Teacher's orientation

Right from its inception at SSS we always believed in scientific approach. We do not go for quackery. And thus, it is our endeavor to keep our staff updated with the latest techniques and findings in dealing with mentally challenged and children with autism. Whenever opportunity comes we send our staff to NIMH for refresher courses and seminars. In other times we try to bring different faculties to our campus.

On 21st August 2010, a training session for our teachers was arranged at our Sandnya Srushti campus. The topic for the training was AAC [Alternative Augmented Communication] for children with autism. Faculty was Mrs. Richa Deshmukh from Ohio State University, US. She is a researcher in non verbal communication technic in children with autism. She dealt with the subject for almost for 5 hours. Teachers were given guidance on case to case basis. This training is in concurrence with the training parents had on 20th August. In this session Richa guided teachers how to use PEC [ picture exchange communication technic] for children with autism. Richa has brought two musical sensors also, which can be used for giving toilet training to mentally challenged and children with autism. This will be for the first time we will be trying this sensor device for toilet training.

In fact there is no sure way to handle or manage mentally challenged or autistics. Every such child behaves differently at different times with the same stimulus or similar stimulus. It is near to impossible to anticipate the reaction to the changing environment around the mentally challenged or autistic. Experts say, it is the lack of cognition in these persons which makes all the difference. And since the cognition center in the brain is damaged or under developed, nothing can be really done. I feel, if such person can not be helped to change, it becomes our moral responsibility to restructure the surrounding environment where they are comfortable and can contribute in the activities of our so called normal society.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secreatry, SSS

email; navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org

Rakhi Unit

The festival of rakhi was on 24th August 2010. Our Rakhi unit has 5 girl participants. They make rakhi through out the year. In three weeks time prior to Rakhi, these are being sold through sales stalls in different schools. Normally these schools are CBSE schools. Management of these schools are quite dynamic and try involving their students in different social activities. These rakhi stalls is one of these social activities. Teachers of these schools encourage students to bye these rakhis since this helps in the rehabilitation of mentally challenged children.

This rakhi rehab unit of ours is a financially independent unit. They have their own bank account and it is in the name of those parents. The whole transaction is being done through this account only and naturally the profit earned through this goes to the girl students of this unit. Sandnya Sanwardhan Sanstha does not take any thing from this unit. In fact, we provide the infrastructure and manpower also in making rakhis. There are good number of volunteers involved in the activity of packing these rakhis and sales stalls are also managed by these volunteers. In this group of volunteers there are mothers of our students also. Right from the inception we firmly believe that the rehabilitation of mentally challenged is not possible unless society at large supports this cause. I am happy that we get really good support from all sections of the society. We take this opportunity through this blog to thank one and all who have helped us in this noble cause directly or indirectly.

This year we have sold rakhis worth one lack of rupees through 19 schools and through other stalls also.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

email:navindesh@gmail.com

website:www.sandnya.org

Shree S B Misra`s visit

On 20th of August 2010, there was a phone call at 7.00 am from Mr.SB Misra. I off course had gone for swimming. I promptly called back, and Misraji said that he is visiting Sandnya Srushti campus as per my advise at 10.00 am along with three of his directors. Mr SB Misra is the MD of Minex Metallurgical co. They have three factories in Nagpur MIDC and they have a turnover of more than 250 crores, as I was told. Minex is our corporate donor since more than ten years now. Not only that, there employees are also our donors. Misraji had previously visited Sandnya Srushti, but that way back and we had just shifted to this new campus. Thus, when this time he entered in the campus, his first reaction was, " Mr. Deshpande, it is a ashram and nothing less". It is indeed a compliment to us. Misraji and his colleagues arrived at dot 10.00 am. and was there through prayer and than in the class rooms. They were with us for about two hours and needless to say that, all of them were throughly impressed not only with the infrastructure and cleanliness & tidiness but was aghast to understand the gravity of the problem of mentally challenged and there families. Misraji repeatedly said that, he never thought that working for mentally disabled is so challenging and complex as well. He accepted that, whatever way he is supporting SSS is not certainly enough and he promised to do lot more in near future.

Misraji is a through human being and is humble as ever.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

email: navindesh@gmail.com

wesite: www.sandnya.org

Workshop on speech for children with autism

On 20 th August 2010 we had a two hour training session for the parents of children with autism. This was held at Nagpur office and was meant only for twelve parents. The faculty was Mrs.Richa Deshmukh from Ohio state University, US. She in fact came here on her vacation trip. And rendered voluntary service. She talked on AAC[ Alternative Augmentative Communication] skills. She stressed the use of PECS[ picture exchange communication system]. After discussing this Technic thoroughly, case specific discussions were held. Many of the older parents, confirmed that since last workshop, which was held about two years back, there is lot of improvement in their children.

By:Navin Deshpande,Secretary,SSS

email: navindesh@gmail.com

website:www.sandnya.org

Parent Workshop on speech

On 19th of August 2010 we had a parent workshop on speech problems in general for mentally challenged and those with autism. The faculty was Mrs.Richa Deshmukh from Columbus,USA. She is my elder daughter and doing her research in non verbal communication in persons with autism. This workshop was held in our Sandnya Srushti campus at 2.00 pm. There were about 22 parents of our students. Richa was discussing the point that, we should not get bogged down at the point were the child has no speech. She was trying to draw attention of parents towards the fact that, if our child can communicate with a alternative method or means we should be happy. Since the purpose of speech is communication, and if the child is using a sign or gesture or facial expression than we must help him/ her to improve upon this mode, she said.She said organizing speech is a tough job for mentally challenged and child with autism, which we people do not realize since it comes naturally to us. She was further insisting upon giving opportunity to these children where in they are compelled to use one or the other mode of communication. They will never try if there is no need of communication because the child is getting every thing before he is supposed to ask.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

email:navindesh@gmail.com

A genuine supporter of the cause

It was a weak before independence day, that Bapu told me that his friend Mr.Nayak is coming to Sandnya Srushti along with his nephew Mr. Jeetendra Nayak who is a businessman in Nagpur. On due date they did come.I found them quite sensitive to our cause of mental disability. In fact during our two hour meeting, I realized that Mr.Jeetendra is quite resourceful. He promised me that he will help us in all possible ways. It was Wednesday, power shut down for the whole day. He said, I think you need generator urgently. As I said, yes we need it but it is not a priority. He commented that, it is priority for me since I am likely to here very often and would not like to sit here without fan. I thought it was in a lighter sense. But while parting he said, I shall send some expert to asses your power requirement for a generator and they left the campus.

Very next day, a expert person in the field of power generation visited our campus and duly assesd our power need and reported back to Jeetendra. Today, Jeetendra again visited our Sandnya Srushti campus along with one of his friends Mr. Kamath who is chartered account by profession and a Rotarian. Mr. Kamath promised to look in to our requirement of a special bus with wheel chairs. He said he will promote this through Rotary Club.

Mr.Jeetendra, told me that he is already working on arranging a generator and he will get me one soon. He had called a marketing man from Johnson Elevators and told him about the requirement of a elevator. These people were with me for about two hours. Mr.Jeetendra told me that he will find a sponsor for elevator also. I took them around the new construction site as well. To me Mr.Jeetendra seems to be a genuine supporter of the cause of mentally challenged. He is throughly impressed with our work and work culture as well. Let us see what happens next.

By: Navin Deshpande,Secretary, SSS

e-mail:navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org

15th August 2010

Independence Day is always a day of lot of enthusiasm for our students and staff as well. In fact our mentally challenged children like celebrations of all kind weather it is religious, national, social or cultural events all of them enjoy it immensely. Some might express it and some may not. This time there were good number of well wishers of SSS for this programme. The flag hosting was done at 10.30 am by the chief guest Mr.Waghale, a retired professor of chemistry from Shree Shivaji Science college, Nagpur. He was my teacher and was a ideal teacher too. He was a master in the Art of teaching. He always loved his students and worked for there welfare. He was a strict discipliner but was considerate for genuine problems of his students. Though he is polio affected, he was a very good Table Tennis player. And I had a privilege of playing with him for three years in the college. In fact Waghale sir is a perfect human being and that prompted us to call him as a guest. He matched our guest qualification in totality. He himself being physically handicapped, realizes the gravity of our work in genaral and problem of mentally challenged in particular.

The other guest was Mr Rambhau Khandekar, a retired bureaucrat but again a good human being. He was PA to late Prim Minister Narsimha Rao.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

email: navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org

Professionals for mentally challenged

It is now more than 19 years we have been working for mentally challenged and autistics but there is dearth of qualified workers ever since. Weather we ask for physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, clinical psychologist or special educators, we do not find them. This is more true for a place like Nagpur. When we started working in the year 1993 that time also there was shortage and there were only 3-4 NGO's working. Today there are more than 25 special schools in and around Nagpur and you still do not get these professionals.

Since 1993 i.e. since inception of Sandnya Sanwardhan Sanstha in almost all parent meetings and siblings training programmes I have been appealing to parents that, they should motivate sibling of their mentally challenged child to take these professional courses. A sibling when comes as a professional in this field it will not only improve the quality of service but will eliminate exploitation also. I am not asking them for free services but as paid professionals. They can make a reasonably good career in this field of mental disability. In last 17 years I have not seen a single case where sibling of mentally challenged has become a professional in the field related to mental disability. Like all others, every one wants to become engineer or doctor or chartered accountant. Parents have failed grossly in motivating the siblings and at the same time, they expect other people and government to take care of their mentally challenged ward. I have not understood, what prevents parents from motivating siblings? is it that they have tried and failed? or they themselves do not want there normal wards to come in this field? or is it money which prevails over all other logical thinking? As I said, I have been talking on this subject since 17 years and not a single parent has ever come to me and discussed this issue. What bothers them, I do not understand.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

email: navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org

admission for mentally challenged

Yesterday, a young lady came to our Sandnya Srushti campus with her mentally challenged elder brother along with her father's friend. She is in US after her marriage and has come to Nagpur on vacation. Her brother is a Down's case and is not going to any special school since last more than 6-8 years. She came for his admission in our special school. Her father is a patient of hypertension and diabetes and is not keeping well. Mother is also asthmatic and can not look after the mentally challenged son. The young lady was very emotional and was desperate to support her parents and disabled brother. She was here to explore the possibility of her brother getting admission in our school. She was extremely disappointed to find that we can not give admission due to long waiting list. Though she knew this fact through her father who had come to me along with one of my close friends Mr. Sudhir Kate, but "hope" is one thing which keeps you truing and that is what she did. I could sense her anxiety and desperation and I was feeling myself very bad that I was not in a position to help the young lady. The ever growing waiting list for admission in our special school is a matter of great concern for us. But what can we do? We have limitations of space, manpower and finances too. There are at least two fresh cases for assessment every week.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

email: navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org

Open employment for mentally challenged

It is one week or six days since our three students are going on job in M/s Star Circlip Engineering Co. in Butibori. I am getting feed back from our accompanying staff every day. Our boys are doing a good job. They are improving there performance day by day. They are getting adjusted to the new environment gradually. They are doing good in there out put also. In fact nobody was expecting them to get adjusted so soon.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS

email: navindesh@gmail.com

website: www.sandnya.org