Rising Sun Institute
Rising Sun Institute, established in 1984 by Dr. Abdul Tawwab Khan & Mrs. Parveen Abdul Tawwab, is a special education center for mentally and physically challenged children in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It has two campuses located in DHA and Mughalpura. Rising Sun Institute is a project of “Rising Sun Education and Welfare Society” a not-for-profit and charity-based organization, working for the welfare of special children. It is the largest Institute for special education in Pakistan providing education, vocational & computer training, physio, hydro, speech therapy and various other forms of rehabilitation facilities to more than 600 Children with Intellectual & Visual Impairment, Cerebral Palsy and Autism. The services rendered include individualized education programs, free transportation, Games, Sports & Cultural activities are also the integral part of the total program.
History
Rising Sun Education & Welfare Society is working in the field of special education since 1984. Its Vision & Mission are in line with article 23 of Convention of Rights of the Child 1989:
Vision: “To make special children confident and self-reliant members of the society”
Mission: “ To provide these children with all the educational & training facilities to enhance their capabilities and rehabilitate them in the society” – Rising Sun Institute for Special children is one of its major projects. In 1984, The Rising Sun Institute (RSI) started working with only 2 special children in the dining room of Dr. and Mrs. Abdul Tawwab Khan. RSI now has over 750 enrolled children in DHA campus and Mughalpura campus.
Services
Currently two campuses of Rising Sun Institute for special children (RSI) are working under umbrella of RSE&WS and catering to the needs of 750 Special needs students. Teaching & training facilities are provided to children with intellectual impairment, physical disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment, Autism, Downs Syndrome, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities.
• Teaching and training program focuses on the teaching of basic skill of self-care and independent living to the special children. This is the first step in their training towards making them independent, self-reliant individuals. • Almost 30 to 40 percent of the students of RSI have associated Physical Disabilities, especially children with Cerebral Palsy. A well qualified and experienced team of Physiotherapists helps these children to improve their posture, the range of movement of their joints, hand and eye coordination and body control with the help of different equipment and exercises, thus improving the quality of their life. These students are provided with physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, sensory integration therapy and occupational therapy. • Almost 50 to 60 percent of intellectually affected & CP children suffer from speech problems. At Rising Sun Institute, emphasis is on Speech & Language Therapy of these children, so that they can communicate freely about their needs and requirements. A team of well qualified, trained and experienced Speech Therapists helps these children to enhance their communication skills in a structured manner. • In order to achieve aim of making these children confident and self-reliant citizens, the Institution has a well-equipped vocational training department. Where children are imparted training of manual skills (wood work, weaving, sewing, tailoring, silk painting, block printing, dough work, sequins work etc.) • Games and sports bring about positive changes in the personalities of special children. Every student is given sports coaching in different games. Students of Rising Sun have represented Pakistan in International Olympics for multiple times. since 1995 special athletes of Rising Sun have won 80 medals in international special Olympics.
• In order to create awareness about special needs children in general population, different seminars and workshops are held around the year. Pamphlets and brochures are also prepared about different disabilities and related issues. Rising sun Institute also holds summer internship program in month of July every year simultaneously at both of its campuses. During this internship program young girls and boys from different institutions join rising sun Institute as volunteers. This serves a dual purpose as children at rising sun Institute interact with regular age mates and make new friends. While on the other hand the interns learn about these special people and their unique world.