{"id":143,"date":"2023-10-12T06:42:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T06:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kidearn-demo-new.local\/?page_id=143"},"modified":"2025-08-14T07:54:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T07:54:45","slug":"programs-discipline","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/osilmo.lk\/index.php\/programs-discipline\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Journey of Osilmo<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Inspiration & Founding Vision<\/strong>
From early childhood, I felt a deep calling to help others whenever possible. This passion led me to study Early Childhood Education and explore child development through media and research. While working as a preschool teacher, I was blessed with the guidance of Dr. Sudath Damsinghe, who introduced me to the world of autism. Under his mentorship, I realized that regardless of race, religion, or social background, helping children with autism live fulfilling lives is one of the most meaningful missions one can undertake.<\/p>


My personal life also shaped this path. After marrying Dr. Sinnaiya Thevananthan, whose nephew was diagnosed with autism, I gained a deeper, more personal understanding of the challenges and possibilities in supporting these children. His unwavering encouragement became one of my greatest strengths.<\/p>


The name \u201cOsilmo\u201d was born from the genuine guidance of Dr. Damsinghe, with blessings from the late Arisen Ahubudu, and wise advice from the Most Venerable Kotugoda Dhammawasa Maha Nayaka Thero, Athtudawe Piyaratana Thero, and Kirulapana Sobitha Thero. My academic mentors, parents, Dhamma school and school teachers, and friends all played a role in shaping the vision.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Recognizing the Gap<\/b><\/p>

Even today, many parents, educators, and even some healthcare workers have limited understanding of autism. This lack of awareness often isolates children and their families, leading to stress, social stigma, and missed opportunities for development. Some parents struggle to accept a diagnosis, while siblings and extended families also feel the emotional strain.<\/span><\/p>

Without proper early intervention \u2014 ideally between ages <\/span>1\u00bd and 5<\/b> \u2014 a child\u2019s challenges can worsen, and they may be denied their rightful place in schools and public life. Autism is <\/span>not a disease<\/b>, but a condition that can be significantly improved \u2014 even reversed \u2014 with proper, drug-free therapeutic methods.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Beginning<\/b><\/p>

On <\/span>17 December 2009<\/b>, <\/span>Osilmo<\/b> opened its doors at <\/span>182\/5, Boralesgamuwa<\/b>. We started in a small rented space with just <\/span>six children<\/b>, <\/span>three teachers<\/b>, and the most basic facilities \u2014 three rooms, a few learning materials, and a big dream.<\/span><\/p>

In the early days, we relied on the goodwill of <\/span>parents, friends, and relatives<\/b>. Our mission was simple but bold: to show the world that, without medication, children with autism could reach the same developmental level as their peers through proper, structured training.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Our Mission & Objectives<\/b><\/p>

From day one, Osilmo\u2019s work has been guided by a set of clear objectives:<\/span><\/p>

  1. To offer tailored educational programs designed to meet the unique learning needs of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).<\/span><\/li>
  2. To implement evidence-based teaching methodologies such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech therapy, occupational therapy, and sensory integration.<\/span><\/li>
  3. To nurture the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of children with autism, fostering their independence and self-reliance.<\/span><\/li>
  4. To provide early diagnosis and intervention programs aimed at improving developmental outcomes for children with ASD.<\/span><\/li>
  5. To educate and empower families of children with autism by offering training programs, workshops, and counseling sessions to enhance understanding and care strategies.<\/span><\/li>
  6. To assess each child’s strengths, challenges, and needs and create customized educational and developmental plans.<\/span><\/li>
  7. To promote social inclusion by facilitating interactions with peers, community participation, and collaborative activities with mainstream schools and organizations.<\/span><\/li>
  8. To conduct research and contribute to the development of innovative teaching methods and therapeutic practices for children with autism.<\/span><\/li>
  9. To increase public awareness about autism spectrum disorders and advocate for the rights, inclusion, and acceptance of individuals with autism.<\/span><\/li>
  10. To offer training programs and certifications for educators, therapists, and caregivers to enhance their skills and knowledge in autism care and education.<\/span><\/li>
  11. To collaborate with local, national, and international organizations, educational institutions, and healthcare providers to improve the quality and accessibility of autism care and training services.<\/span><\/li>
  12. To establish a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where children with autism can thrive and reach their full potential.<\/span><\/li>
  13. To make educational and training programs accessible and affordable to children with autism, regardless of their socio-economic background.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Growth & Community Trust<\/b><\/p>

    As children improved and successfully integrated into schools and society, <\/span>word of mouth<\/b> became our strongest outreach tool. Parents shared their children\u2019s progress with others, and our reputation began to grow.<\/span><\/p>

    A major milestone came in <\/span>2011<\/b> when I received the <\/span>United Nations \u201cV Award\u201d<\/b> for volunteer service \u2014 the first time it was presented in Sri Lanka. With media support from the <\/span>Sirasa Media Network<\/b>, this recognition brought national attention to our work. It also validated our belief that with compassion, dedication, and skill, transformation is possible.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Challenges Along the Way<\/b><\/p>

    Despite success stories, we have faced misunderstandings and even resistance. Some parents, teachers, and doctors \u2014 unaware of the potential for improvement \u2014 have abandoned children or dismissed our approach. There have also been voices of criticism instead of encouragement. Yet, these challenges only strengthened our resolve.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Achievements & Turning Points<\/b><\/p>

    Over the years, we have collected <\/span>videos, documents, TV programs, newspaper articles<\/b>, and parent testimonials showcasing the remarkable progress of our children. The stories of children who now attend mainstream schools \u2014 once thought impossible \u2014 remind us daily that <\/span>change is real<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Today & Tomorrow<\/b><\/p>

    Today, Osilmo supports <\/span>numerous children and families<\/b> through structured, compassionate, and personalized programs. Our team has grown in both <\/span>size and expertise<\/b>, and our facilities now provide a nurturing environment where learning and therapy go hand in hand.<\/span><\/p>

    What makes Osilmo unique is our <\/span>drug-free, individualized approach<\/b> that focuses not just on the child, but on supporting the <\/span>entire family<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

    Looking ahead, our dream for the next <\/span>five years<\/b> is to:<\/span><\/p>

    • Expand our services to reach more families<\/span><\/li>
    • Train educators and therapists to replicate our methods<\/span><\/li>
    • Establish an <\/span>\u201cAutism Village\u201d<\/b> \u2014 a holistic community where children with autism can learn, grow, and thrive alongside their peers<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      The Journey of Osilmo Inspiration & Founding VisionFrom early childhood, I felt a deep calling to help others whenever possible. This passion led me to study Early Childhood Education and explore child development through media and research. While working as a preschool teacher, I was blessed with the guidance of Dr. Sudath Damsinghe, who introduced […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-143","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/osilmo.lk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/osilmo.lk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/osilmo.lk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osilmo.lk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osilmo.lk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/osilmo.lk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2579,"href":"https:\/\/osilmo.lk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143\/revisions\/2579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/osilmo.lk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}