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