For many parents of autistic children, heartbreak begins with their child’s interactions with an impatient, insensitive society that expects children to fit into certain conventional patterns. Moreover, most schools, care centres and institutions that claim to cater to children with autism are often “black boxes”, where the parents are completely in the dark about their children’s progress or lack of it.
G. Vijayaraghavan, as honorary director, would have none of this high-handed approach when he decided to establish a centre for autistic children in the city, Centre for Autism and Other Disabilities, Rehabilitation, Research and Education (CADRRE- The Autism School).
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 17/10/2017: FOR METRO PLUS:: G Vijayaraghavan founder of the Autism School in Thiruvananthapuram.............Photo:S_Mahinsha
“Our idea is to have a place where the parent can come in any time and be there to see how his/her child is being taught and what is happening at the centre once the child reaches our place,” he explains. As is his wont, the technocrat, with years of experience of founding and nursing several start-ups to maturity, has gone in for the best practice methods culled from institutions all around the world that care for autistic children.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 17/10/2017: FOR METRO PLUS:: The Autism School in Thiruvananthapuram.............Photo:S_Mahinsha
Set up in a sunny, airy building on PMG road, CADRRE promises to be one of its kind in Kerala and the answer to the prayers of many parents of autistic children. A child-friendly centre with classrooms to cater to different kinds of experiences (aural, tactile, visual and so on), there are provisions to teach music, art, sports and gardening under the supervision of psychologists and speech and occupational therapists. All of them visited such institutions in the United States to get acquainted with the best practices followed there. The space outside is being designed to include a play area and a pathway with a range of surfaces to familiarise and enhance tactile skills of the children.
Different kinds of therapy
“I don’t believe in ‘isms’ of any kind. So I am willing to try any therapy that helps a child. For instance, experience proves that Ayurveda massages have helped many a child to calm down and so we provide Ayurveda massages here in addition to pet-assisted therapy, music and art therapies too,” he adds.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 17/10/2017: FOR METRO PLUS:: Study materials at the Autism School in Thiruvananthapuram.............Photo:S_Mahinsha
Autistic children have different kinds of challenges to overcome. If some of them are inhibited by social interactions, some are extremely sensitive to noise while some are overwhelmed by any changes in their regular routine and so on.
“Occupational therapists help them smoothen those hiccups in their everyday life. Each child has different levels of challenges and so we have to help them accordingly. For instance, often we hear complaints about how children don’t eat neatly. It might be because they find it difficult to coordinate their movements between hand and mouth. So we teach them to fine tune such movements. It requires patience and empathy,” explains Annie Charles, occupational therapist.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 17/10/2017: FOR METRO PLUS:: Study materials at the Autism School in Thiruvananthapuram.............Photo:S_Mahinsha
Most of the staff members, including the Ayurveda practitioner and security personnel are women. In addition to the honorary director, there is only one more male staff member. Moreover, cameras in all the common areas and classrooms provide parents with a real idea of what happens once their child reaches the centre. “Every day, once the child reaches CADRRE, he/she will be examined for any physical injuries or illnesses and only then will their day begin. We will be providing a weekly appraisal for every child and the child’s mentor will interact closely with the family to keep them abreast of what is happening here. Broadly, there will be four programmes based on age. A personalised plan will be drawn up and put in place for every child,” explains Vijayaraghavan.
Instead of expecting an autistic child to ‘adjust’ to his/her family, Vijayaraghavan says it is important for the family to ‘adjust’ and understand the child to help him/her. A mother who says that members of her extended family have gently told her to leave her autistic child at home is advised to ignore such jibes and make space for her child so that she gets a chance to learn through social interactions.
Support system
Vijayaraghavan noticed the lack of infrastructure to help autistic children and their parents when he was a member of the Planning Commission. He apprised the then government of the urgent need to begin special centres to cater to the needs of children with autism. “Not all children can go to mainstream schools. Some need help in managing their challenges before they can begin schooling in mainstream schools. But our aim is to help and empower each child who comes here to enjoy a fully functional, independent life, depending upon the severity of their autism and related problems,” elaborates Vijayaraghavan.
Workshops are being organised for parents, siblings, grandparents and even cousins to help them accept and help the child. “We are aiming at family-centred holistic care and so we want to empower the family to be primary therapists,” he adds.
CADRRE plans to evolve into a centre for research on autism and lobby with governments and private agencies to create more facilities for autistic children. “Within the next five years, I am sure this will be the best in Asia!” says Vijayaraghavan confidently.
