A one day ICT training programme was conducted on 28st December for the teachers of Model School for Blind, Dharmasala at Kannur. Six special educators were trained through this program.

The training was on the use of computers as part of enriching their pedagogy with the latest ICT tools.

A training program on ICT tools for the differently abled was given to special educators of Calicut Higher Secondary School for handicapped, Snehamahal Special school for mentally handicapped and APH Vocational Centre for differently abled at Kozhikode District on 23rd and 24th December 2009. The training was conducted in two phases, free software tools for the visually challenged on the first day and special educational packages like ‘Gcompris’ on the second day for teachers handling mentally challenged children. Thirteen visually challenged teachers and ten special educators were trained through this program.

A one day ICT training programme was conducted on 21st December for the teachers of “Rotary Institute for Children in Need of Special Care.” The training was held at the Insight office in Vellayambalam. Nine teachers of the institute participated in the programme. The teachers were introduced to free soft ware educational packages like “Gcompris” which will be beneficial for the mentally challenged and autistic children in communication and social development.

Feed back from the teachers suggest that similar training programmes can be more useful if they are extended to few more days.

The two months Soft Skills Development programme for 14 Visually Challenged Students has been concluded. The programme was held from 12th October to 19th December 2009. Apart from developing their communication skills, this course was also an effort to equip them with the required Free Software ICT tools as well. Various exercises and activities were conducted for developing their language and communication skills. A mock test was conducted for the students on 19th December. The final exam for certification will be held in January 2010.

The 5 day ICT training programme for seven Visually Challenged school teachers was held in Idukki district from 14^th-18^th December 2009. 4 teachers from Idukki and 3 teachers from Kottayam District participated in the training programme.