Last weekend I had the enriching experience of observing the once a week early intervention outreach program at Goalpara as a part of my additional role at Shishu Sarothi. I use the word “enriching” as I am amazed at how much I am getting to see the impact these outreach programs, be it in Dibrugarh, Sivasagar or Goalpara, have had on the children, families, communities and professionals as well. It makes me realize how similar and at the same time how unique each of these programs are.
Early Saturday morning, the four of us, Parishma and Jupita, our physiotherapists, Jyoti, our special educator and me started the day-long work trip to our outreach center in Goalpara. When we reached the center after a 3 hour journey, I could see some parents and children and our field worker already waiting for us. Immediately, my three colleagues spring into action, taking their respective places in that vibrant single room set up. There was a comfort and curiosity in the easy drill that followed thereafter between the parents, children and the therapists. It was beautiful to see my colleagues engaging and encouraging the parents and children while providing therapy to each one of them.
The proud and happy faces of the parents, mostly the mothers, when they could apply the exercises that were demonstrated by the professionals made me also join in some of the activities. Towards the end of the day, we had 12 children who received intervention at the center. Early intervention is all about providing specialized services and support to infants and children with disabilities or delayed development and their families. This includes supports like physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and special education. Shishu Sarothi has been providing early intervention since its inception in 1987 to children from Assam as well as some of the neighboring states.
These services have had a tremendous impact on children across disabilities at their physical, cognitive, social/emotional, communication and self help development. All of these services are provided in a way where it becomes a collaborative effort between the primary caregivers(parents) and the therapists. The parents/primary caregivers are always present during the sessions, where they are encouraged to learn and work with their children at home,the way it’s done by the therapists. Since this whole process is a collaboration between the family and therapists and special educators, it has been observed that most of the ideas and solutions about therapy materials and tools have also been suggested by the families. Over the period of 7 years in Goalpara, this collaborative effort has empowered the parents in such a way that they have built a parents network of support organicaly. These parents have reached out to other parents with disabilities and delayed development in their respective areas to visit the outreach center. Some of the economically sound parents have also offered to help parents who are from the BPL categories with appliances like customized CP chairs which are very expensive otherwise. They exchange contact details of each other, discuss what and which exercise have worked out for their children and how they have received disability certificates. Some of the children who have been coming for therapy since the beginning of the program have also started going to regular schools, which has given hope to other parents as well. As of date the outreach program has 850 registered children not only from Goalpara district but also from Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, South Salmara Mankachar, Barpeta and the neighboring state of Meghalaya as well. When parents are the primary caregivers, they undergo lots of emotional turmoil, societal prejudices, and economic distress when they have a child with a disability.
On this day of National Caregivers Day let us stop, think and appreciate the endless effort of the parents who do everything possible for their child and family to lead a life as normal as possible in this uncertain world.