s so true. The time, skill, talent and love you freely gave made a huge impact on our children more than any material comfort could. Our walls now tell a wonderful story of how a little love can transform things!

Thuvakkam is a group of volunteers from all walks of life and includes children, students, corporate staff and families.

District Differently Abled Welfare Officer (DDAWO) launches Sri Arunodayam’s 2018 ‘Special Mom’ Awards

At a function organized on December 16, 2017, Mr. Joseph Ravi – the District Differently Abled Welfare Officer (DDAWO), Chennai officially launched our second annual Special Mom Awards event that is to take place in May this year. Nominations for the Awards are now open via our website. Mothers of ‘special’ children from all over India are invited to send in their applications through till February 1, 2018 after which the applications will be screened by an eminent panel of judges to arrive at the 15 finalists for 2018. All announcements will be made via our website and FB page.

“Projects like these are truly inspirational. I assure Sri Arunodayam and the Special Moms of all the assistance that my Department and I can provide them. I am happy to be part of transformative programs like these,” Mr. Joseph Ravi says.

Sri Arunodayam launches its unique Special Mom Forum

As a follow up to the 2017 Special Mom Awards held on Mother’s Day - May 14, 2017, Sri Arunodayam officially launched its ‘Special Mom Forum’ on December 16, 2017. All Special Mom finalists automatically become members of this Forum – a project aimed at empowering mothers to advocate their issues at all levels of society through joint collaboration and the help of the Forum. Such empowerment can help these mothers become powerful agents of change in society.

Our Special Mom Forum (comprising of 2017’s finalists) was launched through a day-long program of specialized workshops that were tailored to cover issues faced by families of ‘special’ children.

Eminent faculty took the sessions – Government Policy & Schemes for the Disabled (by Mr. Joseph Ravi - District Differently Abled Welfare Officer (DDAWO), Chennai); Government Resources & Entitlements for the Disability Sector (by Mrs. Sheeba, Speech Therapist & Audiologist from the State Resource Training Center (SRTC)); Women’s Health and Stress Management (by Dr. Sumitra, President of the Tamil Nadu Woman Doctors Association); Psychiatric Disorders in Mental Retardation (by Dr. Mythiri Manoharan, Psychiatrist from Kilpauk Medical Hospital); and Legal Counsel concerning Wills & Probates (by Iyyappan Subramaniyan, our Founder & Managing Trustee who is also an Advocate).

Iyyappan says: “The Special MOM Forum is a unique space for mothers of special children. It brings them together to collectively fight for their children's rights and welfare. The Forum mitigates the feeling that they are all alone and ensures their due recognition from society. This program has the potential to transform the lives of mothers of special children and ensure that no child is abandoned due to a lack of support and care.”