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April - Editorial

April 2^nd 2013 will mark the sixth annual celebration of WAAD-World Autism Awareness Day. We want to do our little bit to raise awareness about Autism – a Global Health Crisis. I would like everybody to go through UN Resolution on WAAD ……

On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution  which declares April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in perpetuity. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, supported the campaign for a World Autism Awareness Day through the current 62nd UN General Assembly Session, garnering consensus support from all United Nations Member States. 

This UN resolution is one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days and will bring the world's attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions. The World Autism Awareness Day resolution encourages all Member States to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention. It further expresses deep concern at the prevalence and high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world and the consequent developmental challenges. 

World Autism Awareness Day shines a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. WAAD activities help to increase and develop world knowledge of the autism epidemic and  impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism and is a day when individuals with autism are warmly welcomed and embraced in community events around the globe.

By bringing together autism organizations all around the world, we will give a voice to the millions of individuals worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help. Please join us in our effort to inspire compassion, inclusion and hope. 

ChildRaise is nominated for eNGO Challenge Awards Dec 3rd International Day for Persons with Disability (IDPwD) Dec 5 th International Volunteer Day (IVD)

This Dec, Childraise has many reasons to celebrate. We are nominated for eNGO Challenge & NASSCOM Foundation Awards for our Information & Communication Technology (ICT) usage. On Sat, Dec 1st, we are heading to Delhi for the eNGO challenge ceremony & will be participating in the Manthan Bazar. We are also happy that we are completing two successful years of committed service of our Toll Free helpline -DISHA: Disability Helpline & Action, our Toll Free No. being 1800-22-1203. We are very happy that we are receiving continued support from Unity CSR Foundation. 

As per the UN data  around 15% of the world's population, or one billion people, live with disabilities. Though the numbers are of such magnitude, lay people are often unaware of the statistics and the challenges these people with disabilities  face.Dec 3 rd- International Day for Persons with Disability (IDPwD) aims to  increase awareness, understanding of disability issues, support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities and inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect of life. Based on the main theme of IDPD 2012 "Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all",Persons with disabilities, "the world's largest minority", often face barriers to participation in all aspects of society. Barriers can take a variety of forms, including those relating to the physical environment or to information and communications technology (ICT), or those resulting from legislation or policy, or from societal attitudes or discrimination. The result is that persons with disabilities do not have equal access to society or services, including education, employment, health care, transportation, political participation or justice.

Dec 5th - International Volunteer Day (IVD) -  is initiated by UN since 1985 and is  observed  to thank the efforts taken by the volunteers and to increase public awareness on their contribution to society. Many of our activities are successful because of our committed team of Volunteers. We take this opportunity to thank them & hope they support us always.Do read the article by one of our committed  volunteer to know the pleasures of volunteering!!

Invitation to connect on LinkedIn

From childraise Trust NGO Mumbai Area, India I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. - childraise Confirm that you know childraise You are receiving Invitation to Connect emails. Unsubscribe © 2012, LinkedIn Corporation. 2029 Stierlin Ct. Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

Celebrate Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Awareness Week this 12th to 18th September

September is a very eventful month. We are very happy to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at the very start of the month. After praying to 'Vighnaharta', we offer our gratitude to our Gurujan-our Teachers on September 5th. Then we move on to observe 'Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Awareness Week' (ADHD) which will be from 12th to 18th.World wide 'Deaf Awareness Week' will be celebrated from 24th to 30th. Also on 30th, 'International Day of Sign language Rights' will be celebrated. Next month on October 8th 'World Sight Day' will be observed. Taking into consideration all these important days, we at ChildRaise would like to chip in with our efforts to create more awareness & understanding about all the above conditions. For ADHD- We are introducing a wonderful book "Taming the Tornado" by Samindara Hardikar -Sawant of Disha Counselling Centre which has been recently published.An excellent parent manual (More on homepage & in Must Read-Books) We have initiated an online campaign "FEEL"- to let you know more about Deaf-Blindness.

FEEL - Online Campaign to know more about Deaf-Blindness

1) What is Deaf- Blindness-

The federal definition of deaf-blindness is "concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination that creates such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education in programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness."

What that means is deaf-blindness is a condition in which both a hearing and vision loss are present at the same time. The combined effect of these losses, even if both are mild, creates unique challenges for the individual that cannot be addressed solely within a special education program for the deaf or special education program for the blind.
Source- Mississippi Deaf-Blind Project,The University of Southern Mississippi
Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
118 College Drive # 5115,Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: (601) 266-5135 or (800) 264-5135
Fax: (601)266-4978

2) Statistics

It is estimated that there are more than 4, 25,000 deaf-blind children in India.

3) Helpline

18002337913

4) Institutions

Helen Keller Institute for Deaf & Deafblind
Municipal Secondary School , South Wing,Ground Floor,
N. M. Joshi Marg, Near 'S' Bridge,
Byculla (West),Mumbai - 400 011.
Tel: 2308 7052 / 2301 9215 ,
Fax: 2301 8211

THE EDUCATION AND AUDIOLOGY & RESEARCH SOCIETY
Municipal School,2nd floor, Topiwalla Lane,
Off Lamington Road, Mumbai 400 007.
Also at:
#62, Gulmarg, Napean Sea Road,
Malabar Hill, Mumbai -400006
Phone: 022-23691705

Sense International(India)
2nd floor, Admin block,
opp. Indian Institute of Management (IIM),
Vastrapur, Ahmedabad-380015
Phone - 91-79-26301282,
Fax- 91-79-26301590

5) Useful Links

1) Helen keller Archival collection-American foundation for the blind
http://afb.org/info_documents.asp?collectionid=1

In her will, Helen Keller bequeathed her papers and memorabilia to the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). The Helen Keller Archival Collection contains The Helen Keller Papers, The Helen Keller Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection, The Helen Keller Photograph Collection, and Books from Helen Keller's Library. Of particular interest are Keller's writings on a variety of topics that illustrate her intelligence, her positive disposition, and her passion for worthwhile social issues. For more general information, follow the link to the AFB homepage American Foundation for the Blind (http://www.igc.apc.org/afb) for additional blindness resources.

2) Leraning guide to "Miracle workers"
http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/miracle-worker.html

An excellent way to introduce the life of Helen Keller to students is with the 1962 film The Miracle Worker, which relates how Helen Keller's teacher, Anne Sullivan, was able to reach Keller and teach her how to communicate. This site, which recommends the film for children ages ten and up, offers background on the historical context of the film, provides numerous examples of discussion and essay questions, and recommends several books about Helen Keller and the triumph of other individuals over their disabilities.

3) A-Z deaf blindness
http://www.deafblind.com

This very complete Web site is the work of James Gallagher, a citizen of the United Kingdom who is deaf-blind. Here, you will find information about all aspects of deaf-blindness, including the deaf-blind manual alphabet, the various causes of deaf-blindness, contact information for various support organizations, and dates and times for conferences. Gallagher also includes information on deafness, including the two-handed manual alphabet commonly used by sighted deaf people in the U.K., the cochlear implant, and a description of American Sign Language. Some of the topics related to blindness include information on guide dogs and a comparison of Braille and Moon-a lesser-known alternate reading method for the blind. Of particular interest are the sections that discuss various technological devices that aid deaf-blind people in utilizing computers, telephones, and fax machines.

4) Deaf blind children homepage
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/5939/index.html

This site contains several stories, written by parents of deaf-blind children, illustrating the wide range of causes, degrees of impairment, and coping strategies that surround the issue of deaf-blindness.

6) Additional Resources

Articles and video Clips
:: Google: MSNBC Peter Alexander and Sister Deaf-Blind
:: Google: Tampa Bay Superwoman Deaf-Blind
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Triplets Texas
:: Google: Six Friends Deaf-Blind
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Poetry
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Artists
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Performers: Deaf-Blind Theatre and Jag Einhorn (FL)
:: Google: Deaf-Blind Athletes

7) Inspiring Lives

The life of Helen Keller
http://www.hki.org/helen.html

Check this site for a complete, yet concise, biographical sketch of Helen Keller.

Life of Anne Sullivan
Born - April 14, 1866
Feeding Hills, Massachusetts
Died - October 20, 1936 (aged 70)
Queens, New York, New York Spouse(s) John Albert Macy
(1905-1932)

Anne Sullivan was the oldest of five children, born in Feeding Hills, a subsection of the town of Agawam, Massachusetts. Her parents, Thomas and Alice Sullivan, were impoverished cooks who left Ireland in 1847 during the Potato Famine. Her mother suffered from tuberculosis and died when Anne was eight years old. Her father was an alcoholic farm hand who abandoned his three surviving children after his wife died. Although her sister Mary was sent to live with an aunt, when Annie was ten, she and her brother Jimmie moved in with other relatives, who later sent the two siblings to the Tewksbury Almshouse (today Tewksbury Hospital).Annie spent her time there with Jimmie, in hopes that they would not be separated; however, his condition resulting from a tubercular hip weakened him and he died three months later.

When Anne Sullivan was three she began having trouble with her eyesight as a result of the eye disease trachoma,a bacterial infection that often causes blindness by scarring. Sullivan underwent a long string of surgeries. Doctors in Tewksbury had made a few vain attempts to clean her eyelids. Later, Father Barbara, the chaplain of the nearest hospital, took it upon himself to arrange a procedure. This operation failed to correct her vision. Still more attempts were made. Father Barbara took her to the Boston City Infirmary (today Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary) this time, where she had two more operations. Even after this attempt her vision remained blurry. Sullivan returned to Tewksbury, against her will. After four years there, in 1880, she entered the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind in Boston, where she underwent surgery in 1881 and regained some of her sight. After the improvement of her eyesight, and graduating as class valedictorian in 1886, Michael Anaganos, the school's director, encouraged her to become a teacher for Helen Kellerand she received special training to do this. In 1887, Sullivan had an additional surgery which restored more of her vision.

Sullivan with an 8-year-old Keller while vacationing at Cape Cod in July 1888

When Helen was six years old, in 1887, Anne moved in and acting as her governess started teaching her. Sullivan began by teaching Helen Keller nouns using the sign language alphabet signed into Keller's palm that had been developed by Spanish monks in medieval times. After its adoption by French educators, it was adapted by British and American educators including the founder of the Perkins Institution, Samuel Gridley Howe

On May 2, 1905, Sullivan married a Harvard University instructor and literary critic, John Albert Macy (1877-1932), eleven years her junior, who had helped Keller with her publications. The three lived together. However, within a few years, their marriage began to disintegrate. By 1914 they had separated, though they never officially divorced. In the early years after their separation, John Macy wrote and asked for money; however, as the years progressed he appears to have faded from her life.

Sullivan Macy and Keller were lifelong companions who lived, worked, and traveled together. In 1932 they were each awarded honorary fellowships from the Educational Institute of Scotland. They also were awarded honorary degrees from Temple University. By 1935, Sullivan Macy became completely blind. She died after a coma at age 70, with Keller holding her hand. When Keller herself died in 1968, her ashes were placed in the Washington National Cathedral next to Anne's.

Source - wikipedia

JAI HO !!!!!

This month on 15th August we will be celebrating 64 years of Independence. And we have a reason to rejoice. India is coming of age. There have been some path breaking initiatives like RTE-Right To Education act passed in 2009.

The Right To Education for children to Free and Compulsory Education Act came into force from April 1, 2010. Without doubt this is a historic day for the people of India as from this day the right to education will be accorded the same legal status as the right to life as provided by Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. Every child in the age group of 6-14 years will be provided 8 years of elementary education in an age appropriate classroom in the vicinity of his/her neighbourhood.

According to the UNESCO's 'Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2010', about 135 countries have constitutional provisions for free and non-discriminatory education for all. And now India is one of them. The children with disabilities belong to disadvantaged groups and all private schools shall be required to enroll children from weaker sections and disadvantaged communities in their incoming class to the extent of 25% of their enrolment. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been mandated to monitor the implementation of this historic Right. A special toll free helpline to register complaints will be set up by NCPCR for this purpose..

The salient feature of the RTE Act is that the Children with Disabilities will also be educated in the mainstream schools.

From the 25th August - 8th September it is National Blindness Control fortnight.

Celebrate Father's Day, Helen Keller's Birthday & Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Day this June

June is the month of school reopening. Besides school schedules, we also have to mark our calendars in June for Father's Day Celebration on 20th, SCI Awareness Day on 25th & Helen Keller's Birthday on 27th June.

Father's Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of June in most of the countries. It is a day to not only honour your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Usually, when a child has special needs, the mother is 24x7 present with the child. The father seems to hang around in the background. It is observed that when a father plays an active role in the child's life, the progress is remarkable, the child is more secure & happy. I have come across few Dads who have done wonders for their child with special needs. Their involvement is total. I have the privilege to know Mr. Nagesh Ghadi, Prasad Ghadi's father who always took up night shifts since Prasad's birth to look after him during daytime because Prasad's mother is a teacher in a day school & used to take care of Prasad's needs at night. Prasad had Spinal Muscular Atrophy & needed constant attention & care.

Some of the special Dads have done some pioneering work in the field of disability. We have Dr. Dholakia who has initiated & continues to do great work for the Association of Welfare of Mentally Handicapped (AWMH) & several other committees. Late Mr. Damodar Tilak's book - 'For A Secure Tomorrow' in Finance section stands as a testimony of his lifelong commitment & involvement. We salute to all Dads who take active interest in the life of their child & make their family life complete & enriched.

I visited a wonderful website which shatters the myth of father's being passive, hard & opens a different dimension. The Dads have shared their experiences, their trials & triumphs of rearing their special needs child. Do log on to www.fathersnetwork.org.

June 25th is celebrated as ' Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day'. Nina Foundation (Founder- Prof.Ketna Mehta) whose vision is to spread optimism & work towards rehabilitation of SCI person, will be presenting their annual 'RockStar Award' to that individual who has shown exemplary courage, renews the spirit of life &. won the battles of life inspite of SCI.

When we talk of winning the battles against all odds, one can not help but remember Helen Keller. June 27th is her birthday. Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama-USA, in 1880, Helen Keller developed a fever at 18 months of age that rendered her blind and deaf. With the help of a miracle teacher, Anne Sullivan, she learned sign language & Braille. Later on in life, she became a tireless advocate for people with disabilities. Helen Keller is the symbol of hope. She is the guiding force to many who are striving to inch ahead in spite of insurmountable odds. She spells the path from impossible to possible. Her words will always inspire & show us the light...

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow."

"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."

"When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."

Celebrate Mothers Day this 8th May

Hi Folks !

We are in the midst of a very warm summer and in the month that warmly celebrates Motherhood and honours Mothers all over the world. This year, we shall celebrate it on 8th May. I humbly dedicate this editorial to all mothers.

MAY is also a happening and busy month for me, with vacations in full swing and parents requesting me for extra coaching/remedial sessions so that their children can make up for the lag. During the course of my teaching sessions I have come across so many wonderful mothers. Childraise takes this opportunity to salute them through this piece.

It is moving to see them struggling & juggling with their daily chores, taking their special chld from one therapy session to another which hardly leaves them with any time for themselves. A mother gives up her independence, freedom, so that her child can be an independent adult. She casts her aspirations and desires aside....yet her child's smallest achievement, development fills her with pride. She is ready to go that extra mile just to see her special one smile.

So true are the following lines written in praise of them:
"The mother-child relationship is paradoxical. It requires the most intense love on the mother's side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent".
"A mother is not a person to lean on but a person to make leaning unnecessary...".

Saturday, 2nd April- World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) & April-Autism Awareness Month... this month we are Lighting It Up BLUE to shine a bright light on Autism.

April 2nd 2011 will mark the Fourth Annual Celebration of 'WAAD' -World Autism Awareness Day ! We want to do our little bit to raise awareness about Autism – a Global Health Crisis. I would like everybody to go through UN Resolution on WAAD ……

On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139, tabled by the State of Qatar, which declares April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in perpetuity. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, supported the campaign for a World Autism Awareness Day through the current 62nd UN General Assembly Session, garnering consensus support from all United Nations Member States.

This UN resolution is one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days and will bring the world's attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions. The World Autism Awareness Day resolution encourages all Member States to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention. It further expresses deep concern at the prevalence and high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world and the consequent developmental challenges.

World Autism Awareness Day shines a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. WAAD activities help to increase and develop world knowledge of the autism epidemic and impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism and is a day when individuals with autism are warmly welcomed and embraced in community events around the globe.

By bringing together autism organizations all around the world, we will give a voice to the millions of individuals worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help. Please join us in our effort to inspire compassion, inclusion and hope. We will be distributing information material on Autism throughout the month. We also invite parents to come & avail the library facility where we have English & Marathi books on Autism.