Mysuru: As part of Children’s Day, the Department of Special Education, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Manasagangothri, inaugurated the Play Area, ‘Shaikshanika Dasara’, and a Health Camp at the Pre-School Training Center, in collaboration with SGS Hospital and GOLZ Mysuru in city this morning.

The chief guest was Mayor M.J. Ravikumar. International table-tennis player Ullas Naik (a person with hearing impairment) was the guest of honour. Dr. S.R. Savithri, Director, AIISH, Mysuru presided.

Dr. Pushpavathi, Head, Department of Special Education, said this was the first special Children’s Day and they wanted to celebrate it in a unique manner. She, along with special educators wanted to give unique gifts to special kids in terms of education-related materials. They had prepared several display items mostly made out of paper to educate the kids with the help of toys, dolls, puppets etc.

They had prepared models of igloos, houses, apartments, Life in deserts, Various festivals of India, Forest, cartoons, safety on roads etc. The display items were all based on the curriculum of the children and they wanted to ensure that the children learn while they have fun.  

A special play area catering to games such as carom, table-tennis, tennis, etc. was also inaugurated. A special health camp was also organised which had a team of about six doctors catering to various genres like paediatrics, orthopaedics, dentistry, nutrition etc. The motive of the camp was to ensure the betterment of the special kids.

Walk the Talk with Ullas Naik

Ullas Naik is a 25-year-old International Table-Tennis player from Mysuru who has represented India in the World Deaf Table Tennis Championship 2016.

Speaking to SOM, he said: “I have been playing this sport since I was about ten years old. I was in AIISH for my therapy for about 5 to 6 six years starting from 1992.  My parents realised my interest for sports and identified my potential in playing table tennis, and thus began my journey.”

Disability did not stop him from conquering heights, as he performed consistently at both State and National level. He has been a National Champion for about 7 years.

He won the Bronze Medal in the World Deaf Table Tennis Championship – 2016 that was held in Turkey. Ullas also emerged as the champion in a friendly competition which was conducted at Pakistan in 2006.  He regularly features in the Indian Deaf Table Tennis team. Currently, he is pursuing his Bachelor of Architecture at University of Mysore.