On seeing this, Raipur’s ‘Akanksha’ has turned 31 years old. It is an institution whose walls have become a mother for ‘children’ with child behavior ranging from six to 46 years. This down syndrome is a tongue of children’s silence and a new dimension to understand. Here the dedication of teachers who understand latent expressions can be felt.
This must have been the reason that after reaching here, the country’s first woman IPS Kiran Bedi was crying. In 2010, inaugurating the new building of the institution, former President, Missile Man Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam gave autographs on the hands of a teacher. In the month of Sawan, nowadays children here are practicing Shiva Tandava dance.
The uniqueness and diversity of ‘aspiration’ can also be understood from the diverse behaviors of the students here. There is a student of about 13 years who cannot speak but can open electronic or other equipment ranging from computer and fan.
The second student is also such that all the teachers here call the TV serial CID Inspector Daya. He has broken the glass of all the doors and windows of the school by hitting the box. Similarly, every student here is special.
These are children who are unable to say their point. It is believed that the people of the world do not understand them and they do not understand the world. These are a big challenge for parents. But the ‘Akanksha Lions Institute’ of Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, emerged as a solution to the challenge. Intellectual Divyangs are trained with special care here.
Experts develop the ability to speak, understand and express their feelings from various methods. From pre-nursery to vocational classes, two to ten students sit together. There are many students who are deployed simultaneously to handle two to three teachers. Every fine thing is taught for self -reliance.
Ibhanan, 23 -year -old son of psychiatrist Dr. Manoj Sahu at Ambedkar Hospital Raipur, is one of the promising students, who won two silver and a bronze medal at the Boks Bol and Balling Championships at the Special Olympic Asia Pacific held in Delhi last year.
Ibhanan’s mother Tejashree Sahu told, ‘My son has a problem of autism since childhood. He is developing rapidly at Akanksha Institute. According to him, the taunts of others cause a lot of problems. There is a need for change in people’s thinking.
More emphasis on increasing the enthusiasm of children
When we reached the pre -primary class room, Alok, Rudra, Kunal, Dev Bharti, Bhumika Sahu and wish were present here. The teacher said that children have problems in speaking. Many times others do not understand their words. If we indicate not to understand their words, then the morale of the children is weak, they are angry, so we have to indicate that we have understood their words, so that their enthusiasm remains.
Classes also for older children
Akanksha Institute has activity-based classes for special children above 18. He is also trained in Art and Craft for the development of creativity along with singing and dancing. Teacher Jinit Kumar Sahu also plays indoor and outdoor games with him. Four branches of this school, established on 2 October 1994, are currently 213 students. Students from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are getting training here. Here it is trained with speech, figure therapy and remedial teaching etc.
Every child’s level is special
Dr. Simi Srivastava, the project and research director at the institute, says that every child goes oral and written assessment. Mental and IQ (intelligence) examine levels. Those with less than 70 IQ levels instead of 90 to 110 are considered in the category of intellectual disability. The sooner it is identified, the better. Many parents reach the institution even at the age of ten.
Motivational became friends
The president of the organization KK Nayak considers his friend BK Mukherjee, who was a representative of the pharmaceutical company for this noble work. He was permanently going to Nagpur to get his daughter treated. Sadhana Nayak, wife and managing director Sadhana Nayak, pushed her husband’s resolve forward since 2005. ‘Akanksha’, which started in collaboration with Lions Club, is now a training center for teachers.
In Akanksha Training College, 200 students are also studying and training from Foundation to Post Graduate, who are playing an important role in solving the problem of intellectual disability in different regions of the country. Dr. Nitin Dhabalia and ND Aggarwal, RK Nagpal, GS Rajpal and other social workers expanded it.
