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  • Making love accessible to people with disabilities
    Inclov is a match making app which is not only inclusive in its approach, but actually has successfully managed to bring together a number of people with disabilities. Shankar Srinivasan, one of the founders of the app, talks about this initiative which is growing from strength to strength. Inclov is an interesting concept. How did it come about? The original idea came from my co-founder, Kalyani. We liked the concept of match making per se. In 2014 we started the venture as a match making…
  • When I am at work I am "resting"
    Joan's wish is straightforward: "My ultimate wish for Nat is for her to happy and independent, where she doesn’t need financial aid from me or my husband, is able to stand on her own and isn’t a liability to anyone else." Joan, in conversation with SPD Singapore, answers 10 questions on bringing up Natania, who has autism spectrum disorder and shares with us her biggest hurdle to date and what keeps her going. Q1: You are Natania’s biggest supporter. How did you face her condition early on? I…
  • Empowered families encourage better development in the child
    Tamahar not only tries to develop the children with various activities, it also brings the family, the primary caregivers, into its fold to help them grow and learn with the children. Vaishali Pai is a visionary and an experienced occupational therapist who set up the Tamahar Trust in 2009 to help children with special needs find their own little spaces in this world. She shares how she would like Tamahar to reach out to more children in future. Tell us briefly the thoughts behind forming…
  • Autistic people are cold and feel no empathy: Myth or Fact?
    Indrajeet Patil's research shows people with autism also have their share of empathy for others’ well being, contrary to common beliefs. In fact, they are believed to go through a lot of personal distress at the prospect of anyone being harmed.  PatientsEngage with inputs from Akila Vaidyanathan interviewed SISSA researcher Indrajeet Patil on his research: Can you tell us about the study in brief. Traditionally, there have been two common myths about autism that have flourished in the…
  • I Believe - a personal encounter with autism
    Leroy Lim's film "I Believe" narrates a personal encounter between a person with autism and a youth leader. Does it lead to friendship and inclusion in the group?  Find out more. The film "I Believe" was part of the Temasek Short Film Project 20/20 in Singapore.  It is an accurate portrayal of persons with autism and their interactions with people they meet. It is based on a personal encounter the student from Lasalle, Singapore had with an autistic teenager. As Leroy Lim mused…
  • Small Talk, Big Struggle
    Linesh, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, writes an interesting, insightful piece on how conversation skills and small talk can sometimes be a big challenge for ‘Aspies’ like himself. Linesh works with children with Autism as a special educator at the Spastic Society of Karnataka. Why do I, like so many other Aspies, find small talk so painfully difficult? For some, the greater problem is a lack of conversational skills. This was definitely the case with me when I was a teenager.…
  • Can Drama Therapy Help People with Autism?
    Linish, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, lauds the Drama for Autism course conducted by Dr. Parasuram Ramamoorthi’s organization, Velvi, and stresses the benefits of theatre for improving social competence in people with autism spectrum disorders. When I was leaving my Drama school without finishing my Masters in Theatre Arts, my Professor Shibu S Kottaram asked, “Why don’t you go and meet Dr. Parasuram Ramamoorthi? He is a well-known theatre person who is working with individuals with Autism. He…
  • Early Detection Key to Managing Cerebral Palsy
    On World Cerebral Palsy Day, we speak to Joyeeta Sen, a senior special educator and Priti Salunkhe, a senior neurodevelopment therapist with Ummeed Child Development Center regarding child development and learning for children with the condition. What is the average age of a child with CP when first brought in? At Ummeed children with Cerebral Palsy varies anywhere from 3 years to 10 years but the average age would be between 3-4years. However, as part of early detection and early intervention…
  • Bhavna is person with cerebral palsy in a red and white dress on a wheelchair
    I follow my heart
    Bhavna Botta, a young serial entrepreneur with cerebral palsy, had her dream project, Saahaagika, an exclusive boutique for ahimsa silk, washed away in the recent rains and floods in Chennai. Broken but not beaten, she looks for strength, motivation and new avenues to start afresh. Could you tell us a bit about your journey and how you became an entrepreneur? I finished my high school from Vidya Sagar and went on to do higher secondary from Lady Andal Matriculation School, Chennai and then…
  • Is she like this from birth?
    and other annoying questions that parents of children with disabilities do not want to hear. Ruchika Sethi Takkar, a mother who is raising a daughter with multiple challenges, helps you out by sharing the 13 most awkward questions that she has encountered. She also has a tip. Living with Manavi as her partner, communicator, mood reader, therapist and, aha...yes, mama, I have learnt to be extra perceptive of the world around me. Till 14 years ago, a social interaction with a stranger meant…
Do you have a story or an incident that you would like to share for World Autism Awareness Day?
Which system is most suitable for treating this. in Indian conditions? Ayurveda / Siddha / Homeopathy. to get reasonable progress in reasonable time. The blood analysis shows excess strontium metal and less than normal Beryllium metal. He is 6…
Outdoor play is important for all persons including children with disabilities. In our Live Discussion sessions we talk to a play therapist, an Ashoka fellow and parents of teenagers on the autism spectrum. In continuation of our series on …
My daughter is 6 yrs old but still she can't talk properly.she can't say one complete sentence having more than 3 words.What could be the issue please help
My son is a very slow learner (60% IQ). I am a teacher. But for my own case i am helpless. My son had epilepsy seizures for 1.5 years as from 1.5 to 3 years age. After so much medication now no seizures from last 5 years but he has become autistic…
Question from Hope Foundation, Mumbai: We have now 50 individuals of varying mental and intellectual issues being provided with vocational training and simple jobs. What we are looking for is medical insurance for these service users. In Mumbai…
Have you been thinking about creating this dream play space for your child or for children you know who would love to play in such a space? It's easy.  Kilikili, a network of parents of children with disabilities, began when a parent asked the…
Just came across this news report from California and while this may be extreme, would be great to hear typical issues your child has faced and how you have dealt with it. Do your neighbours accomodate? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-…
This is a question that troubles parents all the time. And even more when a child is on the autism spectrum. How do you know when you should just accept and not push various therapies? Do therapies stress the child even more? Please share your…
Sesame Street has introduced a new muppet with autism - a girl called Julia. Do you think this will help more people (and children) understand the condition? Or is it too complicated a condition to be shown through a muppet? http://www.today.…

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