A new dawn for special kids

special care They are different. They are special. And that is why they need more of our love. Divyashri Mudakavi writes about a couple in Hubballi wh

As we walked towards this campus on a hot March Monday morning, we could see a child riding a horse and two people jotting down some points. There was another child playing in sand in the cool shade of a pyramid-like structure in the greens and some enjoying in a pool of cool water. This entire view gave an impression of a summer camp. But this was not all about it. We were at USHAS Centre for Exceptional Children – a unique place meant for special children.

USHAS in Hubballi is a centre devoted to the well being of mentally challenged children and to explore their infinite abilities beyond disabilities. Unlike others, it is a creative and pleasant centre where these exceptional children love to walk in. Here, children with various forms of mental retardation, those affected with cerebral palsy, autism and Down’s syndrome are taught life skills.

At the basic level, they are taught gross motor skills which include how to hold and release objects. At a later stage, they learn finer motor skills, object-identification, puzzle solving, drawing and colouring, basic mathematics, simple vocabulary and also English. A few children can even operate computers.

Functioning in a smart building that was constructed keeping in mind every minor need of these children, the centre was started by a couple nearly 24 years ago. It was a time when not many people had an idea about how to cater to needs of special children.

Raghavendra Okade, who was an educationist and counsellor, was moved by the helplessness of such children and their parents. Encouraged by one such parent, he accompanied by his wife Roopa Okade to begin USHAS at Hubballi as there were no such centres in North Karnataka. Initially they began in a small room with a small number. But later, a building of its own came up. The building which has beautiful mythological murals was inspired by the philosophy of Ashtavakra Muni, who had many deformities but was a genius.

Supportive efforts
Presently, it has 85 children from the age of three. It is a non-residential centre with 20 to 25 trainers apart from assistants and volunteers. There are systematic classrooms with attractive teaching aids. Younger children are divided into care group, pre-primary and primary so that the trainers can pay special attention.

Those above the age of 18 are accommodated in the senior care group and
vocational training class. An evaluation system decides the group to which the child should be admitted. The centre is run by USHAS trust and the children are charged a minimal fee.

However, the centre also supports many children who cannot afford to pay the fee. Their main source of funds is through word-of-mouth donor friends and philanthropists. “We are a genuine centre who work with passion and have survived even without much help from the government. We have dreamt big and want to grow”, says Roopa Okade, who heads the centre.

Along with the regular sessions, children learn yogasana and exercises. Physiotherapy sessions are regularly carried out for the physical stability of children. The therapies include hippo therapy, which involves riding a horse for good balance and vestibular fitness. There is also hydro therapy for which the centre maintains two swimming pools. Hyper active children calm down by swimming here. The mat and ball therapies are used to activate muscles. Oral motor therapy is carried out for children who usually have drooling and Sensory Integration therapy for hyper active children. Trampoline, hammock, cycle, vestibular ball all are also used to treat hyper activity.

“We give one-to-one parental counselling and want them to become trainers apart from being parents. We want them to empathise with children not sympathise with them,” adds Roopa. Another interesting feature is a pyramid shape structure with sand for sand therapy where the children play with sand to maintain stability. One can also notice the ‘Raashi Nakshatra Vana’ (mini forest) in which the children can relax.

In its step further, the centre plans to start a vocational centre for all types of disabilities, including physical disabilities. The centre is also working to start a Teachers’ Training Institute and offer Diploma in Special Education of Mentally Retarded Children (DSPEMR).