Life in the day of a special needs educator

Bagavathi has been working as an educator at V-Excel – a skill training centre for young adults with cognitive and intellectual disabilities – since 2018.

A yoga class is taking place at the V-Excel Learning Centre in Adyar, and Bagavathi, 43, draped in a crisp-light green saree, is busy guiding the 20-something-year-olds attending the session. From giving out instructions to fixing posture of the practicioners, the special needs educator is

a handful of 20-something-year-olds, mouthing instructions, fixing their posture, and constantly moving about the room.

Bagavathi has been working as an educator at V-Excel – a skill training centre for young adults with cognitive and intellectual disabilities – since 2018. The institute, with about 21 centres spread across Chennai, equips neurodivergent young adults with skills like tailoring, jute braiding, block printing, and bag making, among others, through its livelihood project.

Originally from Thiruchendur in Thoothukudi district, Bagavathi says she has studied only till Class 8 but has always been fond of tailoring. “I first joined this school as a tailor to help students make various products. I started with sanitary napkins, but now I have moved on to teaching them tailoring and other physical tasks.”

Until she had joined V-Excel, Bagavathi had never interacted with children or adults with intellectual disabilities. “I had to start small – as small as helping them fold a newspaper, thread a needle, or tie a knot,” she says.

Currently, around 19 students on the spectrum are coached at the institute, all of them with varying levels of intellectual disabilities.

The last six years have been a learning curve, not just for her students but also for her, says Bagavathi. “I have learned to interact with them and understand their needs. I slowly understood that each person responds to different kinds of teaching styles, and I was quick to adapt to that. Now, I am a senior educator here,” she adds, beaming.