Skip to main content
  • I want to Open Doors for People with Disabilities to Travel
    Neha Arora, the plucky 32-year-old, who started Planet Abled, the first travel company for people with special needs, says the condescending attitude of society is more nerve-wracking than physical infrastructural challenges when she is touring with the disabled around the country. Planet Abled is probably the first travel company in India that caters to people with special needs. What inspired you to set up it up? My personal travel experiences as a daughter of parents with disabilities led to…
  • Accessibility For All at Vaccess Expo
    By  Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, a Special Educator and Rehabilitation Specialist Vaccess, a two day Expo, represents Vidya Sagar, a Chennai centre for the disabled, and its constant and persistent efforts towards Accessibility for people with disabilities. As the founder Poonam Natarajan put it so crisply, “In the past, this was understood only as the need for physical access. It meant building ramps, railings and pathways for people with visual impairments, special features in toilets,…
  • We Struggled For 10 years To Find Out What’s Wrong With Our Child
    Nishka Hosangady’s parents have been running from pillar to post to identify and treat their daughter’s crippling cognitive and physical disability. Finally, after visiting a legion of doctors, therapists and healers, she was diagnosed with Benign Hereditary Chorea, a rare autosomal disorder. Read about the Hosangady’s agonizing and persistent battle to save their daughter. When Nishka Hosangady started school at 3 years, she seemed perfectly normal. But, as she went into the…
  • I overcame profound hearing loss and stage fright to become a public speaker
    Born with profound hearing loss, school-going Purvi Gupta recounts how she conquered her phobia for speaking in public and became a powerful orator, boldly sharing the dais with Kiran Bedi and delivering long speeches at international forums. I am a 17-year-old studying Science in the 12th Grade at Delhi Public School. My dream is to become a Computer Engineer. My life journey has been a bit more challenging than other children as I was born with profound hearing loss…
  • Causes Of Epilepsy and Risk Factors
    What are the risk factors for developing epilepsy? Epilepsy is the 4th most common neurological disorder affecting 1% of population. 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy during their lifetime. It can begin at any age. Men are most commonly affected when compared with women. Risk factors include Premature babies Babies who have seizures in the first month of life Abnormal blood vessels in brain Brain tumors Cerebral palsy Family history of epilepsy or fever related (febrile) seizures. Alzheimer…
  • A Father’s Day Thank You for Not Giving Up On Me
    Vijay Krishnamani, born with profound hearing loss in both ears, pays a tribute to his father and expresses gratitude for his overwhelming presence in his life. Father's Day is meant to be the day when children express their thanks and gratitude towards their parents. For me, it is just one of the days in the whole year when I express my thanks to my Father and Mother for all they did for me... My Father was an Indian Police Service officer posted in New Delhi for majority of his…
  • Very low rate of Thyroid Disorders screening during Pregnancy
    Did you know that untreated hypothyroidism can progress and have devastating effect on women causing a multitude of disorders like birth defects, infertility, goiter, heart problems and mental health issues.  Ankita Kothari, an industry analyst from Frost and Sullivan shares her research findings with the PatientsEngage community What are the common risk factors for hypothyroidism? Sex and age are the most common risk factors. Hypothyroidism is more common in women compared to men.…
  • The visually impaired need to liberate themselves from within
    Says 25-year-old Chennai based Beno Zephine, the first visually challenged person to be inducted into the prestigious Indian Foreign Service. In a brief conversation, she maintains her maxim for success is hard work with loads of fortitude and tenacity.  What was your first reaction when you learnt you had been inducted into the coveted Indian Foreign Service? I was overjoyed and extremely happy. At the same time, I also become aware that I had been entrusted with a huge…
  • I am proud of being a hearing impaired person
    Being a hearing impaired person is part of my identity, as much as being an Indian or a Dilliwala, and it hasn’t stopped me from achieving whatever I want to do, proclaims Cheenu Madan, the successful software entrepreneur. “If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?”. As I was scrolling down Quora on my phone, this question came into view.  It didn’t take too long for me to come with an answer mentally - the ability to eat whatever I want without gaining…
  • A Person with Profound Hearing Loss in a Multi-lingual Group Conversation
    Vijay Krishnamani, born with profound hearing loss in both ears, gives an interesting personal account on how following group conversations can get crazy despite having mastered the art of lip-reading. As I grew up, learning how to listen and speak to a single person was something which I strived very hard to perfect considering that I was born with profound hearing loss in both ears. It is still an ongoing exercise since each new person I meet is always unique in terms of their…
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.…

Latest Communities