A continuing testimonial

When we underwent the incubation process at IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL, they kept asking us about our ‘stickiness’ or return customers. Their point, a valid one, was that it’s not enough to keep finding new folks to work with, it is also about ensuring that these folks come back to you often. Now, that might work well in a subscriber type business or products that need to be renewed. Ours is a company, we are a business in the traditional sense of how we are organized but our mission and purpose is beyond profits. That would have been the easy part.

The valedictory ceremony is already over, otherwise we would have pointed out to this continuing testimonial from a parent, whose child has been diagnosed with ADHD and dysgraphia. From the end of Grade 9 when they were told that he might not be able to take his exams to now, when he has COMPLETED his IGCSE grade 10 level exams, with his rights activated: a scribe, extra time and a quiet space to take the exam, this family has come a long way. A long way in the right direction. Our joint child will go on to do well, we know. What’s more, the school he is in, the one that was open enough to learn and support him, they will take this learning to many more kids who cross their threshold. This testimonial today in our mailbox renews our commitment to what we do. It is unedited except for one apostrophe in our name.

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The Teachers Collective team has been working with our 15-year-old son for over two years now, and they are true to their words “Once our child, forever our child”. They are committed to helping the child totally – working not only with the child himself but also with the parents and the school as well. 

The Teachers Collective enabled him to introspect and identify his goals, possible challenges, and strategies to cope with the same. Over two years, through various sessions, they helped him become aware of crucial study skills and enhanced his repertoire of tools that benefited him across subjects. A comfortable trusting connect was facilitated between him and the aunties. I recall a moment when he shared about certain concerns during his study holidays and immediately resolved, ‘I will call aunty and check for ideas’. In the end, they instilled in the child the self-confidence that, ‘He can do it’. 

The Teachers Collective team helped us parents to set realistic goals and understand our child’s needs better. They brought to our attention certain patterns of behaviour and helped us to accept/normalize them.  For example, transforming the child’s fidgeting into a focus-enabling tool. They also provided invaluable support and advice with the assessment procedure and access arrangements.

The Teachers Collective team took the initiative to work with the teachers in my son’s school, not only concerning one child but to bring in an overall perspective of inclusion. This infused a positive shift in the child’s learning space, where he was understood better, without the apprehensions that were previously holding him back. 

Overall, the approach provided by the Teachers Collective went above and beyond – actively involving each stakeholder, parents, and the teachers, in helping the child’s unique needs. We are sincerely grateful for their offerings to help our child.

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Thank you, dear parent for your sincere and heartfelt words. And thanks for sharing your son with us. Once our kid, definitely always our kid!