Developmental Challenges

Sarbani Mukherjee Mallick Founder & Executive Director at Bubbles Centre for Autism in a detailed interview on the experience and learnings of putting together a full fledged stage production of Jungle Book with a cast of 50 children and young adults on the autism spectrum. Part 1 of a 2 part series. Why theatre? How does theatre help children and adults on the autism spectrum? One of the major challenges for children on the autism spectrum disorder is social skills. I use to…

Dr. Surekha Ramachandran, mother of a young woman with Down Syndrome and Chairperson of the Down Syndrome Federation of India sheds light on the myths and misconceptions about persons with Down Syndrome . And a message to all parents on World Down Syndrome Day. PatientsEngage spoke with Dr. Surekha Ramachandran, founder of Down Syndrome Federation of India. Established in the year 1984, with 6 children, DSFI today serves innumerable children not only around India, but also the Middle East…

‘I enjoy painting, I love bright colours specially Red’, says Shaurya who is the proud owner of the Banana Studio in Gurugram. Shaurya’s mother Nina Mehrotra recounts her journey with her 31-year-old son who has Down’s Syndrome and how the studio has given him an identity of an artist and a potter. When was Shaurya diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome and what were the early symptoms? Shaurya was born on 19th January, 1988. At birth he was a premature baby and while he was recovering from infant…

Anushka Panda, 16 from Gurugram, India has Type II Spinal Muscular Atrophy. She and her mother Archana share the fears and challenges of living with SMA II, the lack of friends and effect on lifestyle, the need for pre-marital gene mapping. Anushka, please tell us a bit about your condition I suffer from Type II Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). SMA is a genetic disease that affects the motor nerves that control voluntary muscle movements of the body. I was able to stand with support till I was 3…

For International Women's Day, in line with the UN Women’s theme for 2019 we highlight a few women innovators and social entrepreneurs who have contributed to "Think equal, Build smart & Innovate for a change." We asked these three women entrepreneurs and innovators what drove the innovation and how it benefits the community.  Aditi Gupta, Founder - Menstrupedia Making it cool for young girls to talk about menstruation We created Menstrupedia to fight the widespread unawareness…

Dr. Megha Sharda shares insights on the impact of music on individuals on the autism spectrum based on a research project conducted at University of Montreal and McGill University. Tell us about your study on the impact of music on individuals on the autism spectrum. What kind of music was used? How did you select participants and remove bias in selection Music is an area of strength in individuals on the autism spectrum, but until now we did not have neuroscientific evidence supporting its…

Rohini Subramanian Katriar shares the experience and benefits of bringing in a dog into the life of her son on the autism spectrum. Also, tips if you are thinking of bringing in a pet into your family. We are a family of 5 - 2 of us play acting as adults, 2 of us getting trained in being adults and 1 of us getting away with being a lazy dog!! Hail Caesar….. Caesar is our English labrador, part crazy, part sage and fully adorable. Our son is on the autism spectrum, which makes life fairly…

A special cycling camp for children with Down syndrome brought in loads of fun, learning and togetherness for the participants as well as the young volunteers. Interview with Deepa Garwa, Secretary, Delhi Down Syndrome Parents Society and blogger, and her son, Aaryamann, who meticulously organized the 5-day camp. Deepa, you held a cycling camp for children with Down syndrome recently. Please could you tell us something about it? Seeing my daughter, Aarshia, cycling independently was a very…

Can you imagine a child who has never been to a playground or a park, never been able to swing or slide! For whom open play spaces are forbidding and unfriendly. Today, in India nearly all existing outdoor play spaces are built without keeping in mind the needs of a child with disability. Children with disabilities and developmental differences are forced to stay away from playgrounds because they are inaccessible, do not have appropriate facilities and play infrastructure for them. When…

Barnana Chakraborti was a successful professional before she gave it all up to devote full time to her son when he was diagnosed with autism. Her spirit and positivity are indeed something to learn from as she talks about how she overcomes emotional turmoil on a daily basis When did you first notice signs of autism in your son? It was just a month before my son was about to turn two that we visited a paediatrician for cold/ cough. As my child was not communicating in the conventional manner on…