Parent Engagement
Guided home practice that helps families stay connected with the learning and intervention taking place at school.
Digitalising Education in Special Schools
Connecting learning,
therapy, school and home
Project DESS brings teachers, students, families and school leaders together through a safe, structured digital ecosystem designed specifically for special schools.
Research-backed | 150+ Special Schools Associated | 30+ Schools Implementing DESS
About DESS
A connected digital approach to special education
Project DESS (Digitalizing Education in Special Schools) is a digital learning and intervention ecosystem that helps special schools integrate technology into everyday teaching, therapy and home practice.
Built through years of field research and school engagement, DESS brings digital resources, structured activities, educator tools, parent engagement and progress monitoring together within one connected approach.
Educator Empowerment
Tools and resources that support teachers and special educators in planning, creating, assigning and monitoring learning activities.
Technology-Integrated Therapy
Digital activities can be combined with therapist-led and hands-on intervention rather than relying on screen-based learning alone.
Digital Classroom Support
Structured digital activities designed to complement classroom teaching and support diverse learning needs.
Who DESS Serves
One ecosystem connecting the people around the learner
DESS is designed to support the different people involved in a child's education and development.
For Students
- •Individualised learning activities
- •Skill development and functional learning
- •Opportunities for structured practice
- •A controlled, education-focused digital environment
For Teachers
- •Digital activity assignment
- •Content creation and lesson support
- •Learner progress monitoring
- •Structured digital resources for classroom use
For School Leaders
- •School-level visibility of digital learning
- •Structured implementation across classrooms
- •Documentation and progress information
- •Support for school-wide digital education initiatives
For Families
- •Guided home-based practice
- •Greater visibility into school learning
- •Opportunities to reinforce learning at home
- •Stronger school-to-home continuity
A connected approach helps keep learning and intervention linked across the school and home environment.
The DESS Platform
One connected platform for the school
DESS provides a digital ecosystem that connects teachers, students, families and school leaders, supported by a growing library of digital learning resources.
For School Leaders
Admin & Principal Dashboard
A central view to support school-level implementation, documentation and monitoring.
For Teachers
Content Creation & Activity Management
Create or use digital activities, assign learning tasks and review learner progress.
For Learners
Structured Digital Activities
Access assigned learning activities through a controlled digital environment designed for focused educational use.
For Families
Home Practice & Engagement
Support continued learning at home through guided activities and parent engagement tools.
1,200+ Digital Learning Resources
A growing collection of digital learning resources available to support teaching and intervention across different learning needs.
Resource availability and platform features may vary according to the DESS implementation and user role.
The DESS Platform
VergeTAB
The digital activity book
VergeTAB is a controlled digital learning device powered by the XceptionalLEARNING Platform.
It provides a focused environment for delivering assigned digital activities to individual learners and can be used alongside teacher-led instruction, therapy and hands-on activities.
Controlled digital learning environment
Individual learner use
Secure delivery of assigned activities
Classroom and home continuity
Integration with the XceptionalLEARNING Platform
How DESS Works
From learning goals to continued practice
DESS connects the different stages of the learning and intervention process.
Understand
Identify learner needs, strengths, abilities and areas requiring support.
Plan
Teachers and therapists establish appropriate learning and intervention goals.
Deliver
Digital activities and educational resources are incorporated into classroom teaching and intervention.
Reinforce
Learners can continue appropriate practice beyond the classroom, including guided home activities.
Monitor
Teachers, therapists and school leaders can review activity and progress information to support ongoing planning.
Learn. Practise.
Reinforce. Monitor.
Our Journey
Six years in the making
DESS has developed through sustained field research, school engagement and implementation.
6+ Years
Research and field engagement to understand challenges and opportunities in special education.
300+ Special Schools
Schools visited across Kerala as part of the DESS research and engagement process.
3,000+ Special Educators
Educators engaged through surveys, interactions and field-level research.
2023–24
Official commercial launch of the DESS platform.
150+ Special Schools
Schools associated with or signed on to the DESS programme
30+ Schools
Schools actively implementing DESS.
1 Lakh+ Children
Children reached through DESS initiatives.
Programme data as of March 2026. Figures represent different stages of DESS research, engagement and implementation and should not be interpreted as the same population.
DESS in Practice
From research to everyday school use
DESS has progressed from research and pilot work to implementation across participating special schools. The programme has been shaped through interaction with educators, therapists, school leaders, families and learners, helping digital tools become part of existing educational and intervention practices.
Research
Field research across special schools helped identify challenges in digital learning and technology-enabled intervention.
Pilot Implementation
DESS was tested in special education and rehabilitation settings with more than 100 learners.
School Implementation
The programme has expanded through partnerships with special schools and supporting organisations.
Continuing Development
Feedback from implementation continues to inform the development of digital resources, technology and support systems.
Impact
What DESS supports in practice
DESS is designed to create value for learners, educators, school leaders and families.
Student Benefits
- •Greater opportunities for structured practice
- •Support for engagement during digital activities
- •Individualised learning activities
- •Continuity of learning across different settings
Teacher Benefits
- •More organised digital activity delivery
- •Access to digital learning resources
- •Easier activity assignment and monitoring
- •Support for structured documentation
Family Benefits
- •Greater visibility into learning activities
- •Opportunities for guided home practice
- •Better continuity between school and home
- •Greater involvement in the learner's educational journey
30+ schools live with real results500+ VergeTAB devices deployed1,200+ digital learning resources1 Lakh+ children reached to date
Project DHRISHTI
Taking technology-enabled support beyond the school
Project DHRISHTI — Digital Holistic Resource for Inclusive Support, Hybrid Therapy and Intervention — extends the use of technology-enabled monitoring and support into broader rehabilitation and inclusive-education initiatives. DHRISHTI brings together digital tools, screening, individualised education planning, school and parent engagement, and monitoring to support programmes serving children with special needs.
The Organisation Behind the Impact
Verge Foundation
Verge Foundation is a mission-driven NGO founded by medical doctors, working towards the inclusion, development and holistic well-being of children with special needs and their families.
The Foundation works with government departments, schools, special schools, rehabilitation institutions, hospitals, universities, NGOs and research organisations to support knowledge exchange, professional capacity building, research, innovation and scalable models of care.
Bringing together medical expertise, rehabilitation, education, technology and community support, Verge Foundation works to make quality support more accessible and inclusive for children and families.
Supporting a Connected Ecosystem
Through its associated technology partner, XceptionalLEARNING, and its network of rehabilitation professionals and partner institutions, the Foundation supports initiatives across:
Special educationSpeech and language therapyOccupational therapyBehavioural supportSkill developmentVocational trainingIndependent livingResearch and innovationTechnology-enabled rehabilitation
DESS is part of this broader effort to strengthen access to structured, technology-enabled education and intervention within special schools.
Learn About Verge FoundationOur Ecosystem
One shared vision for inclusive learning
DESS is part of a wider family of organisations and initiatives working together to make learning, therapy and inclusive support more accessible.
Parent organisation
Verge Foundation
A mission-driven organisation advancing inclusion, development and holistic well-being for children with special needs and their families.
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Technology partner
XceptionalLEARNING
The technology platform powering accessible digital learning, therapy support and progress monitoring across the DESS ecosystem.
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Digital learning device
VergeTAB
A controlled digital activity book that helps learners access assigned educational and intervention activities in a focused environment.
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Inclusive support initiative
DHRISHTI
A holistic initiative connecting digital tools, screening, individualised planning, family engagement and monitoring for inclusive support.
Visit websiteGallery & Contact on the Ground
DESS across special schools
Partner With DESS
Help bring digital education to more special schools
DESS works with special schools, organisations, CSR programmes and institutional partners to support digital transformation in special education.
For Schools
Explore how DESS can be introduced into your school's teaching, intervention and home-practice environment.
Book a School DemoFor CSR & Organisations
Support the implementation and expansion of digital education initiatives in special schools.
Partner With DESSFor Educators & Therapists
Learn how DESS can complement existing teaching and intervention practices.
Explore the DESS PlatformLet's Build More Connected Special Education
Technology can support special education most effectively when it works alongside teachers, therapists, families and the learner. Bring DESS to your school or organisation.