Disability awareness posters that were displayed at various nodes by Aarushi

During the world disability week, many posters were displayed at various nodes to spread the awareness of mental retardation



If you have a mentally challenged child you can prevent the mental retardation of your second child by seeking the medical opinion before planning the second child.



The child learns better with his friends, it is important to encourage your special child to play with normal children.



Any one can get a mentally challenged child, it has nothing to do with caste, creed or religion



Getting a mentally challenged man married will not cure his illness



It is important to ensure a proper care of the mother during her pregnancy to prevent the birth of mental chllenged child.



You can contact school and hospitals for guidance and help.



Help them with early intervention by detecting deveopment delays



They can perform better if they are given right training



If there is delay in normal development, suspect mental retardation and get early medical help.



Step by step training the child is the key to the success and improvement.

New Horizon Child Development Centre (NHCDC)

NHCDC is a Centre dedicated to the optimal development of all children. NHCDC was founded by Dr. Samir Dalwai, Pediatrician with special interest in Child Development, child Psychology and Child Law, in 2003 with the vision that ‘Every child can do better”.

Testimony of a parent

“My son took treatment in NHCDC for one year and in this one year I got to know my son’s diagnosis properly. NHCDC team helped me in understanding my son’s health problem and most important their positive attitude helped me accept my son as he is. All my questions were answered here and all the doubts were patiently cleared by team and they also helped me in gaining knowledge. My son is not taking treatment from NHCDC now but still whenever I have problem I always go back to Deepti or Dr Dalwai and get my problem solved and they work as my support and as a friend., showing me that they are not working for money but they believe that every child is special and can show progress.

NHCDC for me is a remedial centre which is systematic, organized, working for the overall development of the child, very professional and at the same time has a personal touch for every child which makes the child and his parents feel at ease. It is working for every child’s treatment and is also doing the difficult task of spreading awareness about children’s problems and the right of a child to receive treatment.”

NHCDC believe and practice working together in an integrated manner with the child as focus of intervention.

NHCDC believe that

*It allows them to understand and help the child and the family in the manner most suited to them.

*It brings about regular coordination between Consultants and Therapists; thus the child gets individualized and personalized therapy.

*The therapy focuses on special needs of every child

*Child adapts faster to such an environment and cooperated better.

Services offered by NHCDC

Psychological testing and counseling
-Intelligence testing(IQ/DQ/SQ)
-Personality testing
-Parent counseling
-Behavior modification
-Aptitude test and vocational guidance.

Occupational Therapy

Physiotherapy

Speech therapy

Special education/Remediation

Pediatric Neurology

Pediatric orthopedic surgery

Diet consultation

Development enhancement programs for children

Understanding child development and child psychology (awareness program, workshops and courses for doctors, teachers, parents and school management.)

Visiting Consultants at NHCDC

Dr Atul Bhaskar
MS(Orth) FRCS (Orth) M.Ch.(Orth)
Pediatric orthopedic Surgeon and Scientific Director

Dr. Anaita Udwadia-Hegde
MD, MRCPCH. Fellow in Pediatric Neurology(London)
Pedritric Neurologist, NHCDC

Panel of Advisors at NHCDC

Dr. Y.K. Amdekar
M.D, D.C.H. Senior Pediatrician, JJ group of hospitals
Ex-president, Indian Academy of Pediatrics

Dr Anuradha Savani
Ph.D Clinical psychology, Clinical Psychologist and Reader
Department of Applied Psychology, Mumbai University

Dr Anjali Joshi
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Certified Sensory Integration Therapist freom University of Southern California, Lecturer and Associate professor at K.E.M hospital, Mumbai.

Dr. Mamta Manglani
M.D.D.C.H. Professor and Head of department-Pediatrics
LTMG hospital (Sion)

Sharan- A Centre for Recuperation

The society for the Rehabilitation of Paraplegics established in 1968, endeavors to rehabilitates a person, who, due to injury or disease of the spinal cord, is paralyzed from the waist downwards. Its beneficiaries, many of whom are young adults, come from the low socio-economic strata and when faced with such a tragedy they have neither the economic resources nor the support system to live a meaningful life. In the initial stage under the guidance of its founder president late Dr. K.S. Masalwala, the Orthopedic department of J.J. Hospitals.

As there was a crying need for a rehabilitation centre for the poor paralyzed patients from the government and municipal hospitals, Sharan, Smt Kamla Raheja Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1987 at Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

The paraplegics stay at the Centre on an average for 18 months. During this time they are given medical care, nutritious diet, clean living conditions, mobility aids and appliances, intensive physiotherapy, psychological counseling, sports training, occupational therapy and vocational training courses, totally free of cost.

This unique and complete approach towards rehabilitation has enabled over 753(since 1968) paraplegics to date to emerge from Sharan as strong, independent, self-sufficient members of our society. Even today it is the only Centre in India for civilian patients who have tragically become paraplegics. The design of the centre is noted for the barrier free environment which is of International standards.

National Institute Of Open Schooling ( NIOS)

NIOS is a Autonomous body, by Ministry of HRD that was set up in 1989

Mission of NIOS is to provide education to all. It has special concern for girls and women, rural youth, working men and women and all those who could not continue their education with the formal system.

The reasons to make NIOS your choice is because it has freedom to learner, it has flexibility, Relevance, teaching of choice, and recognized quality education

The features and flexibility of NIOS is that it has no age limit, it has flexible examination, you have the choice in medium of instruction and subject, it has combination of academic and vocational course and it has education of the disadvantaged group.

For the disabled person NIOS has admission through SAIED/AL, they have separate seating, they give the facility of extra time, there is facility of an amanuensis and they have project work instead of practical work.

List Of Member Organisations In 'AARUSHI' (December, 2008)

LIBERTY Kharghar Mental Retardation Special School

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED Kharghar /
Belapur Mental Retardation and associated disabilities Training Institute for teachers, parents and professionals, general & special services in Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, behaviour, Counseling & special Education

NMMC Rabale Mental Retardation, Hearing impairment Special School with associated services

SHARAN Vashi Orthopaedic disabilities Rehabilitation of Adults with spinal injuries (paraplegics)

SKILL & ABILITY Nerul Mental Retardation, Autism, Hearing impairment Special School with associated services

STREE MUKTI SANGHATANA Digha Mental Retardation, Hearing Impairment, Physical disabilities Community based Centre

SUMANGAL Pen, Dist. Raigad Mental Retardation, Autism, Hearing impairment Special school

SWAMI BRAHMANAND PRATISHTHAN Belapur Mental Retardation, autism, cerebral Palsy, multiple Disabilities Special School with associated services

SWEEKAR Uran, Dist. Raigad Mental Retardation and associated disabilities Special School with associated services

UDAAN Koperkhairane Cerebral Palsy Parents group for adults with Cerebral Palsy from Navi Mumbai

International day of persons with disability

What is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities about?

“Nothing about Us without Us” is the motto of this year’s International Day of the Disabled People. Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in October 1992, this day aims to raise awareness on disabled people’s rights at national and international levels.

On the 3rd December 1982, the UN General Assembly decided on the World Programme of Action for Disabled People. The United Nations committed itself and its members to promote the full participation of disabled people in social life and development as well as prevention and rehabilitation measures.

The official title of the Day was changed from International Day of Disabled Persons to International Day of Persons with Disabilities by General Assembly resolution 62/127 on 18 December 2007.

Twenty six years on, many problems are still unresolved. Disabled people are not yet fully considered within international development issues. They are still excluded from society in many countries of the world. Even where effective disability legislation is in place, the implementation lacks ideas and is hindered by negative attitudes towards disabled people. More and more, disability is now seen as a social issue which is not only based on medical reasons.

Facts and figures

The World Health Organization estimates that there are 600 million disabled people worldwide, about 10% of the world population. It is also estimated that about 80% of all disabled people worldwide live in developing countries.

Eighty per cent of persons with disabilities – more than 400 million people – live in poor countries and there is a strong link between disability and poverty. For example, the statistics on employment for persons with disabilities are staggering. In developing countries, 80 per cent to 90 per cent of persons with disabilities of working age unemployed and in industrialized countries it is estimated to be between 50 per cent and 70 per cent. The rights to education and health are also routinely denied. Ninety per cent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school, says UNESCO.

Approximately 20 million women acquire disabilities as a result of complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

Observance of the International Day of Disabled People in Navi Mumbai
Navi Mumbai and Raigad District have less than 20 Organizations working in the field of disabilities. With tribal and rural areas to be covered and scarce resources, this year, all Organizations working for persons with disabilities in Navi Mumbai and Raigad district have joined hands to celebrate the Disability week under the banner “AARUSHI”.

“AARUSHI” through various activities from 2nd to 7th December, 2008, plans to bring about AWARENESS about various disabilities in the minds of the lay public and EMPOWER persons with disabilities and their families to live in mainstream society.

Disability Rights

As full citizens, people with disabilities are entitled to equal rights. In their daily lives, they continuously battle exclusion and restriction to their full participation in society, facing discrimination, abuse, and poverty.

There are many types of disabilities and many degrees; visible or hidden; temporary, permanent or unpredictable; cognitive, developmental and many others. Some groups find the following definition helpful. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), defines disability as the outcome of the interaction between a person with an impairment and the environmental and attitudinal barriers one may face.

People with disabilities are entitled to equal access to education and employment, equal rights to parenthood, property ownership, political rights, and legal representation.

Presently, there is no internationally binding convention specifically devoted to the rights of people with disabilities. However, in December 2001, the General Assembly adopted resolution 56/168, establishing a committee to consider proposals for an international convention to protect and promote the rights and dignity of people with disabilities. A treaty on the rights and dignity of people with disabilities would create legally binding human rights obligations specific to the needs and situation of people with disabilities.

A human rights perspective to disability requires society, and especially governments, to actively promote the conditions for all individuals to fully realize their rights. "Reasonable accommodation" (the necessary modifications without a disproportionate burden) must be made to ensure persons with disabilities the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Accessibility is a major issue for people with mobility impairments, but the concept of universal design can create more opportunities for participation in society. Universal design is inclusive; it sees people with disabilities, older people and children, as part of - not distinct from - society.

Source: http://issues.takingitglobal.org/disability

Children's Rights

Before understanding the rights of a special child it is important to understand the rights of every child.

“The child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. The child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society…in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity.”
-from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Every child has a right to their childhood – a hopeful existence free of exploitation, violence, neglect, and extreme poverty. Children need education, health services, consistent support systems as well as love, hope and encouragement; all these things and more are required in order to experience childhood to the fullest, and to eventually develop into healthy, capable adults.

Children cannot always be told what to do and what to think; they should be able to affect decisions that concern them.

However, millions of young people around the world are exploited in different ways. Children are forced to work in factories, in backrooms, on the street, and in the sex trade. They can be sold as slaves or even drafted to fight in wars. The violation of children’s rights is pervasive throughout many countries and fuels struggling economies, but exploitation of children is not restricted to the public sphere. Alarmingly, children are too often the recipients of violence in their own home, where a high percentage of abuse- sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological- takes place.

Why does this occur? Conditions of constant conflict or poverty inevitably propagate societal ills. Furthermore, children are easy targets for exploitation because they are dependent on adults and social institutions for their development, usually unaware of their rights, and unable to vote or voice their concerns formally.

There are people doing meaningful work to promote children’s rights. Human rights agencies and organizations, grassroots groups, media, educators, global leaders, and youth groups. Some of the most influential and effective child advocacy groups are featured in our resources and organizations sections.

But much more needs be done to enforce children’s rights everywhere. The UN must monitor and enforce their conventions with concerted efforts and people everywhere (you included) need to learn and care about these violations

Source: http://issues.takingitglobal.org/children?gclid=CLTTn_OjqpcCFUkupAodwwuPkA

Welcome to Aarushi

The objective of Aarushi is to raise awareness about various aspects of disabilities ( such as Misconceptions, Causes, prevention, facilities & concessions) that are required for general public

We're starting a blog for parents of special children to help create a supportive environment for people to share their grievance and offer solution from their experiences and connect with other people in the community in a meaningful way.

This week is the ‘World Disability Week’. And I attended the ‘Panel discussion cum Conference that was organized by Arushi. There were many professional present who gave us informations on children's rights, the facilities that are available for mentally challenged, loans and concessions that are available for this group. Many topics during the discussion were eye-openers.

This was the seminar which was organized to address the problems that are faced by the parents of the mentally challenged child and what are the facilities available to them. There were many parents present who discussed the different problems that they face when seeking professional help for their children and are not aware of the right procedure to make their work easier.

This blog will help us in communicating with each other and will be updated regularly. Please be free to post your comments and suggestions.