Letting the world see the brightness within

The Colombo Centre for Special Education (CCSE) is a ‘sheltered home’ where intellectually-impaired students are encouraged and empowered to play a productive life in society, confident in themselves. 

CCSE was established on July 3rd, 1975 at the Boys Home of the Salvation Army at Rajagiriya, and since then has shifted to 80/7, Layards Road, Colombo 5. Four decades later, the all-male adult student cadre is 32, with students between the ages of 20 to 65 and have varying degrees of intellectual impairment attending the programme.

The centre is staffed with a mix of personnel, permanent, part-time and volunteers. Part time support is mainly in the form of specialised therapists, hired for speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, behavioural modification techniques, dancing, as well as drama therapy and computer instruction. The staff consists of four experienced teachers who are individually placed in charge of different workstations each catering to an occupational activity. 

In recent studies, students were found to be more responsive to music, dance and drama therapy. Thus at the Centre, music, dance and drama are activities that are enjoyed by both the students and the staff. The students are also given exposure in other fields of activity, including art, creative handicraft, physical training, sports, carpentry, sewing and scouting.

The Colombo Centre for Special Education is managed by a Board, who keep in regular contact with each other in between formal meetings on operational matters, taking into consideration that the demands made for support by the ‘students’ of the centre do not always fit into the pre-planned programme.

There are no professionally qualified individuals in ‘Special needs’ in either the staff or management. Professionals are hired as and when required. The CCSE is also very fortunate to be associated with an honorary consultant who visits the Centre twice a year. 

The Centre is open to students from varying socio- economic backgrounds, following careful assessment. The Centre is open on weekdays with the exception of all statutory and public holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 pm. Following the accepted school vacations in April, August and December, students are given holidays.

The CCSE is funded by the fundraising activities organised by the Board of Management. CCSE also accepts donations given by philanthropic citizens. The Centre also hosts an Annual Sale of Work – a fund raising event where the arts and crafts made by the students are available for purchase. 

The CCSE will be holding this year’s Annual Sale of Work today, 28 November, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 80/7 Layards Road. Colombo 5. Visitors can easily purchase Christmas, birthday, anniversary and thank you cards and notepads, envelopes, gift tags, book marks, colourful handmade jute rugs, art and craft items, pottery and wood work articles, gift packs, used stamp packs and other items created by the students. 

The CCSE can be contacted through CCSE Accountant Malathy Dhason at 011 2591641, or by emailing [email protected] or through the post: The Colombo Centre for Special Education 80/7, Layards Road, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka.