Our Powerful Advisory Board.
SERPA is extremely honoured and privileged to have the following experts as our Advisory Board members. With their guidance, support and encouragement , SERPA will be moving towards realising our mission.
We are very happy to take this opportunity to give you all a brief note about our expert team.
Mrs. Rukmini Krishnaswamy
Mrs. Rukmini Krishnaswamy, a National Award winner in the field of Rehabilitation Education, recipient of the “Namma Bengalurean of the year (2018)”, is well known for her role as the director of the Spastics Society of Karnataka. Her work with children with disability has been exemplary to say the least. She has started various popular programs/ initiatives including Inclusion in polytechnic and education, Partnering with Parents through “Saath Saath” so as to bring out the best vocational skills in the child, community outreach programs for both rural and urban areas to name a few. She has also been instrumental in starting various diagnostics, assessment, research, and self help skills training centres
Mrs. Krishnaswamy has reached out to over 70,000 children of which over 3,500 children across Karnataka are currently benefiting from the society.
Mr. J.P. Gadkari
Mr. Gadkari dons many hats including that of the honorary secretary of the Karnataka Parents Association of Mentally Retarded Children (KPAMRC). He worked as a journalist for more than 35 years before moving on to the social sector. His contribution in the social sector through his work in KPAMRC, PARIVAAR and Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment are beyond commendable. He played an active role in the Drafting committee in the RPwD act-2016. He was also the convener of the State level local committee of the National Trust.
Mr Gadkari’s contributions also include several paper presentations in India and abroad in the area of disability/ social justice and welfare. His papers throw light on a gamut of topics including legislation, programs, schemes for the disabled, Parents perspectives and concerns etc.
Dr. G. Shilpa Rao – MBBS, DCH, PGDSC (Autism)
Well-known Pediatrician and Autism Specialist in Bangalore, Dr. Shilpa Rao is the one to look for to extend your knowledge on Autism. She completed her MBBS (1996) and Diploma in Child Health (DCH)(2001) at MR Medical College Gulbarga and Post Graduate Diploma in Special Education with Autism Services at Manipal University (2005). She has been a Practicing Pediatrician since 20 years and an Autism Specialist for 17 years.
She started her career as Private Practitioner at Gulbarga in 1996, followed by being the In-House resident Doctor at St. Johns’ Hospital, Bangalore(1998) in the Departments of Gastroenterology, Critical Care Units, under Dr. Ravi Kuttur, Dr .Harshad Devarbhavi and Dr. Mabel Vasnaik. She later worked as Pediatric consultant and Autism Specialist at various Hospitals such as Apollo Clinic, Baptist Hospital, Siddi Autism Clinic and Genlabs Healthcare. Currently, her specialization is in Child Care and Autism Diagnosis, Evaluations,Interventions and Treatments.
Her achievements are numerous; she is Executive Counsel Member of ASI (Autism Society of India), Licensed Medical Pediatrician and Autism Specialist, Course Director and Chief Lecturer at KPAMRC, Medical Director at Genlabs Healthcare Services providing Biomedical Interventions and Testing for Autism as well as other Developmental Disorders. She believes spreading awareness and increasing knowledge about Autism and other developmental disorder is a step towards inclusion.
Prof. Venkatesha
Born in Mysore, Prof. Venkatesh holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Master’s Degree in Education and Sociology. He also holds a Diploma in Social Service. He is the founder member and President of Karnataka Parents’ Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens [KPAMRC]. He is very closely associated with the Association activities and was involved deeply in all its programmes including Teacher Training Programme, guidance, counseling to name a few. He was the Board member of the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India from 2001 to 2004. He also served as the President of, State Federation of Parivaar – Karnataka. He served as Vice-President of DNA twice. In 2017, he received the ‘Best Individual’ award from the State Government for dedicating his services in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Today, under his guidance, the efforts of the parent members and the support of the well wishers, Vishwashanti Niketan, Group Home Rehabilitation Complex, is functional and had recently celebrated its 7th Anniversary. It currently houses 43 special persons both men and women.
Dr. Ali Khwaja
A Montessorian, an engineering graduate of Institute of Science and IIT Bombay, MIE, MIIM, with a Ph.D in Behavioral Sciences- Dr. Ali has always carved out his own path and ensured that work is joy every single day. He is invited regularly to conduct workshops or lectures for Defence, Central Government, prestigious National institutions, schools and colleges;he prefers to be informal, a learner while being a teacher Honesty and Congruence stands out in whatever he says or does.
As Founder and Chairman of Banjara Academy, a unique institution committed to improvement of quality of life, he nurtures and motivates over 300 volunteers to give free service in 10 hospitals and the Academy’s own counselling centers. He conducts a very popular and practical one year part-time Diploma in Counselling Skills and a 6-month Certificate in Life Skills. He has written over 30 books and 80 booklets on all practical aspects of day-to-day life, and writes regular columns and articles in many reputed publications, and edits a unique newsletter. His videos on Banjara’s website get thousands of viewers from all over the world.
Dr. Yesheswini Kamaraju – MD Adult Psychiatry, Fellowship Child And Adolescent Psychiatry.
Along with her exemplary educational background she also has wide experiences from prestigious institutes. An M.D in Adult Psychiatry , Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, U.S.A and a Fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry from Stanford University, California, U.S.A. , She is a recipient of several awards including the ‘Clinical Excellence Award for Outstanding clinician’ in 2004, from Stanford University, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the ‘Chief Resident award in 2001’, from the Department of Psychiatry, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, U.S.A. She has been practicing in Bangalore for many years, primarily catering to children, adolescents and women.
Currently, she is the director of ‘The Reach clinic’ in Koramangala, which was conceived with a vision of integrating physical, social, emotional and psychological wellness. She serves as a consultant and as a teaching faculty to Spastics Society of Karnataka and Fame India.
Ms. Jayashree Ramesh
Ms. Jayashree Ramesh started her career in the field of special education in the year 1986. She later moved to USA to complete her M A (SP. Ed.) from San Jose State University, California. After a stint of six years, she returned to Bangalore and became the founding member of Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism (ASHA). She is associated with ASHA since inception in 1995 and currently is the Director.
She holds positions in many different organizations working with similar objectives. She served as Board Member, National Trust, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India for over six years. She is the founder secretary of Disability NGOs Alliance (DNA), a consortium of organizations working in Karnataka.
She was the first secretary, Autism Society of India (ASI), a national network. She felt that families spend a lot of time and energy looking for help and initiated Information and Resource Centre for Autism and other Developmental Disabilities (IRC) with the support of Sharada Peetam, Sringeri and Rotary Bangalore West. IRC, today, offers many different training programs.
In order to support the families of older children and adults with autism, she encouraged parents and other well-wishers to form Nav Prabhuti Trust (NPT).
She actively participates in other community service initiatives through Rotary. She has held office there as well. She is the Past President Rotary Bangalore West and Assistant Governor 2013-14, Rotary District 3190.
Dr. Gayatri Krishna
Dr. Gayatri is the founder Director of Brindavan Education Trust and a leading advocate of Inclusive Education. Armed with a Doctorate in Educational Psychology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Dr. Gayathri along with late Mrs. Roopa Shivkumar setup the institution in 1993. A visionary, a highly reflective and deep thinker, she spearheads all the programs at Brindavan Education Trust with a bundle of infectious energy. She is involved in setting a direction for the organisation, drawing up policy guidelines, mentoring, monitoring, evaluating and managing a team of over 50 educators, volunteers and facilitators for delivering quality education to over 150 children with special needs at the institution and to thousands of students through the training and outreach programs.
Ms. Jayashree Rajanahally
Stepped into the field of special education as Parent volunteer in 1998 when her daughter was identified as Dyslexic, Jayashree then moved on to head the Resource room in a mainstream school as well as an alternative school. She joined Brindavan education Trust in 2004. She handles after-school remedials with a team of 15 special educators. On an average, they work with 75-100 children every year in the age group of 4-16 years. She has taught in KPAMRC, and was part of team that initiated the SLD course at Brindavan.
She was a part time tutor on the MA SEN & Inclusion offered by The University of Northampton at Bangalore and has mentored close to 100 PG students. She has also co authored research papers and book chapters. She has been very active in media as the spokesperson for creating awareness of LD and the role of mainstream schools in inclusion. She was part of Phone- in program on SEN on Kasthuri and Suvarna channels in Kannada;Her TedX DSCE speech about ‘labels’- the biggest barrier for inclusion, is a must hear.
Ms. Kalaivani Raipet
A post graduate in Social work , a B.Ed in Special Education and a certificate holder in Social entrepreneurship Ms. Kalaivani Raipet , known to us as Ms. Vani, firmly believes that Inclusion is the way forward for the overall development of the Nation.
She started her career as the Project coordinator for a CRY funded project in Seva-In-Action under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Indumathi Rao and Mrs. Ruma Banerjee . While in Secunderabad, she joined Dr. Manjula Kalyaan , Director of Swayamkrushi ,who pioneered the concept of Group Home in India. As the Principal of the center for over 10 years, she strived and took SWAYAMKRUSHI to reach its pinnacle. With her progressive ideas, she worked relentlessly towards inclusion. She was instrumental in bringing in persons with Intellectual Disability participate in NCC Camps, participate in Republic Day Parade as a separate contingent and lobbied for a tableaux depicting the abilities of persons with disabilities. All these were FIRST in India. Her expertise in designing employability skill training programmes and vocational training programmes led to numerous open employment opportunities for persons with Intellectual Disabilities, way back in 2003 when inclusion was still at a nascent stage.
She joined FAME INDIA as the Principal and later became the Director of FAME ACADEMY. She conceptualizes rehabilitation programmes for persons with LD, organizes workshops, conferences and conducts training programmes for many NGOs both at regional and National level. She has presented technical papers in National level conferences and has edited books related to special education.
Dr. Vijaya Raman – Professor of Clinical Psychology, Dept of Psychiatry at St John’s Medical College and Hospital
Dr. Vijaya, has been instrumental in establishing the Consultation – Liaison services with Pediatrics and allied departments and has been associated with St Johns’ Hospital since 1996. Dr Vijaya obtained her M.Phil in 1992 and Ph.D in 1996 from NIMHANS. Her Ph.D was in the area of Play Therapy in children with emotional disorders.
Dr. Vijaya is also actively involved in conducting workshops for pediatricians, teachers and parents on issues of child and adolescent mental health and awareness. Her current areas of interest are: Psychological aspects of chronic medical illness children and adolescents, Children and adolescents at high risk, Shyness in children and its ramifications, implications of child abuse and child and adolescent outcomes of children with parents who have psychiatric illness. Her special expertise is in assessment of various conditions in children using up to date tools and providing feedback to the stake-holders to ensure appropriate support for the child.