Day Care Unit for Children with Disabilities !

 Differently-abled children can now avail comprehensive special care and therapy at a day care unit, which was launched in the city today.

Dhruba Hojai, director of state health services, inaugurated the unit at Diganta’s physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre at Rajgarh today.

The unit will provide a four-hour package of specialised care to differently-abled kids by a seven-member team of trained physiotherapists. The mental and physical abilities of the children will also be assessed at the unit.

The day-care unit will operate in two shifts — one in the morning and the other in the evening.

Each shift will comprise a batch of 15 children.

“We have the day-care unit to offer specialised care to differently-abled children. We are offering a four-hour package of comprehensive care, which includes physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and specialised early intervention. Early intervention is essential as our trained physiotherapists can access the abilities and physical and mental development of a child. This process helps in knowing exactly the kind of condition he may be suffering from, which in turn aids in providing the child with the right kind of specialised care,” said Diganta Das, chairman-cum-director of the physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre.

“The unit will also have a sensory integrated room in which children who have a problem paying attention will be given special therapy to enhance their attention. This will help them to be more focused. Our centre is the first to have such a sensory integrated room for the differently-abled in the state,” said Das.

Since children with different disabilities are not in a position to attend regular schools, the day care unit will also provide special education. “Many special children cannot attend school as their normal counterparts and require specialised education. Trained educators will provide them learning through techniques and tools especially designed for the purpose. This will ensure the children do not lag behind in any manner and live a good life,” he said.

While the centre will provide free care to underprivileged children, others will be charged a minimal fee for admission to the day-care unit.

The centre that was started in July last year is already providing one-hour special care to 39 differently-abled children at present.

Source : The Telegraph , 5th Feb 2013