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There are a couple of residents who need one-to-one attention. Every day I used to spend half an hour doing physiotherapy with residents suffering with cerebral palsy. While doing physiotherapy, colors are exposed to the resident to stimulate him and divert his attention from the pain of stretching. He was always fascinated with blue color, clouds and water. His understanding level was good and he was a very fast learner.
He was exposed to different photographs and was instructed to identify them (birds, animals, clouds, children taking baths in water, teeth-brushing and doing exercises). Once when both of us reached a level of understanding, we introduced water therapy for him. This benefited us a lot. His motivation was very high for the water since he never liked physiotherapy because of the pain. His body got more flexible, conditioning his upper body as well lower body after he was introduced to water and a sponge to play with. Because he has to move himself to reach for the tub, the motivation to reach water helped him to learn how to crawl.
We taught him how to clean himself and the importance of being clean. Now we bring the tub with water and his sponge, he is able to undress himself and clean his body and face. It gives immense happiness to see that he is learning social skills very fast. Gradually we trained him to brush teeth, button and unbutton shirt and eat food properly. Here these social skills were taught to him unconsciously as more focus was given to water, color, brush, paste and sponge. Now his mental health is very good and he obeys simple commands. For the last couple of months we have not seen him suffering from depression; a very good achievement.
Another resident is autistic and has speech problems. He prefers isolation and is afraid of a crowd. He loves to swing so we spend most of the time at the swing and I kept talking with him all the time. I clean his nails, give him a bath. He understands everything and trusts me. He will hold my fingers and walk around; while walking I take a couple of other residents with me and instruct one of them to hold his hand. This will help me in bringing them close. He loves music and is a very beautiful dancer. Slowly I was able to understand his behavior and mood swings. Teaching him social skills was very difficult.
In my presence only he will wash himself and brush, many times he will come around and pull me to the washing area (he wants a shower). We are trying to establish his rapport with other residents so that the residents can take care of him. I was worried will the plan work! So in the daily routine at the swing I talked with him about the plan and told him, you need to talk to me and tell me what you want. One more effort of talking with him seemed to yield no result. I was puzzled and feeling low. One fine day he smiled at me and called ‘maa’ I was surprised and asked him again what did you say. He said ‘maa’ and ran away. (Maa is a hindi word meaning mother.) I can’t explain my feelings in words. The moment was one of my happiest moments of life.
I am a work-alcoholic and generally miss eating and sleeping. Working under tremendous pressure and stress, there was one day when I was very low with 145/100 BP, and nearly had a nervous breakdown. Still I managed to go to the hospice and this was one of my best gifts given by god to me. The residents sensed that there was something wrong and they were the best well-behaved children I had ever seen in my career of teaching. Pin drop silence, few of the senior moderate learning disabled residents took charge and arranged the whole class. My eyes were all wet in tears, but I had to be strong. They kept asking me, why are you crying? I told them to close their eyes and meditate. Later a resident who told me to take a rest carried out the rest of the session.
These children have accepted me and now I am part of their family. They have many things to teach me and others. They love to dance and play. I found them to be fast learners and very obedient. After living with these beautiful children and spending time, I found they are such a beautiful soul trapped in the human body. This was the time I took a step ahead.
I have a vision and dream. Thus I took the decision to set up my own orphanage ‘colorss’ and give the best of what I can in my capacity. My vision is to have an orphanage with a vocational and rehabilitation center. I dream to make inclusion easy and create a platform for these children wherefrom they can exhibit their talent to the world. I dream to create a platform from where society will learn things from them.
I have named it ‘colorss’; the name itself talks about all the colors and emotions of life. If there is no color in life it would be dull and boring.
I am working online, writing articles and providing my expertise to all the required hospices and orphanages around the world. Provide my support to local orphanages and have couple one to one cases that I am working on. I hope to have my orphanage soon in these coming days. I salute all the hardworking dedicated people in this field. Let’s join together to make an impact.
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Writer Profile
Anand Koti
Anand Koti is a graduate in Industrial Psychology (H), PG in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, PG in Hospital and Health Management (H) and has done his foundation course in Education with special needs children (Rehabilitation Council of India). He is a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Karate. He has an expertise in vocational training, and has worked with patients who have chemical dependencies, HIV/AIDS and who are terminally ill. He is presently writing a couple of articles on mental health and a book on mental health and martial arts. He is based in India.
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Comments
Deb Livingston | Mar 25th, 2006
Hello Anand, You are an inspiration to me! Very important work that is so difficult. Stay healthy yourself. Deborah
Patty | Apr 4th, 2006
I loved reading how to came to find such joy in working with your new family and friends. I had a neghbor family who recently moved to Italy, the little boy has Down's Syndrome. I just miss that little guy so much. Luckily we are still in contact with the family. There is so much love in the world to spread and people with disabilities can spread it infectiously if people accept it. So open the doors, invite others in, and let positiveness spread. Happy thoughts to you and your family and friends.
Inspirational Eugenia Bivines | Apr 30th, 2006
Hello Anand, Outstanding! You have the ability to articulate very well. You have bought back so much knowledge about your trip. Keep up the good work! Eugenia
smiles and tears clarita zarate | May 6th, 2006
Excellent article! I am very touched. I am particularly moved by some of the profound observations you have made concerning the whole child and, this aspect is not covered nearly enough in our present society, the spirit. I will read more of your articles because you have something to teach worth learning. Thank you for coming straight from the heart!
Keep up the good work Derek G | May 12th, 2006
Keep up the good work.
I use to do voluntary work in a school for children with special needs and to me the work was so exciting but even more special because of my own disability which was brought on by a stroke at age 7yrs and 6 months that I could relate to many of them because it was like looking in a mirror and seeing myself at that age(I hope that makes sense)
Carry on that excellent work. Abu Rushd Md. Ruhul Amin | May 13th, 2006
I'm so moved reading your a experiences with children with disabilities. You're doing a noble job for the sake of humanity. I sallute you for your works. Your writings reminds me the film "Black". You're working with many many Black I mean childs with disability. I love children very much. They're like angels to me. As I'm a broadcast journalist, sometimes I get chance to meet such childs. Always I feel if I could do something for them?
Ruhul Amin Rushd, Senior Reporter, Bangla Vision ( A satellite TV),
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
e-mail: ruhulrushd@yahoo.com
from shweta Shweta | Jun 10th, 2006
Dear Anand,
i must say that you write well. I was wondering if you are aware that soon there will be UN convention on Disability. This is coming up after much deliberation. On the other hand, Indian Govt. is trying to rush in with the amendments in Persons with Disability Act..which i do not think is good becuase its being done without consulting the disability worrld in true sense.
the elventh five year plan is being worked upon...the expenditure review of Minstry of Social Justice and empowerment shows that crores of money does nto get spent!! I wonder how?? It seems they have no idea about how to spend it efficiently!!
let me know your thougths!!
regards
shweta
I am looking up to do some thing for people with disabilities Omaima Gasim | Jan 24th, 2007
Dear Anand, I liked very much your work and your amazing skills and knowledge, Ok, it is not my speciality but I work as a volunteer in an association that provides legal, psycological, and social aid to people with disabilities and special needs of all ages, it is good experience to me to be around, although I don't have direct contact with them but I am trying to do some thing to them, I found many kinds of problems that could face them in such community, they have lack of knowledge about the daily life, especially people with hearing and mental disabilities and really will be pleased by any kind of advice you can offer? we are in Egypt, as you know egypt has great population and so it has also large numbers of people with disabilities who could reach more than one million and a half, officially but in deed it could be double this number! most of them are under the poverty line, and with care of thier labour parents that present very severe conditions of living..which is truely making thier lives harder ..
I may write you more soon, if your time allows you,
my sincere appreciation
I am looking up to do some thing for people with disabilities Omaima Gasim | Jan 24th, 2007
Dear Anand, I liked very much your work and your amazing skills and knowledge, Ok, it is not my speciality but I work as a volunteer in an association that provides legal, psycological, and social aid to people with disabilities and special needs of all ages, it is good experience to me to be around, although I don't have direct contact with them but I am trying to do some thing to them, I found many kinds of problems that could face them in such community, they have lack of knowledge about the daily life, especially people with hearing and mental disabilities and really will be pleased by any kind of advice you can offer? we are in Egypt, as you know egypt has great population and so it has also large numbers of people with disabilities who could reach more than one million and a half, officially but in deed it could be double this number! most of them are under the poverty line, and with care of thier labour parents that present very severe conditions of living..which is truely making thier lives harder ..
I may write you more soon, if your time allows you,
my sincere appreciation
Nobel Price? Youths Ahead! | Dec 2nd, 2007
I wish you all the best and I want you to know that your writings are wonderful and really axceptional..
You shall win the Nobel Price..
Nobel Price? Youths Ahead! | Dec 2nd, 2007
I wish you all the best and I want you to know that your writings are wonderful and really axceptional..
You shall win the Nobel Price..
My dear Anand! Andrea Arzaba | Oct 6th, 2008
I am so proud of u! We need more people like u in this world u know??? Ahhh u know Ive worked with ppl with dissabilities for a short time, I am trying to make a video...and you are so right....it is like they have so much love to give!!!!!
It's a pleasure working with u :)
xx
working with the disable jennifer polk | Mar 1st, 2010
I would like to work with the disable but I dont know where to start, I have a 2yr old with down syndrome, and I want to get more involved
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