Help Educate 500 Deafblind Children in India

“Why do you even bring him from such a far distance?” asked the bus driver that used to drive Purav and his mother to Sense India’s centre. In that very moment, Purav’s mother took a decision, she wanted everyone around Purav to realize his mettle and she left no stone unturned to achieve this.

Due to a bout of Kabuki syndrome, microcephaly and rubella, Purav was affected by congenital deafblindness along with intellectual disability since birth. Initially he could not sit at one place for a long time, shouted to express his needs and was not able to stand without support. After guidance from All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi his mother enrolled him in Sense India’s centre based programme for children with deafblindness.

His special educator, Ms Mishra, worked extensively in providing training and support to him and within a few months he began following simple instructions through sign language. He soon started interacting with his teachers and parents and express his needs by vocalization and pointing towards objects. He enjoys playing on therapy ball and instinctively follows illuminated toys.

His progress makes his mother proud. She fondly says, “Today, even that bus driver acknowledges how far my son has come in his journey towards independence. After coming to the centre regularly, he can walk by holding someone’s hand, eat solid food and indicate for his needs. I am extremely delighted.”

Apart from Purav’s mother, his aunt used to visit the centre regularly. Their contribution and our educators effort has been a defining point in his journey.

*names have been changed to maintain identity of the child