Developmental Challenges

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…