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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN OF GOD CENTRE
St. John of God Centre was started by the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God on May 1st 1998 for the support and training of children and young adults with learning disabilities – those who are differently abled. The Hospitaller Order of St. John of God established the centre under the auspice of the Society for the Empowerment of the Learning Disabled (SELD), a registered charitable organization.
ST. JOHN OF GOD SPECIAL SCHOOL
A New Initiative
Bro. Augustine Polaprayil initiated and actualised the project at Velloor after returning in 1997 from Germany and Ireland where he specialized in the field of Special Education. Five differently abled clients from our homes for the aged at Kattappana and Poonamallee were selected and a small centre was started in May 1998. Eventually more clients arrived and the need was felt for a bigger centre with modern facilities.
In the meantime Brothers and Co-workers from Ireland (in 1998) and Australia (in 2000) conducted seminars in India, in which issues relating to managing challenging behaviours were discussed and objectives, programmes and policies for the Velloor Centre were formulated.
A Model Centre
With the assistance of the Baverian Province of the Order, a model centre with the best practices for the differently abled was officially inaugurated on 1st November 2003. The new facilities comprise a modern and well-equipped special school, comfortable yet homely hostels for different age groups and sexes, canteen, chapel, various sports facilites, vocational training centre( workshop), hydrotherapy and residences for the communities of John of God brothers & sisters.
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