Family Background

Sidra has an older brother and a younger sister. The older brother is studying in primary school. Her father is a scrap dealer and mother is a homemaker.

Getting to know Sidra

Just 4 years old but Sidra knows how to capture your heart with her kajal-lined eyes and big smile.  She was referred through Sankalp – Sahyog’s project on Early Childhood Development and Disability. It took some time to convince Sidra’s mother for admission because she has a younger child who requires equal attention. However, with persistent follow-up, her mother agreed and Sidra attends the centre regularly. She is able to walk, eat independently, and points to the things that she needs. She doesn’t hesitate to stretch out her hand to welcome you. She will give you her complete attention when you praise and snub you if you don’t. She enjoys painting with her fingers and loves animation songs /movies.

Sidra’s assessments by the neurologist and speech therapist are currently underway.

Future Plan

Along with regular therapy, preschool skills will be taught to Sidra so that she is ready for admission to a regular school in a year.

Family Background

Adarsh is the first child of his parents. His father is a driver, and mother is a home-maker. The family income is meagre. His mother delivered her second child, a healthy boy in September 2018. Her second pregnancy made it difficult for her to manage all her responsibilities. There is no support system for the family. Yet, she brought Adarsh to the centre until the very end of her pregnancy.

Getting to know Adarsh

The Neurology Foundation referred Adarsh to the Sangharsh Centre. Adarsh is a lively child, and he attends school regularly. He has good cognitive skills and is interested in group activities. He has begun uttering a few words and responds by pointing to things.

He needs support while sitting. The in-house Consulting Neurologist has prescribed medicines to reduce the tightness in his muscles. This has improved his movements. He is able to kick a ball while sitting on the chair. He also tries to throw a ball using his hands.

Currently, he is being taught to brush his teeth, raise his hand while wearing a shirt. With assistance, he tries to draw and colour using a larger grip crayon. He likes movement songs taught in the centre. Speech therapy has helped reduce his drooling.

Future Plan

We will focus on teaching Adarsh preschool and daily living skills and aim to enrol him in ADAPT or Shartul Gurukul Centre in Ghatkopar.

Family Background:

Sufiyan stays with his parents and two siblings. He has a younger sister and brother. His father is a welder. His mother is a home-maker and takes care of Sufiyan. Their family income is meagre. Sufiyan’s aunt (father’s sister) helps in looking after Sufiyan and escorts him to school on many occasions.

Progress:

Sufiyan has been attending the school for a little over a month now. Sufiyan has been assessed by the Consulting Occupational Therapist. He has been advised speech therapy, and the team has been asked to work on his toilet training. He is able to stand with support and asks for food using gestures when he is hungry.

Assistance Provided:

We have provided Sufiyan with a calcium supplement to strengthen his bones.

Future Plan:

To complete Sufiyan’s assessment. Regularly work with him on speech therapy, toilet training, language and daily living skills. To encourage his mother to take him to the Neurology Foundation for additional therapy. To procure assistive devices for Sufiyan via SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan). We aim to enrol him at ADAPT or Shardul Gurukul centre in Ghatkopar. Also consistently follow-up on his progress via home-based sessions.

Family Background:

Alsaba lives with her parents and two siblings, an elder brother and a younger sister. Her father works in a garment shop. Her mother looks after Alsaba and her other siblings. However, her mother struggles to look after Alsaba because she is a restless child.

Progress:

Initially, Alsaba was a part of the pre-school group. However, due to her restlessness, she would never sit in one place or complete an activity. She would throw temper tantrums. Hence we decided to work with her individually.

Initially, she was reluctant to attend school and would cry, hit her mother, spit on her or even banged her own head on the wall to avoid school. Ever since we began the individual sessions, the situation has improved. Alsaba is willing to come to school without throwing any tantrum or crying. She is able to sit in one place for a longer duration.

She was referred to Ali Yavar Jung Institute of Speech and Hearing disabilities and has been provided with a hearing aid. She is receiving speech therapy regularly which includes auditory training- improving her hearing by listening to drum beats, repeating words and vowels.

Family Background

Archana lives with her parents and five siblings. She has two elder sisters, an elder brother and a younger sister and brother. Her father is a tailor, and her mother is a home-maker. Her eldest sister is pursuing Graduation in Science while elder brother is working. Archana is very close to her father and both parents dote on her.

Getting to know Archana

Archana repeats words and it sounds like she is singing a jingle. She can’t help doing that because she has Echolalia, a disorder in which the person has a tendency to repeat words.  Archana took some time to adjust to the centre. She would touch or hit the children sitting next to her and wanted to go home soon. She was reluctant to eat with other children and would complain of abdominal pain and feeling of fullness. Archana was referred to the Consulting Neurologist who prescribed medication. There has been a slight improvement in her condition and she is now eating in the centre with everyone.  She is undergoing speech therapy during which she has to sound out individual letters and say aloud a word starting with that sound, take deep breaths, blow with her mouth. She now mingles freely and shows affection to her classmates and teachers. Archana likes poems and action songs. She also enjoys painting. She is learning to use a pencil. The team is making efforts to increase her attention span and involve her in group activities.

Future Plan

The focus is on teaching her preschool skills and within two years she will be enrolled in.  Our goal is to enrol Archana, within the next two years, in the Dhanji Devshi Municipal Special School at Ghatkopar.

Family Background

Riyan stays with his parents. He is the only child. His father sells tin sheets. His mother is diabetic. Both his parents take good care of Riyan.

Getting to know Riyan

The Neurology Foundation referred Riyan to Sangharsh. Initially, he had problems making eye contact. The speech therapist’s assessment indicated that Riyan is capable of following instructions. He continues to receive regular physiotherapy. Riyan is able to balance his head better and can sit upright with legs straight. It has become easier for him to use his right hand now.

Riyan tends to be moody and does not pay attention in all activities. He tries to mingle with other children at the centre.

Riyan responds well to the animal assisted therapy sessions that are held at Sangharsh. He looks forward to meeting the therapy dogs and participates in all the activities conducted during these sessions with enthusiasm.

Future Plan

The focus will be on teaching him preschool skills and developing his daily living skills. He will be enrolled at ADAPT or a centre for children with special needs in Ghatkopar and his progress will be followed up with home-based sessions.

Family Background

Ashfaq and his parents live with Ashfaq’s grandparents and uncle. Both his parents take good care of him. His father does plaster of Paris work. His mother is pregnant with her second child. The pregnancy has been difficult and has affected her emotionally. We helped connect her to another caregiver going through a similar situation, and the interaction has helped reassure Ashfaq’s mother.  His mother took him regularly for therapy at Neurology Foundation until her pregnancy made it difficult for her to carry Ashfaq. His grandfather or uncle drop and fetch him from school.

Getting to know Ashfaq

When Ashfaq joined Sangharsh, he was fussy and would cry if he had to sit without his mother. He now doesn’t need her to be present and is happy to be a part of the activities that are conducted in the group. Ashfaq’s feet do the talking as he taps them to the beats of a song.

There has been a visible improvement in his social skills. He is less stubborn, and he interacts with other children in the group. He likes poems and is happy when the teacher recites them. Earlier, he would leave without having lunch with other children, but now he sits with everyone for lunch. He can walk by holding another person’s hand. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has provided him with a walker.

Future Plan

To focus on developing Ashfaq’s preschool skills and by 2020 get him enrolled in a centre for children with special needs in Ghatkopar.

Family Background:

Tabeen has a younger brother. Her father works in a mall, and mother is a homemaker. Her father dotes on Tabeen, and her mother too is attentive and supportive.

Progress:

Tabeen enrolled at Sangharsh in January but attended the centre regularly from June. Her attendance at school was irregular in the initial few months. We have noticed quite a few positive changes already.

Tabeen is able to sit for a longer duration, and she tries to complete all the activities given to her. Tabeen can write a few alphabets and recognises fruits and vegetables. Her disability assessment is still in process.

Family Background

Kavita has three siblings. Her elder brother dropped out of school, her elder sister is attending Junior College, and younger brother attends school. Her father and mother make and sell food items. Kavita requires constant observation. However, since both her parents are busy with the business, they are unable to provide her with the required attention.

Kavita’s parents ensure that she attends Sangharsh regularly. Due to her physical disability, her mother or elder brother escort her daily to the centre.

Getting to know Kavita

Kavita is unable to speak. But you wouldn’t guess that from her cheerful and playful  demeanour!  She is sharp and understands instructions and concepts quite well. She communicates by pointing and using pictures. She can point out various body par and a few numbers. If she wants to use the washroom she points to it and uses signs to indicate what she needs. When she points to a phone, it is to convey to her teachers that she wants them to call her parents! Kavita is spirited and wants to do things independently.

As is the case with many persons with cerebral palsy, Kavita drools and the team is working on that. We have provided Kavita with a number of assistive devices.  A CP chair with straps helps her to balance and maintain a favourable posture.  A pair of calipers makes it easier for her to walk. Injury which is a constant threat when she loses her balance is prevented with the use of a helmet.  For daily tasks which require an object to be gripped, such as eating with a spoon or holding a pencil, a hand belt has been provided. Despite her condition, Kavita is eager to play with the ball and likes the feel of her legs moving to shoot the ball.

Future Plan

Kavita will be enrolled at ADAPT or a centre for children with special needs in Ghatkopar within the next 12-18 months. We will also follow-up on her progress via home-based sessions.

Family Background

Kamran’s family consists of his parents and four siblings. He has two elder brothers, an elder sister and a younger brother. His older siblings attend school. His father polishes utensils and mother is a homemaker. Since his mother has to take care of five children including Kamran, who needs a lot of attention and support, she finds it very stressful at times. We referred her to Sangharsh’s in-house Consulting Psychiatrist for counselling. This has helped her cope with the circumstances in a better way. Sangharsh’s in-house Consulting Occupational Therapist assessed Kamran and recommended regular therapy. He was referred to a centre run by Neurology Foundation but his mother was reluctant because they could not afford the travel by auto to and fro. We provided monetary assistance for his travel to the centre. She now brings Kamran to Sangharsh regularly and also follows up on his therapy and other medical needs.

Getting to know Kamran

A quiet smile adorning his face, Kamran looks like he is at peace with everything around him. He is an attentive child and makes an effort to communicate with gestures. He is able to point to pictures/images while answering questions. He likes music and moves to the beats. He attempts to colour using a bigger grip sketch pen/ pencil.

There has been a remarkable improvement in Kamran’s development with the regular therapy sessions. His drooling has reduced and he has learned to crawl on his knees. He can balance himself better, and he even attempts to stand without support. He was referred for a Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan disability assessment camp. A walker and an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) were provided. These assistive devices will help him move around independently.

Future Plan

Kamran will be enrolled at ADAPT or a centre for children with special needs in Ghatkopar within the next 12-18 months. We will also follow-up on his progress via home-based sessions.

Family Background:

Sahil’s family lives in Chirag Nagar, which is located a short distance from Narayan Nagar. His older sister attends school in their native village and the younger brother studies in Junior KG in a local school. Sahil’s father is a tailor and mother is a home-maker. Both his parents pay sufficient attention to Sahil. His mother escorts him to the school daily.

Progress:

Sahil is a very intelligent and enthusiastic child. Initially, he found it difficult to concentrate on a given activity or sit for a longer duration. However, the situation improved and he is now able to concentrate on studies. He is undergoing speech therapy regularly and is being taught to pronounce his name and other words. Sahil can add two-digit numbers, write his name, and use a computer. He excels at art and craft and likes to draw and colour pictures.

Assistance Provided:

We tried enrolling him in a regular school. However, he requires a hearing aid from Ali Yavar Jung Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities. The process to acquire the hearing aid is underway.

Family Background:

Ali’s parents are divorced. He lives with his mother and his sister at his grandmother’s house. Ali’s mother is a domestic worker, and their financial condition is poor.

Progress:

Ali enrolled at Sangharsh last December but did not attend the centre regularly. He has begun attending it frequently since June 2018. Ali displays behavioural issues, and he also babbles.

Sangharsh’s in-house Consultant Psychiatrist assessed him and prescribed medicines. Ali’s behaviour has improved, he is much calmer now. He is prepared to sit for a prolonged period at the centre. He also tries to complete the given tasks.

Future Plan:

The goal is to ensure that Ali attends the centre on a regular basis. Also, with the help of therapy, we can bring an improvement in his behavioural issues. Focus on giving him adequate pre-school training.

Family Background

Namira is the eldest of three siblings; she has two younger brothers. Namira joined Sangharsh at the age of eleven. Her father is a rickshaw driver and mother is a homemaker. Her father is an alcoholic and does not work regularly. Hence the family faces financial challenges. Recently her mother suffered a miscarriage and was close to a nervous breakdown. She was unable to attend to her children. We referred her mother to the in-house Consulting Psychiatrist for therapy. The counselling sessions have helped Namira’s mother cope better with the emotional trauma she has undergone.

Getting to know Namira

Although Namira is unable to speak, she can hear and is curious about the world around her. We focused on teaching her literacy, numeracy, and daily living skills. She has shown remarkable improvement over the past few years. Namira is able to write her name. She is receiving speech therapy regularly at Sangharsh. She can communicate mainly through gestures and is able to share stories with her peers and teachers. Initially, she would arrive at the centre in a shabby state. Now Namira maintains a tidy appearance and attends the centre in a neat uniform. Just like any adolescent, Namira enjoys a good gossip and loves to dress up!

Earlier, her mother would complain that Namira is reluctant to help her with daily chores. Namira can now make tea and not only does she help her mother with household chores but also shows care towards the younger children attending the Sangharsh centre.

Future Plan

Namira is aware that she can now begin to earn. Through Sangharsh’s apprenticeship programme, we are focusing on strengthening her prevocational skills including work etiquette and conceptual understanding of money and time. Within the next 2 years, our goal is to see Namira gainfully employed in a job that matches her interest and aptitude.

Family Background

Hameedulla lives with his parents. He has three elder brothers and a younger sister. His brothers are married and stay separately. His father manages a family owned garment unit. Hameedulla’s mother looks after his needs.

Getting to know Hameedulla

Due to high fever and seizures during childhood, the growth of Hameedulla’s right hand and foot was affected. This physical impairment inhibited him from walking and affected his balance.  His mobility was restricted and his ability to use his right hand effectively was also compromised.

Hameedulla’s parents learnt about Sangharsh during the World Disability Day awareness programme. Initially, when he joined the centre, he would sit alone, avoid eye contact and not interact with the other children. However, he was a good improviser and found ways to work around his disability to perform tasks. The presence of a male special educator has been beneficial for Hameedulla to develop his social skills.. He now makes eye contact, responds with a smile when greeted, and communicates with his peers.

After he began attending Sangharsh, we have provided him with a cane and a knee-foot prosthesis which enables him to walk without losing his balance. A handgrip has been provided which supports his fingers and will prevent further deformity in his hand. Hameedulla is unable to access an Indian toilet. Therefore a special chair has been provided for him to use.

Hamidulla can write his name, tell time, and can manage money transactions up to 50 rupees. He participates in all activities of the centre with interest.

Future Plan

Currently, efforts are being made to place him as an apprentice as a first step towards a full-time job, within the next 1 year.

Family Background

Fardeen is the eldest of four siblings. He has a sister and two brothers who attend private school. His father works as a carpenter and mother is a homemaker. With only the father working, their family income is meagre. Well aware of the situation at home, his sister is keen to complete her studies and become financially independent. She is enrolled in Sahyog’s Scholarship and Mentorship (SAM) Programme which will take her closer to her goal.

Getting to know Fardeen

Fardeen was a strapping young boy at twelve years when he joined Sangharsh.  On account of his speech impairment and inability to communicate, he initially displayed several behavioural issues for which his parents sought assistance at Sion Hospital. Fardeen is undergoing speech therapy at Sangharsh. Regular sessions with the Sangharsh in-house Consultant Psychiatrist and guidance from a male special educator have built his confidence and he has acquired appropriate social skills.  Fardeen is able to follow instructions and satisfactorily complete tasks that are of a repetitive nature. Over time we have discovered the creative soul of Fardeen.  For, he loves music, dance, and art. The song-dance sessions during the lunch break are led by Fardeen as he belts out one song after another with visible joy and keeps to the beat as he dances.

Future Plan

Fardeen was the first adolescent of the Sangharsh Apprenticeship Programme (SAP) to apprentice for a period of 3 months with a private drinking water manufacturing and packaging company located in the community. He was assigned the task of stamping the caps of the bottles. He is being further groomed in employability skills through SAP and we hope to find a job placement for him in another 2 years.

Family Background

Saira’s father passed away before her birth and her mother remarried. Saira’s stepfather is unwilling to accept her and therefore she stays along with her 60-year-old grandmother in her maternal uncle’s home. Saira is witness to a lot of friction in her family as her maternal uncle too is reluctant to take responsibility for her. Her grandmother works in a garment factory and struggles to support herself and Saira.

Getting to know Saira

Saira was enrolled in a municipal school in Kurla till Class 7, but frequent epileptic seizures forced her to discontinue her studies. Her maternal aunt heard about Sangharsh at a programme organised on World Disability Day and brought Saira to the centre.

Along with epileptic fits, Saira also showed behavioural issues. With regular medication and follow-up with the in-house psychiatrist, she has shown improvement on both fronts. She likes interacting with people and grasps basic literacy and numerical concepts well.

A while ago, Sangharsh had organised an exposure visit to a police station under the curricular theme, Our Helpers. Following that visit, Saira registered a harassment complaint at the same local police station against her maternal uncle for ill-treating her grandmother and her.  She is uninhibited and ready to make her opinions known fearlessly. Her eye-hand coordination is good and she has picked up skills of diya painting and making rakhis and strives to do a perfect job and encourages her peers to do their best as well.  Saira is a happy girl when she is praised for her hard work. Her remarkable progress enabled her integration into the skill development centre of ADAPT (Able Disable All People Together). She worked in the tailoring unit and attended the centre for a year. A community escort taught her the use of public transport for her daily travel to the centre.

After a year, Saira’s family decided to discontinue her studies and enrol her at a residential shelter because her grandmother is unable to look after her needs. Sangharsh assisted them in this endeavour by providing the family with details of suitable shelter homes and vetting them. However, Saira continues to attend Sangharsh on a regular basis due to lack of vacancies at the shelter homes.

Future Plan

In November 2018, Saira began her 2-month apprenticeship at a local pharmaceutical company. Within a week of starting, she had grasped her tasks which involve assembling cardboard boxes and packing medicines into them.  She commutes to the work place on her own and likes interacting with her co-workers.  We are keen for her to gain exposure of a few more places of employment so that  she can have a say in which kind of work appeals to her the most and she is confident to accomplish.

Family Background:

Sonal stays with her mother and two elder brothers. She lost her father to cancer a few years ago. Sonal’s mother pays a great deal of attention to her needs and is very supportive. One of her brothers drives a rickshaw while the other does odd jobs. The family’s economic condition is not good.

Progress:

Sangharsh’s team identified Sonal during their outreach in the community. Sonal attended the Dhanji Devshi Municipal Special School, Ghatkopar till she turned 18 years old. Initially, her mother was reluctant to send her to the centre. But Sonal’s family agreed to it after subsequent visits and meetings with Sangharsh’s team.

Sonal’s initial assessment for disability took place at Aliyavar Jung Institute for Hearing and Disabilities in 2002. However, Sangharsh’s in-house Consultant Occupational Therapist did suggest a re-assessment which took place in January 2018.

The team is working on her numeracy, literacy and daily living skills. The aim is to make her independent so that she can at least move around in the community on her own. She has an amiable behaviour and helps her mother with the household chores.

Assistance Provided

Sonal was diagnosed with Tuberculosis earlier this year. She got admitted to a local health centre for treatment. Through consistent follow-ups, her mother ensured that Sonal completed the treatment and recovered fully.

Family Background:

Ritik has two siblings, a younger brother and sister who attend school. His father operates a handcart and mother is a homemaker. His mother pays him a lot of attention and both his siblings are supportive. Their family’s economic condition is not good.

Progress:

Ritik is a timid and self-conscious boy. Initially, he did not communicate much with his peers and would only reply to some questions. Gradually he has become more confident and greets people now. Earlier, his mother escorted him to school. The team at Sangharsh then encouraged her to let him travel on his own. He was unable to hold a pencil when he was enrolled, however with encouragement and practice not only does he hold a pencil now but also attempts to write. He is involved in vocational activities like diya painting and rakhi making. The team is focusing on improving his communication skills so that he can become more confident and interact with people.

Family Background

Hamish has three siblings. His elder brother attends college, while younger sister and brother go to school. His father is a rickshaw driver and mother is a homemaker. His mother suffers from hypertension but is very supportive of Hamish. She also does piecework at home to contribute to the family income. Hamish’s father is a disciplinarian.

Getting to know Hamish

Hamish attended a public school until 8th standard. However, his inability to cope with studies and behavioural problems forced him to drop out of school. Hamish is hyperactive and cannot sit in a place for a long duration or focus on a task at hand. When he joined Sangharash, he would get aggressive with other children and use offensive language. He was referred to the in-house Consultant Psychiatrist and we see a lot of improvement after he has been counseled. His physical and abusive behaviour has steadily diminished.

Being the leader of the older boys at the centre comes naturally to Hamish. He is a typical teenager, who likes to hang around with friends and play cricket. He doesn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand to the teachers and his fellow classmates—or play pranks on them!  He loves music and dance and is careful with the younger children at the centre.

Hamish follows instructions. He understands money transactions up to 100 rupees. He also helps other children at the centre and completes all the allotted tasks.

Future Plan

The focus is on building up his prevocational skills, money and time concepts, and basic work etiquette. He will be further groomed in employability skills which will help him secure a job in the next 3 yrs.

Family Background

Sufiya stays with her parents and four siblings. She is the eldest child and has three younger sisters and a brother. Her paternal uncle has adopted one of her sisters. Her father makes and sells items of plaster of Paris and her mother is a home-maker.

Getting to know Sufiya

When Sufiya first began coming to Sangharsh she was aloof and not communicative. The teachers provided her with opportunities where she could take the lead. Sufiya responded cautiously and her shy demeanour began to change. She is observant and quick to respond to humour. She enjoys painting diyas and making rakhis and also helps her peers in performing these activities.  Sufiya has learned how to spell her name and use money for simple transactions. She tries to apply the daily living skills (like making tea) that she learns in the centre at home. She is able to understand and perform tasks which are not merely repetitive.

Future Plan

The focus is on strengthening Sufiya’s prevocational skills so that we can help her secure a job within the next 2 years.

Family Background-

Sanika’s family consists of 5 members, and she is the third child. Sanika has 2 sisters and 1 brother. Sanika’s father passed away. Her mother works as a domestic worker, and her eldest sister works in an office. The family’s economic situation is quite weak. The entire family is fond of Sanika and pays adequate attention to her.

Progress-

The focus of Sanika’s home-based sessions has been on motor skills, social skills, language development. Since she likes soft toys, a lot of the activities are organised using them. Sanika is able to recognise all her family members.

Sanika is a hyperactive child. Earlier she would throw things at others. However, we have noticed that she has become calmer since the initiation of home-based care. Sanika’s concentration span has seen a significant improvement.

Family Background-

Anwar is the only child in the family.  His father works as a helper, and his mother is a homemaker. His parents are conscious of his needs and take good care of him.

Progress-

Anwar is receiving home-based care since last year. The areas of focus include motor skills, social skills, language development and activities of daily living through game-based activities. During these home sessions, his mother is also taught these activities so that she can practice them with Anwar.

Assistance Provided-

Sangharsh’s Consulting Paediatric Neurologist, Dr Shekhar Patil as well as Consulting Occupational Therapist, Dr Shah and Dr Siddhi have assessed Anwar.

Anwar has received medical assistance from the Cheshire Home and Neurology Foundation towards medicines and medical tests required for assessment. He was referred to these organisations by Sahyog. He has also received a Cerebral Palsy chair from SSA.

Future Plan-

Anwar continues to receive home-based care and guidance.

Family Background-

Sohail is the second child in his family, and he has a sister and a brother. His father has abandoned the family. Sohail along with his mother and siblings are currently living with his grandparents. Sohail’s grandfather works in a thread cutting unit, and he is taking care of the entire family. His grandfather pays him a lot of attention, ensures that all needs are fulfilled.

Progress-

It has been a year since he is receiving home-based care. The areas of focus include motor skills, social skills and activities of daily living. We are also working with him on numeracy and colouring activities.

Since Sohail has been advised to seek therapy, his mother takes him regularly for treatment. His mother has also been asked to repeat some of the activities conducted during the home-based sessions which she does with assistance from his grandparents.

Assistance Provided-

Sangharsh’s Consulting Paediatric Neurologist, Dr Shekhar Patil as well as Consulting Occupational Therapist, Dr Shah and Dr Siddhi have assessed Sohail. He has received a Cerebral Palsy chair from SSA. He is also getting aid for medicines and tests from Cheshire Home and Neurology Foundation.  He was referred to these organisations by Sahyog.

Family Background-

8-year old Vaishnavi is the younger of 2 girls in her family. Her mother is a homemaker while her father is a driver. Her family dotes on her, and she receives adequate attention.

Progress-

Vaishnavi has received home-based care for the past 2 years. We have been working with her on both fine and gross motor skills. These activities require her to use both her hands and fingers. Vaishnavi repeats the words that she hears. She is also able to follow the poems that are recited to her. She is a cheerful and lively girl.

Assistance Provided-

Sangharsh’s Consulting Paediatric Neurologist, Dr Shekhar Patil has assessed Vaishnavi’s condition. She is also undergoing regular follow-ups. During the home-based care sessions demonstrations are done for Vaishnavi’s mother to be practiced at home.

Future Plan-

Vaishnavi is still receiving home-based care and guidance.

Family Background-

10-year old Anas is the oldest of 3 siblings including a brother and a sister.

His father teaches Arabic in a Madarsa. The entire family pays adequate attention to Anas.

Progress-

Anas has been attending the Sangharsh centre for the past 2 years. At the centre, the team has worked on his motor skills, language development, social skills, numeracy, art and craft and activities of daily living (ADL).

In the last one year, he has been quite unwell and hence has been unable to attend the school regularly. Therefore a decision was taken to initiate home-based care. The staff is now working on his motor skills along with language development and numeracy through game-based activities.

Assistance Provided-

Sangharsh’s Consulting Paediatric Neurologist, Dr Shekhar Patil as well as Consulting Occupational Therapist, Dr Shah and Dr Siddhi have assessed Anas. Sahyog helps out with a part of his monthly medicine costs.

Future Plan-

Anas continues to receive home-based care and guidance.

Family Background:

Sumeeta is the second of four children. There are 6 members in her family. Her older sister Seema also experiences the same disability.  Her father works as a driver, and their economic condition is satisfactory. Both Seema and Sumeeta get sufficient attention at home.

Progress:

Sumeeta was at Sangharsh for 2 years, before she was integrated. She actively participated in all subjects including language, numeracy, art and craft. She would use gestures to communicate whatever she wanted. She also matched words and pictures correctly.

Assistance Provided:

Minim Foundation assisted in getting a disability certificate made for her. They also provided Sumeeta with a hearing aid.

Current Plan:

Sumeeta was integrated in November 2013 at Save the Children India. She is currently studying in 2nd standard. Her progress is quite satisfactory. We regularly follow up on her progress at Save The  Children India via phone interactions and when we visit the school during admission procedures.

Family Background

Seema is the eldest among the four children. She has two sisters and one brother. One of her younger sisters, Sumita, has the same disability.  Her father works as a driver and she is loved by her parents. Her father was highly motivated to educate his daughters and attended all parent meetings conscientiously.

Getting to know Seema

Seema attended Sangharsh for 2 years (2011-13). She loved coming to the centre and arrived each day with a sparkling smile. She took a keen interest in all subjects. We focused on improving her fine motor skills.  Seema would use gestures to explain her needs. At Sangharsh, she was taught to write her name, alphabets and read them. Seema was a determined, bright child, and she understood the concepts that she was taught.  Minim Charitable Foundation assisted in getting a disability certificate made for her and bore the expenses for a hearing aid.

Current Status

In 2013, at age 7, we integrated Seema in the special school run by Save the Children India in Bandra East and she is doing well in her studies.

Family Background:

Hamid’s parents have separated, both have re-married. Hamid stays with his grandparents and his father. There are 10 members in his family, including his two step-sisters. Hamid is a very soft-spoken, quiet-natured boy.

Progress:

Hamid attended Sangharsh for 2 years. We taught him language, numeracy, art and craft, ADL, motor and social skills. Theme based activities were used to conduct these sessions. He can write a few words and recognise numbers, time, shapes etc.Hamid is good at drawing and colouring. He also takes an active part in dance and drama.

Assistance Provided:

We helped in getting his disability certificate made. Hamid’s nails were affected due to calcium deficiency. We referred him to the local Rotaract clinic for treatment. Sangharsh’s team spoke to his father and grandmother and convinced them to enrol him in Save the Children India school.

Current Plan:

Hamid is studying in 1st standard. He travels by himself in a rickshaw to the school. We regularly follow up on his progress at Save The Children India via phone interactions.

Family Background:

5-year old Mantasha has an elder sister. Her father works in a shop, while her mother is a home-maker. Mantasha’s family pays her a lot of attention.

Progress:

Mantasha attended Sangharsh for a year. Her grasping of information is quite good. She uses pictures to communicate, fingers to add numbers. She was provided with speech therapy and would repeat alphabets. Mantasha uses gestures and would point at articles to communicate her needs. She liked playing with her classmates. She has also made efforts to speak.

Assistance Provided:

We organised a school visit for her mother and counselled her on the benefits of enrollment. We also provided aid for her school admission.

Current Plan:

Mantasha has been attending Save The Children India regularly since July 2018 and is studying in Pre-Primary 1.

Family Background:

Durgesh is the oldest of 3 siblings. He has a younger brother and sister. His father is a welder and mother is a homemaker. His family provides him with adequate attention.

Progress:

Durgesh was studying in Sangharsh for 3 years before he was integrated. We taught him language skills, numeracy, art and craft, social and motor skills. He was good at writing and understood concepts well. He could write his name and used to point to things to communicate his needs.

Assistance Provided:

Minim Foundation assisted in getting a disability certificate made for him. They also provided Durgesh with a hearing aid. Save the Children India contributed a part of the charges for the hearing aid.

His mother had never travelled outside the community initially and was hesitant about enroling him in a school. However, after a planned visit and much discussion, she agreed. Initially, his mother used to escort him, but now he now travels to school in a rickshaw.

Current Plan:

Durgesh was integrated in November 2013 at Save the Children India. He is currently studying in 2nd standard. We regularly follow up on his progress at Save The Children India via phone interactions.

Family Background:

Aditya is the second oldest child in his family. He has three siblings, a brother and two sisters. His father works in a garage and is very involved in Aditya’s education. His mother is a home-maker. Everyone in his family looks after Aditya. His family’s economic condition is stable.

Progress:

Aditya has been attending Sangharsh for the last three years. He was a shy child but gradually began mingling with other children, and has even made friends. Due to Nager Syndrome, he has four fingers (not fully formed) on each hand. His speech is also affected, and hence he is undergoing speech therapy. Aditya understands concepts well. He is also able to express his needs through gestures or pointing.

Assistance Provided:

We helped him get a disability certificate made. Aditya has joined a local Hindi medium school.Initially, the school authorities were reluctant to admit Aditya because of his disabilities. But SSA authorities’ intervened, and the school finally granted him admission. A unique hand belt that helps him perform routine tasks has also been provided to Aditya.

Current Plan:

Aditya is studying in 3rd standard at Mohili Village BMC School. He also continues to attend Sangharsh for an hour, twice a week for assistance with his studies.

Family Background:

Faizan is the oldest of 3 children. He has a younger brother and sister. His father is a tailor and mother is a home-maker. His grandparents also stay with them. All members of the family take care of Faizan.

Progress:

Faizan attended Sangharsh for over 4 years. He would answer questions by pointing to the relevant picture during theme-based sessions. When Faizan joined Sangharsh, he was not toilet trained. However, he gradually improved and began informing the teachers whenever he needed to use the washroom. Faizan likes playing with his classmates. With the help of speech therapy sessions, he can now repeat letters/alphabets.He can recognise his name and can write it as well. Faizan requires assistance during writing because he was born with hexadactyly (6 fingers in both hands).

Assistance Provided:

We provided help in getting his disability certificate made. Faizan also underwent a successful eye operation to remove a blockage in his lacrimal gland. Cheshire Home helped with raising funds for the operation.

Current Plan:

Faizan enrolled in Dhanji Devshi Municipal Special School, Ghatkopar (W) in July 2018. He is currently studying in 1st standard. His mother escorts him to school regularly by a rickshaw.

Family Background:

Gaus has a younger brother and lives with his parents. His father does glass work and mother is a homemaker.

Progress:                                        

Gaus attended Sangharsh for 2 years. He is a cheerful boy. We taught him language, maths, art and craft and activities of daily living. He is able to read and write his name and a few words. He is good at drawing and colouring. He enjoys participating in dance and drama. He points or uses gestures to communicate if he needs anything. He underwent speech therapy while he was at Sangharsh.

Assistance Provided:

We provided him with assistance to get his disability certificate made. The team convinced his mother to enrol him at Save the Children India. Sangharsh organised a visit to the school. She also discussed this matter with our Consulting Occupational Therapist, Dr Shah.

Current Plan:

Gaus enrolled in the school in July 2017. He is now studying in 3rd standard. He travels by himself in a rickshaw to the school.