Helen Keller || Transforming Futures

About Us

At HKIES, we adopt an integrated approach to education that combines academic learning with emotional and social support. We believe in the importance of creating a nurturing environment where every child feels valued and understood. Our team works closely with families to ensure that each child’s needs are met and that they receive the support necessary to succeed.

At HKIES, We strive to equip our students with the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to succeed, while actively engaging with families and the community to promote understanding and support for all individuals.

Our goal is to create a world where every deaf child has access to an inclusive, high- quality education that unlocks their full potential. We strive to break down barriers and build a future where every child is empowered to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Through innovative teaching, comprehensive support, and community engagement, we aim to foster a society where all children are valued, their unique abilities are celebrated, and their opportunities for success are limitless.

OUR Missions

“To provide tailored educational programs and comprehensive support that enable deaf children to achieve their full potential and thrive in an inclusive community”

OUR Vision

“To create a world where every deaf child has equal opportunities to excel and lead a fulfilling life, empowered through inclusive education and unwavering support”

Our History

In 1997, Mrs Gayathri took a monumental step by founding the Helen Keller Integrated Education Society. Drawing from her personal experiences and insights, she established HKIES with a mission to provide specialized education and holistic support services tailored specifically for deaf children. Over the years, HKIES have grown from a small initiative into a leading organization dedicated to transforming lives through education and support. Our journey has been marked by numerous milestones, including the expansion of our programs, the development of innovative teaching methods, and the establishment of strong community partnerships.

We started us Inclusive education in the beginning we got very good response from the society later on public not cooperated for the inclusive education, so our Institute closed the regular student education, and started only for Deaf children.

The Founder

Smt.Gayathri Raveesh has established an educational society under the name “Helen Keller Integrated Educational Society®” which is a registered organization under the Government of Karnataka.

She is working as the founder Principal and also teaching the deaf children in Helen Keller School, established under the educational society since 1997. She is working closely with parents of deaf disabled children towards training them so that the parents can take care of their children properly.

She has travelled across the state of Karnataka to awaken and to empower the mothers of deaf children and formed the “State Level Parents Association of PWD (children)”.

Smt.Gayathri Raveesh is trained personnel teaching PWDs particularly deaf children. She is highly qualified in formal deaf education having B.A, B.Ed., and M.Ed., in Deaf Education. With dedication, she is working hard for the cause of PWDs.

She is the convener of Tumkur Deaf Association since 1994 and has carried out a number of activities under the association. She has perfected sign language of the deaf and her interpreter has helped to solve many problems of deaf people in legal Courts, Police station, Banks, Colleges, Universities, etc. She has developed a very good network for deaf people with Government departments and has advocated for them in Audiological assessment pensions, allocation of 3% budget in Tumkur Municipal Corporation providing Driving Licenses, Aadhar Cards, etc. She has strived hard to provide barrier free environment for deaf community in public places, offices, temples, etc. She is an expert trainer and has trained SSA (Service Shiksha Abhiyan) teachers in basic sign language. A 6-months training was given in 8 urban rehabilitation centers in Tumkur city by Smt.Gayathri Raveesh. This work is appreciated by Tumkur Municipal Corporation and in appreciation ahonorarium was best award by TMC. She has conducted sign language training workshop in each Taluk of Tumkur district (i.e., 10 Taluks) in all multiple Rehabilitation and Village rehabilitation centers. Considering these yeoman services, she is nominated as Zonal Coordinator for Southern-II Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep by Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). Smt.Gayathri Raveesh has been workshop as Vice President of “Sakishima” Tumkur district from 2016and has been nominated as Dakshina Karnataka State Hearing Impaired Prevost Pramukh. She is a member of District Standing Committee for the Disabled Persons of Tumkur District Karnataka. She has developed a good networking with various NGOs across the state of Karnataka to help Deaf & PWDs. Whenever there is a problem of PWDs, she works towards it to awaken the authorities and public by maintaining cordial relations with Electronic & Print Media. She has conducted press meets for successful conduction of Job Fair, 3% budget allocation, celebration of Deaf day, etc. She has appealed, demanded and met government officials of Tumkur District in connection with commissioning of District Disabled Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) in the district. She has spent her personal finance to provide education to wheel chair women. Example: For a girl disabled studying BSW in Hemadri College, Tumkur. Reference: Disable woman - Manjula T.S Principal- Mr. Nataraj (Mobile: 9448448915) 1-9-2013 conducted 5k marathon to create awareness about PWD’s Government Schemes.

A brief life sketch of the individual.

Smt.Gayathri Raveesh is born in Bangalore District in 17-03-1965. She has the following qualification.

B.A., B.Ed., (General), D.Ed., Spl.Education, HI, MCTT in Integrated Education for the Disables, B.Ed., Deaf Education, M.Ed., Deaf Education.

She is a special educator trained in SKID and JSS Bangalore, Ramakrishna Vivekananda University Coimbatore. She is one of the pioneers in integrated education for the deaf and other communication impaired children. She has a vast experience of 29 years in the field of deaf education.

She is a suffered mother of a deaf child (Son) who is 37 years at present. Learning that the child is deaf at about 8-10 months with grit & conviction, she vowed to educate him as a good citizen and started teaching him since he was 11 months. Now her son is 37 years old with a Diploma in Computer Science from a regular college. The son is now working in Engineering College as a laboratory instructor since 10 years and performing his duties well. He is married and have 7 months old son.

With the experience of her own problems, she oriented her mind towards societal sufferings of other affected parents and started “Helen Keller Integrated Education Society® in 1997. In the early years of establishment, there was a good support but the parents slowed opinion and different attitude towards PWDs, the support from parents of regular students could not be obtained. The institution suffered financial problems but continued as “Deaf & Mentally retarded children school”. But without government support even today after 25 years. The school is being maintained by Smt.Gayathri Raveesh with her own limited assets and finance. She is striving hard to maintain the school but with dedication towards social service. Since form 2022, HKIES started new project funded by our state Government “Mother’s Training Center”. Here we take admission for children of with Hearing Impairment of new born babies to 04 years, we develop Speech and Language for these babies and admit them to main schools for their further education.

At present, the school has strength of 28 deaf students and 8 mentally retarded students. There are no grants or aid from government. Smt.Gayathri Raveesh started working for the PWD’s since form 1992, totally 29 years of experiences.

Her contribution during last ten years

- 40 alumni of “Helen Keller School” are pursing higher education with some of them working in different organizations.

- 80 PWD’s are working in Tumkur District and Bangalore District

- 450 PWD’s trained in Livelihood training

- 120 Deaf families empowered in the state

- Barrier free environment for the Deaf: Awareness was created in the Government Departments, University and Deaf families. The importance of the sign language and it’s the barrier free for the Deaf. (Communication is the barrier for the deaf).

- 35 Deaf persons got the self employment funds from the Tumkur Municipal Corporation.

- 30 Mentally Retarded children supported for their medical expenses.

- Manasa Mentally Retarded School received 7 lakhs funds to build the barrier free toilets in their school from Tumkur Municipal Corporation.

- 106 people got basic sign language training, with the collaboration of Tumkur University. In three batches.

- 12 deaf people supported in search of pairs for marriage.

- 10 court cases attended, as a sign language interpreter to give justice for the deaf people.

- She is the Honorable Parent of Tumkur District Disabled Association ®, during the quarterly meeting, Annual meetings, Advocacy work she will take part to support PWD’s of Tumkur District. (All types of PWD’s involved in this association)

Awards to Smt.Gayathri Raveesh

2016 – Karnataka state award, by the Department of Disabled and Senior Citizens Empowerment, Karnataka State Government.

2012 – Republic award as by district administration, Honored by Miss.Shobha Karndane

2011 – “Extraordinary Teacher” award by Information and Resource Centre (IRC) Bangalore.

2011 – “Best Social Worker” award form Inner Wheel Ladies Club ®.

2012 – ‘Best role model Mother’ by BD Annanawra Tatti School for the Deaf, Gadag District, Karnataka State.

2015 – Kannada Rakshana Vedike, awarded as “Samaja Seva Rathna”,

8-3-2015 – on the occasion of World Women Day, Tumkur District Award given by women protection anti dowry association ®.

2014 – Best mother award received from Ladies Circle 115 ®.

2016 – Best social service award form Abhudaya Ladies association ®.

2015–Received “Best Social Service”, award from Prerana Disabled Association ® Tumkur District.

2018 – Received “Best Social worker” award from BJP Mahila Morcha. Tumkur District.

2018 – “Best Mother” award by Pivpra Women Association, Tumkur District.

Name of the Area / District / State in which work has been done for the welfare of persons with disabilities.

Tumkur District 10 Taluks and Tumkur Town,
Bangalore District
Gadag District
Koppal District
Vijayapura District
Davengere District
Kundapura
Chitradurga District

Outstanding professional achievements

35 Deaf people were supported with Rs 20,000 Self employment funds and 30 mentallyretarded children were provided a medical support of Rs 10,000 by Tumkur Municipal Corporation due to dharma and meeting for 3 days in support of provision of budget allocation for PWDs. Conducted 05 Job fairs for the PWD’s and about 148 PWD’s were placed in Factories, Hotels, Petrol bunks, Malls, etc. in Tumkur & Bangalore city. Conducted 45 days basic sign language Training (15 days each batch totally 3 batches) at Tumkur University covering 120 teachers, parents and deaf students. 3 years conducted World Deaf Day to create awakening about empowerment of Deafand reached 4000 people by associating with Media, Press, Government officials, Deaf association, School teachers, and Parents, etc. Nominated by Director for disabled persons & senior citizen empowerment department, Karnataka state as resource person to give training in Basic sign language to 53 schools all over the state. During 2018 Vidhana Sabha electors Smt.Gayathri Raveesh was invited by Tumkur district election commission to work in Sweep committee to explain VVPAT Machine to PWD’s to create awakening about Voting among them. In Chitradurga, also worked as a sign language interpreter in Vidhana Sabha election to train PWD’s to create awakening about voting among them. Survey was done in 22 slums in Tumkur District, Identified 345 families with disabilities. Created awareness about Govt. Schemes, Disability Card, Bus pass, train pass and 3 % budget allocation for the disabled. Attending KDP meetings regularly at Tumkur Zillah Panchayat office and raise the issues of disabled people. Created awareness regarding Brain Stem Evoked Response Audiometer (BERA), and shortly our DHO and DS agree to install BERA in the Govt. Hospital. Attended many state and national level workshops and conferences as participants and also a resource person. Supported many State level and National level sports meet for the deaf as a sign language interpreter. In 2012 with lots of efforts formed Mardhani Tumkur District Deaf and their parents Association. In December 2016 conducted 3 days State level sports meet for the deaf. 460 players took part in this meet from all over Karnataka State.

Email:

hkis.tumkur@gmail.com

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