Our Beginnings
The brainchild of the Revd.Celestine Fernando and Mrs.Nora Fernando of the Bible Society of Ceylon. It was on the 3rd of July 1975 that the first session of the Colombo Centre for Special Education was held in a small room at the Boys' Home of the Salvation Army at Rajagiriya. Only two students were present on that day, but as days went by, more students joined, and the room at the Boys' Home was soon over crowded.
In 1978 the Centre moved to more spacious premises within the compounds of St. Margaret's Convent, St. Michael's Road, Polwatte, Colombo 3. In 1989 through the courtesy of the then Bishop Of Colombo, The Rt. Revd. Jabez Gnanapragasam, who having seen the work done at the Centre for Special Education and on the request of the Board of Management, graciously arranged a more permanent home at 80/7, Layards Road, Colombo 5.
The use of the premises at Layard’s road was granted to the CCSE on a long term basis, the only proviso being that it be used exclusively for the education and caring of the intellectually impaired.
The existing building was in a state of disrepair and required much work. Architect Ashley De Vos volunteered to draw plans free of charge, for the extensive renovation and refurbishing that was necessary to convert a house to a Centre for Special Needs. The Board of Management had the task of finding the necessary funds for this work.
During the next 12 months the construction work proceeded slowly but surely.
The building was finally completed and furniture, fittings and equipment were installed and the new home of the Centre opened its doors in 1990 in the presence of Bishop and Mrs. Gnanapragasam, The Revd. Celestine Fernando having died a few months before.
Today, 42 years since its inception, the Centre has its own purpose built ‘home’ with space for future development. The CCSE has developed into what could be termed in today’s context a ‘sheltered workshop’ where the daily routine is to ‘discover’ talents and hidden abilities within each of the ‘students’ and use the knowledge to gently steer them towards leading a more meaningful and fulfilled life.
THE ORGANIZATION - LEGAL STATUS & REGISTRATION
Registered as a Voluntary Social Service Organization with the Sri Lankan Government Ministry of Social Services. Registration Number 585 dated 10 August 2002.
Registered as a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) at the National Secretariat for Non Governmental Organization Registration No.L 69104 of 26 June 2003.
Registered with the Registrar of Companies as a non profit Association pursuant with section 21 of the companies Act 17 of 1982.
Date of incorporation 20th October 2005.
Bankers
Hatton National Bank Ltd, Bambalapitiya Branch, Colombo 4.
Auditors
Jayasinghe and Company ( Chartered Accountants )
Legal advisor & Secretary
Mrs. Menik Mendis
The Day to day activity and management of the Centre is supervised by a board appointed steering committee made up of Board members and volunteers.
THE OTHERWISE ABLE
A story in point
I have so many success stories with my 15-year-old non-verbal autistic son. Communication breakthroughs are my favorites. My favorite moment was when I truly realized that there is a real normal boy inside my son that just can't get out in the typical ways. I had been trying to teach my son how to nod his head yes. He could say the word, "no," but he had no way to indicate the word "yes." So, when he was 13 years old, I decided to work hard on teaching him to nod. He would come home from school and we would work hard on nodding. One day, once again, I said to my son "Eric, nod your head yes," and he looked at me and struggled for a moment and very clearly said, "I can't." I wasn't sure I had heard right so I asked him to nod his head again and he said, "I can't." For two weeks, whenever I asked him to nod, he would say "I can't." I was so incredibly excited. He was right, he couldn't nod his head yes. So, I then taught him to say hmm-mmm for yes and he is able to do that. Now he can communicate yes!
One other moment that truly made me look at Eric different was at lunchtime one day. I was making him choose between lunch items and he was having a hard time. For 15 minutes we went back and forth on choosing. He kept changing his mind. Finally, out of exasperation, he yelled, "Make 'em both!!" My husband and I looked at each other and about died laughing. Guess what? He got both items for lunch!
This boy never ceases to amaze us. He is so intelligent, but he just can't get it out so the world can see. We see, however, and we thank God every day for blessing us with a very special child. - L.P., Kennesaw, GA