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Down Syndrome
  • Youngsters with Disabilities Learn Life Skills at Supermarket
    Dr Mihir Parekh, child psychologist and special educator, has recently opened Urja Mart, a supermarket handled by youngsters with Down’s syndrome and on the Autism spectrum. Here, he talks about how the initiative will help them gain real world experience and employability skills. Dr Parekh, you have recently opened a supermarket, Urja Mart, managed by youngsters with special needs. Could you tell us a little about your unique initiative? Urja Mart is a training mart for children with special…
  • Art As Expression And Financial Independence
    Art is increasingly recognised as medium of expression for persons with intellectual disabilities. Our editor Moyna Sen, who attended the Art Sanctuary's Gala organised by Shalini Gupta shares her impressions.  Shaurya Mehrotra may be a young man of few words. But he is a happy person when he is around his creations at the recently held Art Sanctuary’s Gala: Art, Ceramic and Photography Workshops at DLF Chattarpur Farms -- beautiful ceramic pots and bowls, colourful and lovingly created by…
  • Dr. Rekha Ramachandran on the right with her daughter Babli with down syndrome on the left
    "Let People Stare. They Stare At Beautiful People!"
    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…
  • A child in a red tshirt holding a baby doll and stretching a hand out to block. The stretched hand covers the face
    Protecting Children With Disabilities from Sexual Abuse
    Personal safety and sexuality education is critical for children and young individuals with Intellectual disabilities, auditory or visual impairments. But it often does not get the right level of attention from parents and teachers. Enfold Proactive Health Trust, a Bangalore based NGO, has devised a project ‘Suvidha’ to address this gap. Read on. All children, irrespective of the ‘normalcy’ of their neural or physical development, have a right to safety and dignity. Personal safety education…
  • Image description: The team of people with intellectual and development disability who operate Cafe Arpan, a Juhu Mumbai snacks cafe
    We Love Making Cold Coffee and Garam Chai
    This one of a kind café in Mumbai provides employment opportunities to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and is full of yummy snacks. Read trustee Ashaita Mahajan’s interview for full story. In the last few years, a handful of restaurants and eateries have opened across India that are creating opportunities for the differently abled. Café Arpan is the latest addition. Could you tell us how Café Arpan was envisaged and what is its mission? Cafe Arpan is the second supported…
  • The I Support Foundation
    Helping Restaurants Welcome Persons With Disabilities
    I Support Foundation tries to make cafes and restaurant visits a hurdle-free experience for families of persons with disabilities. We speak to co-founder Juhi Ramani on how they are going about it. This initiative is to create awareness and provide hassle free service to persons with disabilities. We, the I Support Foundation (NGO), started this initiative for achieving universal accessibility that will enable persons with disabilities to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently…
  • Minu Budhia and Preeyam Budhia with the team at ICanFlyy a special needs cafe
    Every Little Step, Every Drop In The Ocean Counts
    Minu Budhia and daughter Preeyam Budhia, co-founders of Café ICanFlyy in Kolkata, a café which employs individuals with disabilities and empowers them to chart out their course in life, talk about the vision behind setting up this one-of-a-kind café in the country. Tell us about Cafe ICanFlyy. How did it take shape? Cosy, quirky, and certainly a labour of love, Cafe ICanFlyy is a 50-seater cafe run by individuals with special needs. Whether you’re making a quick stop for a cuppa, a short…
  • Narrative Therapy and Its Benefits To Families
    Raviraj Shetty, a lead Therapist, Supervisor and Project Manager at Ummeed Child Development Center talks about his work using Narrative Psychology. He has published a paper in the Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy in the context of handwriting training using Narrative Therapy.  1. What is Narrative psychology? Narrative therapy is a respectful and a non-blaming approach of counselling used for children, individuals, families, couples and communities. Narrative therapy is based…
  • Onir talks about the Indo-Australian film on Down's Syndrome Raising the Bar
    This film is about Loving and Accepting Diversity in Society
    Raising the Bar, an Indo-Australian documentary, is a lively, cheerful narrative on Down syndrome and has won many prestigious awards and accolades. Here we speak to director Onir who says the film aims to create awareness, encourage inclusion, celebrate differences and conquer preconceived boundaries. You are an acclaimed Indian film director known for unconventional works like ‘My Brother…Nikhil’ (on AIDS and homosexuality) and the National award winning ‘I am’ (on gay rights, sperm donation…