Chennai: The Madras Dyslexia Association (MDA), founded by IIT Madras Distinguished Alumnus Awardee D. Chandrasekhar, has developed a comprehensive mathematics toolkit for children with learning difficulties.

The 'Count on Me' remedial kit, specifically designed for students with developmental dyscalculia and math learning difficulties, is currently being used by 50 schools across Chennai. The toolkit has proven effective for all students, making mathematics more accessible and engaging.

"Whether you are working with a student who finds numbers challenging or one who is curious and eager to explore, the 'Count on Me' toolkit offers a unique blend of concrete learning tools, visual clarity, and interactive engagement," said D. Chandrasekhar, MDA President.

Chandrasekhar, a 1970 B.Tech graduate from IIT Madras who received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2009, described the toolkit as "a bridge from confusion to clarity, from anxiety to confidence and from exclusion to inclusion."

The comprehensive kit includes 64 graded, color-coded booklets covering core operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, along with concepts such as fractions and decimals. Each operation is divided by digit complexity and color-coded into Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue sets of increasing difficulty.

Additional components include functional evaluation checklists for teachers to identify learning strengths and gaps, math manipulatives with instructional videos accessible via QR codes, and a digital teacher's e-manual explaining educational philosophy and teaching strategies.

The toolkit combines research-based practices with classroom experiences, representing MDA's commitment to inclusive education for children with mathematical learning challenges.