St. Joseph’s School for the Blind bring light, sow self-confidence

Over six decades ago, two nuns walking on the street met visually impaired children from economically poor backgrounds. The nuns established St. Joseph’s School for the Blind in Gnanaolivapuram parish in Madurai on December 8, 1972.

The founding members, Sisters Leofrida Mary and Margretta Mary, belong to the Congregation of Mother of Sorrows Servants of Mary, known as Servite Sisters.

St. Joseph’s School for the Blind strives to educate visually impaired children with self-confidence in Madurai, Tamil Nadu in South India.

On October 24, 1976, the school had to relocate to Justin Nagar in Madurai due to the increasing number of students from different places.

St. Joseph’s School for the Blind offers free education with trained teachers for visually impaired children.

Over 117 students reside at the school, 74 boys and 43 girls, availing all the facilities.

The students are taught daily living skills like brushing teeth, walking, eating, etc. The school also teaches work skills like chair-canning, wire baskets, garland, etc., to access employment opportunities.

The students learn Perkins Brallier typing and computer operating through Jaws and TTT.

The students also learn musical instruments like tabla (twin hand drum from India), keyboard, flute, and drums. They are enrolled in yoga and dance classes.

Games like sound ball help them maintain their physical health, refresh their minds, and get them involved in several competitions such as dance, acting, and sports.

For their studies, the Braille method is used for reading and writing, and Taylor's framework for math is used for mathematics.

In 1982, the school was upgraded to middle school and raised to a high school in 2016. The middle school is now recognized as a permanent institution by the Tamil Nadu state commissioner for the differently-abled Chennai district in India.

On September 3, 2019, Children received District Champion in the National Map Braille Quiz Competition organized by National Association for the Blind at Indian Association for Blind campus in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

During the academic year 2021-2022, it was upgraded to Higher Secondary School​​​​​​.

As of now, St. Joseph’s School for the Blind has successfully trained 789 students.  There are 14 well-equipped teachers and assisted by eight non-teaching staff.

The nuns “increased my self-confidence, morals and catechism. They taught mobility to work in an integrated school. It is my privilege to work here as a music teacher for the past ten years,” said Santhana Mary, a music teacher at St. Joseph's School and a former student.

Former students still support their "Alma mater" both morally and financially.

Sister Lilly Josephine Mary, Servite Sister, says experiences with the blind children at the centre have inspired her since 2009.

“Helping attitude can be learned from our visually impaired students. The way they share their works, to do in a better way, brings admiration for each one of us,” the nun said.

Servite Sister Backia Mary, the school’s Headmistress, says we are “providing more opportunities for learning to achieve importance in society.”

“I gain self-confidence by watching their confidence levels in activities of our school,” Sister Backia Mary said

Sister Lilly Josphine, Servite Sisters, the Correspondent of the school, Sister Backia Mary the Headmistress of the School,

Sister Rozali Amali Mary and Sister Sahaya Jansi Mary are well committed special teachers at the school.