In the last one year we Identified 145 children through house to house surveys and provided relevant therapy to 50 children with intellectual & multiple disabilities by a multi disciplinary team of professionals covering Medical, Speech, Occupational and Special Education assessments and Psychological therapy. Behavioural counselling for parents/caregivers from a low socio economic community, Delhi. Research guided set up and services are available and affordable within the community.
The challenge is to provide affordable services within the community itself not available presently.Parents being daily wage workers cannot afford to lose a day's wages,prevents most mothers from earning an income,since the child with disability needs constant home care.Early identification & intervention are crucial & we make this possible as services are community need based. It involves overcoming negative perceptions,clarifying myths, sensitizing community on the benefits of our services.
The project identifies children with disability through surveys,health camps,affordable & accessible services so that inability to afford services elsewhere due to lack of finances is no longer an issue.Training to mothers & caregivers in home management,allows therapy to be continued at home.Efforts involving families & mothers in service delivery result in changed attitudes from Them & Us to focus on partnership using their skills, making them agents of change,enhancing selfworth & confidence
Early intervention lessens impact of disability and prevents onset of secondary handicaps.Training women to become partners in our work provides an income which leads to greater self worth, improves their status & changes community perceptions. Children, who would have remained disabled for life can now learn to maximize their physical and intellectual functioning.Some can go on to mainstream schools or take up small jobs ensuring some financial gain and more importantly community acceptance.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
