Support excluded kids with disabilities in India

India’s devastating second wave means that West Bengal has been in a strict lockdown since April, and this is set to continue. The project team at Bhalobasha have been working incredibly hard to ensure disabled children and their families are still supported as fully as possible, despite the centre needing to close for the time being.

Online sessions are conducted for the children through smart phones in their homes. Where parents do not have smartphones parents were guided through voice calls directly on the phone. A programme of activities such as physiotherapy, speech therapy and special education has been devised for each individual child which parents could deliver themselves at home after some initial instruction and ongoing coaching from our trained professionals.

Mina, project lead in India writes:

“The programmes for children are based around 3 principles:

1. The child’s individual needs according to their disability and situation
2. The amount of time available to parents
3. The family giving feedback on how the child is progressing with their programme

Parents are encouraged to establish a routine for their child, and to keep them motivated and entertained by showing rhymes, inspiring short films, picture quizzes, etc.

The team also provide counselling to parents on the difficulties they are facing, and support them accordingly. They work with parents to ensure they are participating regularly, and parents are requested to follow the schedule and give us their feedback. It is very important to know the perception of each parent and how they are finding the activities; if their children are getting any benefit; or if the level of anxiety is increasing, etc.

We have prepared questionnaires for taking feedback from parents and are also keeping track of the work assigned to each child. We try to make an assessment of their work; especially their presence of mind, while doing those activities. Each and every session is recorded for reassessment; this helps us to know how much progress has the child made.

Through these means, we are able to ensure that all the children are actively participating so that they continue to reach their potential until we can resume our usual way of conducting the programme.”

Through your support we are able to continue to help Mina to help these very vulnerable children and families through the crisis. Thank you.

During the recent period Bhalobasha have had to be extremely flexible and innovative in responding to the very complex challenges which have been presented. West Bengal is now no longer in lockdown, but the effects of families being unable to earn an income for so long, and children being isolated are profound. The project is working hard to try to respond and is standing by the children and their families more than ever before.

Day care sessions at the project are now divided into 3 sessions throughout the day. This means that the resources that are available can be spread out throughout the day and that social distancing measures can be put in place.

Transport systems in the project region are still affected during this time, and where they are available they can be very crowded. Often families cannot afford to use public transport where there are no concessions such as auto rickshaws. For this reason the project continues to run an outreach service for children and families in their homes. A special educator visits the children and their families at home, devising a programme of activities for children and monitoring their progress.

The project also continues to support children and families to claim benefits and entitlements. This is even more vital since financial pressures have increased on families dramatically during the pandemic. The vast majority of families who use the project have had long periods of unemployment and are only able to obtain work in the casual labour market which is now reeling from the effects of a vast economic slowdown in India. This has placed huge pressure on families. Bhalobasha is working in partnership with local government agencies to provide additional financial support to all the members of Bhalobasha, as well as continuing to provide food and clothes for families through donations from private benefactors.

Parents are also able to now receive counselling sessions through the project where they can discuss their worries and concerns. Parents have shared that they are struggling under the weight of the following issues

• Loss of livelihood
• Lack of food
• Uncertainty about the future
• Caring for challenged children

The project has also set up a 24 hour helpline which parents can call at any time if they are having difficulties or want advice or just to share their difficulties, to try to relieve their burden and to help to ease tensions between family members.

During the last year the project has increased its reach. Formerly 38 children and their families were accessing the project. Now 72 children and their families are utilising the service. This has come about because other services for disabled children as far away as Kolkata have had to close during the pandemic, and Bhalobasha are doing what they can to support these families who have been left stranded.

Children receive the following services

1. Special Education
2. Physiotherapy
3. Occupational Therapy
4. Speech Therapy
5. Psychological Counselling 
6. PMR Doctor facilities

Thank you for your support, which enables this work.