Unit of Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust
P. Jeyachandran
Director
Professor P. Jeyachandran (24 April 1945 – 09 May 2022)was a renowned clinical research psychologist and one of the longest-serving special educators in India. His qualifications include a Master of Arts and Master of Letters in Psychology, a Master of Science in Special Education for individuals with mental retardation from the University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in Mental Retardation from the same institution.
He was also a licensed psychologist recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA). Considered a father figure in the field of special education in India, he was a “Teacher of Teachers” ,He served as the Founder Director of Vijay Human Services, as well as Founder-Consultant of the Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children and Founder of The Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu (SPASTN).
Additionally, he was a member of several government committees on disabilities and a visiting professor at numerous universities abroad. Professor Jeyachandran made significant contributions to the field of Intellectual Disability (ID), particularly in developing training programs and behavioral assessments for individuals with ID. He also created curricula for training programs aimed at special educators. With support from parents, he established Vijay Human Services to provide a comprehensive array of services for individuals with mental retardation.In 1975, he co-authored the Madras Developmental Programming System (MDPS) with Professor V. Vimala, which is a criterion-referenced scale used for assessment and program planning for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The scale consists of 360 items grouped into 18 areas or domains, each containing 20 items. This initiative marked the development of the first comprehensive behavioral scale in India.
Throughout his career, he was an expert mentor, guide, and patient teacher to all at the Madhuram Narayanan Centre (MNC), dispensing his knowledge with a unique brand of humor. From its inception until his passing, he maintained a close association with MNC, where staff members continue to hold him in immense affection.