Mysore/Mysuru: Rotary Mysore, as part of its Platinum Jubilee celebrations, has constructed a separate block with 10 classrooms for children with autism at its Integrated School in Dattagalli. This is the only school in city for children with autism.

The new block, inaugurated recently by PDG Rtn. R. Guru, has been funded through donations from various institutions, members of Rotary Mysore and the general public.

Prominent among the donors are ICICI Bank Ltd., H.N. Varadharajan, B.R. Pai of Vijay Foundation, Abbas Vagh of Decorative Laminates, R. Guru of N.R. Group, Jagannath Shenoy of Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works, Mysore Amity Round Table-156, Ideal Jawa Rotary School and Rotary Mysore Educational Foundation. 

Rotary Mysore had constructed an Integrated School in 2015 at Dattagalli. This School had a section of classrooms for children with autism, which is managed by Thulir Charitable Trust. As only 40 special children could be accommodated in the school, the new block was constructed so that more children with autism could be enrolled. The objective of this school is to integrate children with autism into mainstream education. This is a set-up where a school for regular children and a school for children with autism co-exist in the same environment which helps children with autism develop their social skills and encourages them to interact with normal children. This itself acts as a therapy for these children.