Editorial
On Dec 3rd, 2019, on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disability (IDPD), ChildRaise Trust completes 18 years of committed service. IN 2001, We, 'ChildRaise' launched our first project, www.childraise.com on International Day of Persons with Disability. From then on, we made it a point to launch our new services on this special day. In 2004, we released our Resource guide- Journey to Empowerment: a roadmap for special needs children. In 2010, we launched on this very same day our Toll-Free Helpline 'DISHA' -Disability Information Services: Helpline & Assistance with no. 1800-22-1203 having a specific meaning. 12 represents the month of December & 03 is the date for people to associate & remember the toll-free no with IDPD. Last year, we released our Third Revised Edition of Journey to Empowerment, our resource guide for children with special needs.
Each year the United Nations announces a theme to observe for the International Day of People with Disability. The annual theme provides a focus on how society can strive for inclusivity through the removal of physical, technological and attitudinal barriers for people with disabilities. This has been occurring since 1992 when the General Assembly proclaimed 3 December as the International Day of Disabled Persons.
The theme for 2019 International Day of People with Disability is 'Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development agenda'. This theme focuses on the empowering persons with disabilities for the inclusive, equitable and sustainable development envisaged in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The overarching principle of this theme is to ‘leave no one behind’ and empowers people with disabilities to be active contributors to society. It is based on transformative changes envisaged in the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development.
The 2030 Agenda, pledging to “leave no one behind,” is an ambitious plan of action of the international community towards a peaceful and prosperous world, where dignity of an individual person and equality among all is applied as the fundamental principle, cutting across the three pillars of the work of the United Nations: Development, Human Rights and Peace and Security. It is critical to ensure, in this regard, the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and create enabling environments by, for and with persons with disabilities.
Keeping all this in mind, this year, we will be dedicating our efforts to provide equal opportunities to people with epilepsy as well. The rights of People with Disabilities Law 2016 recognises Chronic Neurological Disorders. But what is covered under Chronic neurological Disorders is still ambiguous. Epilepsy is not mentioned or specified under it. Also its severity and frequency. Further, how the disability Certification will follow is also not clear. All these things will need some deliberations, meetings, the building of pressure groups, etc. And, we are ready for that in the coming year!
The days are here of Change! We are witnessing climatic change, attitudinal change, technology-driven changes, and the list goes on...
When actually our winter wares should be out, we are balancing our purses, shopping bags with umbrellas. We are still dealing with rain in the month of November. As it is, nowadays, visits to family & friends during Diwali have reduced noticeably. And this year we all had a rainy reason. These Diwali visits have been replaced by Whatsapp messages.
Though this is the flip side of the technology, for many people with stigmatised conditions like Epilepsy or people with physical impairments, visual impairments, these social media groups are boon to stay updated and connected with the world. They are great equalizers and it is an inclusive world out there.
When we are discussing technology, the use of mobile phones, etc., its excessive use and the effect of the same on the children are worth pondering. Because children are our future! We in India, celebrate Children's Day on November 14th (the date that marks the birth anniversary of independent India's first Prime Minister– Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his love for children), while universally it is celebrated on 20th November. Let us all celebrate every child's creativity, their inquisitive mind, imagination, innovation, and vision.
Worldwide, November is celebrated as Epilepsy (tendency to have fits/seizures) Awareness Month. My journey in the special education and disability field started with me having epilepsy (tendency to have fits) episodes post-childbirth. Now, after more than two decades of experience of working as a special educator, counselor with various organizations working for epilepsy, have taught me that the impact of epilepsy is adverse in childhood and it clouds every aspect of life thereafter. I have witnessed many cases of children with epilepsy going haywire due to a lack of resources, guidance, and counseling. That is the reason, we at ChildRaise are now focusing on delivering information through this website www.childraise.com & our disability helpline DISHA Toll-free no : 1800-22-1203.
This month all our efforts will be geared to increase Epilepsy Awareness and provide rehabilitation resources that are available for people with epilepsy especially to provide educational, psycho-social guidance to children with epilepsy and their parents.
Let us all join hands together to give this Invisible condition more visibility. Let every child with epilepsy experience his/her full potential this Children's Day!
In India, the festivities start in a row from August and are at peak in October. Disability calendar is also choc a block in the month of October.
We will start the month by celebrating National Cerebral Palsy Day on Oct 3rd & World Cerebral Palsy Day on Sunday, 6th October. This year the world is going GREEN to shine a light on the children and adults who have CP.
#GoGreen4CP. Cerebral Palsy Day is a social movement and a day to celebrate and affirm the lives of the 17 million people living with Cerebral Palsy (CP).
ChildRaise had the pleasure of interacting with a few young minds, inspiring adults with CP whom we have tried to help in their journey of life. We will be sharing their stories. We are sure you will also be inspired.
We are announcing 'Daan Utsav'. Previously known as 'Joy of Giving Week'
(Oct 02- Oct 08) in India. It starts from Gandhi Jayanti till the next six days. This time, we have specially appealed to the young population to donate small/ big amounts preferably every month to ChildRaise so we can continue with our activities. For this initiative, we are receiving some good response. We appeal to you all to participate in our Daan Utsav. Kindly donate in cash/ kind.
" It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into it".
Mother Teresa
October is declared as Learning Disability Awareness Month. In 1985, it was decided through a proclamation in the U.S. by President Ronald Reagan. Since then, many other countries have started Awareness campaigns throughout October month. From our side, we will be sharing some lovely poems, wonderful videos for the parents to get deeper insight into the subject of Learning Disability. (LD).
On October 10th, World Mental Health Day is observed to raise public awareness about mental health issues We wholeheartedly support that.
We are aware that blindness and vision impairment as global public health issues. Therefore, we would like to draw your attention towards World Sight Day, which is observed on second Thursday of October, which falls on the 10th this year & to White Cane Safety Day on 15th October!
Right now, we at ChildRaise are busy with our registrations for Tata Mumbai Marathon(TMM 2020) which will take place on January 19th, 2020. We are happy to welcome some new runner participants along with some of our long-time supporters.
Diwali is round the corner on 27th October. To celebrate and spread cheer, we have Greeting cards, Diyas, board Rangolis, and novel jute items. Do contact us for upcoming festival season and plan your gifts for your near & dear ones!!
We will be offering our gratitude to our Gurujan-our Teachers on September 5th. On this occasion, we are inviting a few lines from children about their teachers/ therapists/parents who take on the role of teachers. ( In fact, they are our first teachers & carry on for lifetime).
We are expecting children to write, say & record & send us via email, What's App (Why not use the technology)? This is not a competition but an event to express our gratitude towards our teachers with an aim to encourage children to participate. Hope to receive a good response!
We are also sharing links of the videos recorded on YouTube or blogs by reputed professionals like Reena Singh, Rukhsana Sholapurwala, Kamini Lakhani, etc. in the disability & rehab field. These videos are an excellent source of learning for parents & professionals equally.
So... Happy Learning to All!
We will also be celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi on the 2nd of September. We will be announcing Online Ganesha Painting Event. Do encourage your child to send a painting of Ganesha in crayons, watercolors or in any art form. We will be happy to post it on our social media page & also on our website www.childraise.com.
In the later part of September, we move on to observe 'Deaf Awareness Week' which will be celebrated from Sept 18th to 24th worldwide. On 30th Sept, 'International Day of Sign language Rights' will also be celebrated. To spread awareness & inclusion of people with hearing impaired we are posting beautiful National anthems released on August 15th. Do watch them, appreciate & share them!
This August 2019, India will be celebrating 73rd Independence Day!
What is Independence? Freedom of thought, movement, speech, religion, equal opportunities, no discrimination, fulfillment of our rights etc. Hope all this is achieved in the coming days. This is also a time to retrospect, reflect and rethink our old, outdated attitudes, to be free from prejudices and emerge independent in our views & judgement.
For a person with disability/ special need, to become physically independent, Accessibility is very important. Unlike western countries, we are lagging far far behind in providing appropriate infrastructure, facilities to people with special needs. Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan - http://accessibleindia.gov.in ), slowly & surely should unfold a different story.
Another means to make people with special needs independent is to give them employment. On 15th August Independence Day we will also be celebrating Raksha Bandhan. Lot of sheltered workshops will be making flags & rakhis made by their students. Do get in touch with some of these organisations or with us to get them. You will be making a difference to these organisations! Also do give orders for cloth bags & free yourself from plastic..Go Green! We are coming out with small jute pouches with folding cloth bags. Do get in touch with us for the same.
August is a month when festivities begin!
Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind!!
We are recommending a book 'Financial Planning for families having Children with Special Needs' by a financial planning expert Mr. Jitendra Solanki
After celebrating days for Mothers & Fathers in the past month, we could not stop thinking about the testing times for Parents with children with special needs. As soon as they’re born, subconsciously, each and every parent with a Special Child (Esp. mentally challenged or with autism who is not fully independent) thinks about the life of their kid after them.
Though Life Care Centres/ Residential, Institutional care is an option very few parents will opt for the same. In India, institutionalizing your child is not thought of so easily still. Most of the time, this issue is not at all dealt with, unless one is forced for various reasons. The reasons may be manifold. It may involve health, physical well being of both parent & the adolescent/adult person with special needs.Then there may be financial, emotional reasons, so on and so forth.
Presently, we at ChildRaise are busy updating our data base for our every section. Many of the calls that we receive on our DISHA- Disability Helpline & Action on our Toll Free no- 1800-22-1203 enquire for life care centres. So we have prepared an updated list. While doing so, we could not help noticing that when we launched www.childraise.com in 2001, our list of Life Care Centres (Residential/ Institutional Care) had only 8-10 institutions for Mentally challenged & now it has gone up to 25-30.
To keep one's child in the Life Care centre is a very difficult decision but it also involves a careful and meticulous financial planning. Not only a decision like this or continuing with the therapies, trying out new treatment options are certainly a strain on a parents purse. In this month's updation we are recommending a bookFinancial Planning for families having Children with Special Needs' by a financial planning expert Mr. Jitendra Solanki who has spent 15 years advising families on their financial wellbeing.
Take the first step & start financial planning for your child!
This year at ChildRaise, we have thought of a new project "Happy Handwriting" which will kick-start this month.
June is the month when monsoon season starts in Mumbai. Schools reopen, new academic year begins. This is the time for fresh starts, new beginnings. This year at ChildRaise, we have thought of a new project "Happy Handwriting" which will kick-start this month.
What is Happy Handwriting?
When we meet parents, they are always complaining that their child is not willing to write, is slow or has illegible handwriting irrespective of the child has any special need or not. This is more so because of the pressure & compulsion to write when their body, muscles are not ready. We thought why not initiate the kids in to writing journey through play way. The kids will doodle, scribble and lastly tackle writing. We will also stress on 3Ps. 1)Position/ posture, 2) Pen/pencil & 3) Practice.Along the side, we will touch upon creative writing and reading. This we plan to take up as a regular activity by holding workshops for Juniors & seniors on Happy Handwriting.
In 2017 June, we started a day tour named "DTour"- Disability & Diversity Sensitisation Drive. On D Tour day we visit different institutes dealing with disability, special needs & diversity.This year too, we plan to take few D Tours with some changes in the itinerary and plan to visit different destinations. This idea came from the satisfied & inspired participants of past D Tours.
Besides, these above activities, we will be celebrating Father's Day on Sunday, 16th June. Yoga Day on Friday, 21st June by having some relevant activity. We will be remembering Helen Keller on her Birthday on 27th June.
Be with us in our journey!
This May, Celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday, 12th & 8th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on 16th.
We are in the midst of a very warm summer and the month that warmly celebrates Motherhood and honours Mothers all over the world. This year, we shall celebrate it on 12th May. I humbly dedicate this editorial to All Mothers.
MAY is also a happening and busy month for us at ChildRaise, with vacations in full swing and parents requesting 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 child 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. 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."
On 16th, we will be celebrating #GAAD-Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The dictionary meaning of "Accessibility" is handiness: the quality of being at hand when needed. The purpose of #GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital (Web, software, mobile etc) access/inclusion and people with different disabilities. The infrastructure, technology, websites etc.need to be Accessible for a person with special needs for him to be independent in life. Our Accessible India Campaign is the right step in this direction.
April is Autism Awareness Month! Shine a Light on Autism! Light It Up Blue #LIUB
April 2nd 2019 is the eleventh annual World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). To mark this day, thousands of people are coming together to Light It Up Blue. Join Autism Speaks (www.LightItUpBlue.org), Action for Autism, Forum for Autism in India & also other organisations working for Autism to Light It Up Blue and help shine a light on Autism!
Autism awareness is more important than ever. Why the need is more now?Autism is the third most common developmental disorder. Forum for Autism (FFA), a parent Support Group from Mumbai for families of children having Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) says that when they started out about 1 in 1500 persons, was diagnosed with ASD. Today they find the ratio to be gone up to 1 in every hundred. It is alarming.
This increase can only be addressed by early intervention, improved diagnosis and growing awareness.Please join our efforts and support Autism Awareness.
We are Celebrating Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness on 26th March !
Do Remember to Wear Purple on March 26th & Join us!
This month ChildRaise will be celebrating Purple Day for Epilepsy (Tendency to get Fits). We really go all out to celebrate this day and make it a big event because there are very few organizations who focus on epilepsy in India. The statistics say that one person in every 100 has epilepsy.Though it is so prevalent, we still have so much stigma attached to it.
We are India partners with www.purpleday.org to spread epilepsy awareness & their message - You are not alone & not to fear epilepsy. Cassidy Megan started her mission at the very tender age , now a teenager, her initiative has spread to other parts of the world.Anita Kaufmann Foundation has joined her in this mission & taken epilepsy awareness on a very intense level. Their tagline is "Purple Day EveryDay". True to their words they are wonderfully creating awareness 365 days of the year.Do log on to www.purpleday.org & www.purpledayeveryday.org
We do have regular readers who visit our website/social networking pages to find out which Day will be celebrated in the current month & they all wholeheartedly support it.This month we have approached eminent neurologists,support group & rehabilitation activists working in the field of epilepsy & requested them to share their knowledge, experiences, latest developments.
It is said that " If nothing goes right then go left." When we are dealing with disability or special needs, we realise the importance of the above line. We understand that the special needs journey is not a straight one. It has lot of ups & downs, curves & bends. Many times one has to take a D Tour to reach the desired destination. To understand the lives of people with special needs, to understand disability from close quarters ChildRaise organises a day tour named DTour to sensitise general public about disability & diversity.
We are happy to share that our recently initiated D Tour is liked by general public for its uniqueness and inclusivity. This is our latest project. We launched it a year back. Do read about it in detail in our D Tour brochure. On our FB page, you will find more info about D Tour & also the exciting snaps which will motivate you to take the same. Hope to meet you all, our www.childraise.com readers, our supporters on a D Tour.
We are also proud that we have completed eight successful years of operating 'DISHA'- Disability Information Services : Helpline & Assistance, our Toll-free No. being
1800-22-1203. We made an announcement of our telephone helpline on the International Day for the Persons with Disability(1203-Dec 3rd) in 2010 & started our operations on February 15th 2011. Past eight years have been very fulfilling for us. Many organisations, professionals have joined us as Knowledge & Area Partners broadening our knowledge & expertise.
Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) is a milestone fundraising event held every year in the month of January. This year on 20th January, along with our staunch supporters, new supporters also joined in and participated in the Full & Half Marathon & Dream Run for ChildRaise. It was an amazing experience for all of us!
Monday, February 11th is International Epilepsy Day.This is a joint initiative created by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE),
a global event celebrated annually on the 2nd Monday of February, to promote awareness on epilepsy right around the world. With IBE and ILAE representation in more than 120 countries, this is a powerful opportunity to highlight the problems faced by people with epilepsy, their families and carers, in every region of the world.
We will be announcing an epilepsy awareness campaign through Warli Art, Doodle etc. on the occasion of International Epilepsy Day & which will continue till March 26th Purple Day for Epilepsy. Watch out for the details on our social Media pages.
Happy New Year ! Wish You All the Very Best for 2019 !
New Year means Celebrations, Fresh Beginnings & New Initiatives !
Usually we at ChildRaise are in the celebration mode from Dec 3rd itself because it happens to be the International Day for Persons with Disabilities & our Foundation Day. This year ChildRaise turned 18! www.childraise.com was launched in 2001.
Every year we strive to present some unique programme for our target group. Last year we continued with 'D Tour'- a Disability/Divyangjan & Diversity Sensitization Tour, in which we take our members to different institutions where they are doing some distinct work. Our D Tours are very much appreciated.
Last year year we released the Third Revised Edition of our Resource Guide- "Journey to Empowerment: A Roadmap for children with Special needs". This Resource Guide is like a Yellow Pages Directory of Rehabilitation Services. The first two editions were very much in demand & welcomed by the disability sector. We are receiving much more positive response & demand from for the disability sector. But this type of work is never complete. Now, we have already started working on compiling emails of the organisations besides some very interesting projects in the pipe line.
New Year means New Resolutions, New plans, New Goals & the list goes on...This year we are chalking out short term & Long Term Goals , weekly, monthly goals how we make for every student in his Individual Education Plan(IEP). And we will adhere to them.
Wishing you more discipline, more will power to stick to your goals & to turn them in to reality. May this year brings you fulfillment, peace & happiness!
