• The Chitra Lane School for Special Children Founder Chair Delysia Gunewardene on persons with disabilities being wrongly labelled

For decades, the Chitra Lane School for Special Children Founder Chairperson Delysia Gunewardene and the School have been a lifeline for families, a champion for early intervention, and a catalyst for inclusion in Sri Lanka. Aligned with the women’s month, Kaleidoscope visited the School and spoke to the woman who chose to rewrite the narrative at a time when support for children with special needs was barely recognised. In this interview, we uncover more about those beginnings, understand the challenges, and explore what it truly means to build a society that embraces every child with dignity and possibility. 

Following are excerpts of the interview:

The School was started at a time when conversations about special needs were not very common. What really sparked the idea for you to found the School?

I have always loved children. From the time I was very young, I enjoyed being around them — looking after them, playing with them, dressing them, even helping with small things like washing and caring for them. When my youngest started Montessori, about a year before she went into school, I suddenly found that I had a lot of time on my hands. I didn’t want to waste that time. I wanted to do some volunteer work with children. But, most places were large organisations, and it was difficult to find somewhere that I could contribute effectively. 

So, I spoke to the Montessori that my daughter was attending and asked if she could refer me to someone who needed help. She said, “Why should I refer you to anyone? You can help me with these children.” She pointed out a few children who had physical disabilities and challenges. 

I had never worked with children like that before and to be honest, I was a little nervous. I went home and spoke to my husband about it. He said, “That sounds like a wonderful thing for you to do. Why don’t you try?” I told him that I didn’t know anything about special education. He simply said, “What are libraries for? Go and learn.” 

So that’s how it started — with one child in that Montessori. Then, two of my friends joined me. The three of us decided that we would try to do something meaningful. I worked directly with the children, while they helped raise funds — which, as you can imagine, was the most difficult part. We began with one child, then two, then three, and then four, to what it is today.

How did the School grow from those early days?

We were first given a small room at the Montessori, and they kindly allowed us to use their equipment. But, as more children joined, the space became too small. One of my friends knew someone who had a large garage with a room and a big garden on Bagatelle Road. She generously offered it to us free of charge. So, we moved there and continued our work. 

Again, the School grew. We needed more staff and more facilities. Another friend’s husband had some Government connections and helped us obtain land here at Chitra Lane. At first, we received half the plot. But, we still had no money to build, so we had to look for funding.

Social service organisations came forward, but, many of them wanted publicity. I wasn’t very comfortable with that because I didn’t want the children to become a means of publicity for anyone. Around that time, I approached architect Geoffrey Manning Bawa, whom I happened to know. I asked him one day if he would be willing to design a building for the School. He very kindly agreed, and he designed it for us. We still have the original plans here. 

Even then, we had to raise the funds to build. My daughter-in-law was very good at writing project proposals. She worked tirelessly preparing proposals and approaching organisations until eventually support came through.

From those early days — perhaps from Bagatelle Road — has the mission of the School changed?

In the beginning, my intention was only to work with very young children. But, over time, we realised that support shouldn’t stop at early childhood. Today, we work with children all the way up to the age of 21. The aim is to train them so that they can become useful and confident members of society — within their families, communities, and the country.

Within Sri Lanka’s broader special education landscape, how does the Chitra Lane system fit in?

Today, there are a few schools doing similar work, which is encouraging. The Government has also introduced special education units within some schools, where children with special needs can receive additional support. There is also an increasing discussion about inclusive education. So, compared to when we first began, there is definitely more awareness and more effort in this area.

You have worked with hundreds of families over the years. What recurring gaps or needs have you seen in the support system for special needs children?

One of the biggest issues is misunderstanding. Many of these children are labelled very quickly, but, in reality, they are often quite capable. The difficulty is that parents sometimes don’t know how to handle them. Some believe that scolding or beating a child will solve the problem. But, that is the worst thing that you can do. These children need patience, understanding and the right approach. When parents learn how to support them properly, you often see remarkable progress.

Early intervention has been a cornerstone of your work. What are some success stories that stand out to you?

One of my most memorable cases was a girl who came to us when she was about 13 years old. When I first met her, she had a habit of speaking to herself, which made me quite anxious because I wasn’t used to dealing with that type of situation. But, while her parents were speaking to me, she quietly took out a drawing book and began sketching. The picture she drew was beautiful. 

At that moment I realised that she had real talent. At the time she did not communicate with anyone at all. But, her parents were wonderful — they followed every bit of guidance that we gave them. Today, she is living a completely normal life. That kind of transformation is incredibly rewarding.

What are the biggest misconceptions the Sri Lankan society still holds about children with special needs?

The biggest problem is labelling. Once a child is labelled, people tend to limit their expectations. But, many of these children are capable of contributing meaningfully. In fact, we have several students who graduated from Chitra Lane and now help us as staff assistants. Some work in the office, others assist in therapy units. They are useful and valued members of our community.

Inclusivity is a mindset. How can Sri Lanka build a more inclusive future for these children?

First, we must remember that no two human beings are the same. So, you cannot treat everyone in exactly the same way. Each child needs to be understood individually. You have to speak to them differently, guide them differently, and most importantly treat them with kindness. 

Another very harmful habit is comparison. Within families, people often say, “Your brother can do this, so why can’t you?” That only discourages the child and makes them feel pushed aside. Instead, we should focus on what each child can do. Every child has an ability that can be nurtured.

From a broader perspective, what needs to be done in Sri Lanka to ensure equality in special needs education?

Society itself needs to become more accepting. We often expect everyone to follow the same path — education, behaviour, achievements — but that’s not realistic. For example, someone who may not have had much formal education can still be extremely capable in practical life. 

A person who works in your home may have very little schooling but may run an entire household beautifully. People contribute in different ways. We need to recognise and respect that. Of course, when there are physical or medical challenges, therapists and medical professionals also need to play a role. It requires teamwork.

What message would you like to give parents and teachers when it comes to special needs children? 

The first thing I would say is: do not lose your temper with children. Do not hit them. Do not beat them. Do not shout at them. Unfortunately, this still happens — even in some well-known schools. I have seen principals and teachers walking around with sticks. That is the worst thing that you can do to a child. Children need encouragement, patience, and kindness if they are to grow and learn.

What is your vision for the School over the next five to 10 years?

One dream I have is to build another unit here at Chitra Lane — a small shop and café where our students can work. We currently teach them cooking and practical skills, and they prepare some wonderful food. I believe that they could easily run a small café or food outlet. It would give them employment, dignity, and independence. They could continue working there well into adulthood. That is something that I would really love to see happen in the future.

The writer is the host, director, and co-producer of the weekly digital programme ‘Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo’ which can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. She has over three decades of experience in print, electronic, and social media

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The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the interviewee, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication