Awareness workshop cum Assessment Camp at Raipur
Team Aashayein, Raipur and Team DSFI, Chennai came together to spread awareness, interact with parents and stakeholders to create a collective commitment towards providing an unrestricted environment for persons with Trisomy 21.
The workshop at Raipur started off with an informal interaction with Dr. Surekha Ramachandran calling the children to join her on the stage, sparking a lot enthusiasm amongst the parents who let their children enjoy themselves on the stage.
The effective planning and organization of the workshop by the volunteering team at Raipur was truly appreciable. They were able to provide a lot of motivation to the parents present at the event.
Children and adults showcased a dance-drama and many children walked up to the stage with placards to spread awareness about Trisomy 21.
The chief guest at the event was inspired by the spirit demonstrated by the children and the motivational interaction that Dr. Ramachandran had with the parents. Dr. Ramachandran used communication as a tool to ensure that the stakeholders and parents discussed the facilities needed and provisions required in society to help our children become a part of mainstream society.
After the workshop, an individualized family counseling and assessment session was conducted by Dr. Rekha Ramachandran and her team to understand the current situation and conditions of the families and persons with Down syndrome. The team then suggested appropriate intervention programs to facilitate the family and person with Trisomy 21 to benefit from the available resources. Parents were also informed about ways to create an inclusive environment in the society to accommodate the children.
Emphasis was laid on sport and physical fitness as a part of therapy. Swimming was focused upon as both a healthy and recreational activity. Training the children with appropriate reinforcements was discussed. Various home based strategies to learn functional academics, personal and social skills for holistic development was also touched upon with the parents.
The camp ended successfully with all the stakeholders – the parents, persons with Down syndrome, the special educators and the government willing to put in the efforts to encourage and provide equal platform to ensure good health facilities and financial assistance for health care. It was a very good experience for the DSFI team whose commitment and support is now being sought after across the country to help persons with Down syndrome lead better lives.
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