Panevezys special education centre “Šviesa”

Panevezys special education centre “Šviesa” was founded in 1956. The centre is state-owned, budgetary special educational institution of Panevezys. The centre is intended for pupil (children and youth) from 7 to 21 years old, intellectual and/or complex disability (reading and writing disorders, autism, down syndrome, emotional disorders, attention deficit disorders). The centre is open to the community, able to cognize and cherish psychological and physical puissance of those with intellectual and complex disability, acknowledge each personality, comprise unique chances for their continuous self-development, prepare them to lead an independent life inside local communities or prepare them for vocational education or trainings. At the moment the centre joins 130 students. 50 percent of pupil stays in the centre dormitory from Monday to Friday, others take part in the day care groups. Pupil are educated in: - special classes for pupil who has mild intellectual disabilities and/or behavioural disorders; - educable classes for pupil who has moderate and severe intellectual/complex disabilities; - social skills training classes for youngsters with intellectual disabilities. This program offers the post-graduate programs to help students prepare for the transition between vocational school or the working world. The staff of the centre consists of 80 employees. 31 of them are special teachers of different subjects, speech therapists, physical therapists, social pedagogue, psychologists and teacher consultants. 10 of them are educators who organize non-formal workshops and develop pupils’ social skills, support and improve pupil educational, vocational and living skills. 10 of them are teacher assistants. Every student has individualized education plans and educational goals are specific to the pupils' abilities. Teachers, education assistance specialists and parents of the students are prepared to address the social and emotional challenges students with disabilities face in the centre setting. Much attention is given to the preparation of the pupil for independent life, their integration into the society. The centre offers support services, which include educational school-based speech therapy services for students with speech and language impairments, educational psychology service for students with learning, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, educational placement and advice and professional support to parents and teachers on how to manage children with disabilities. The centre gives a lot of importance to links with the community and organizes special activities such as a theatre festival, sport competitions and Christmas activities. The organisation is constantly seeking to develop through professional staff development, creating new activities that lead to development opportunities for disabled pupil and cooperating with organizations in other countries, adopting good practice from abroad. We organize non-formal educational, cultural, sporting activities and social events, offer free of charge transportation with adapted vans, free of charge use of modern computer technology and internet access, organizing personal assistance, offer advice and help related to educational, vocational and living matters. We collect information on educational and living conditions of disabled students and make efforts to improve them. We raise public awareness about issues related to people with intellectual disabilities and encourage positive change for all disabled people. Education at the center: • Lessons (8 a.m. – 2 p.m.); • Non formal education (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.); • Day care groups (12 a.m. – 6 p.m.); • Non formal education in the dormitory (5 p.m. – 7 p.m.).