Here,the disabled script their success stories

When Meena,a local resident,had joined the centre two years ago,she was unable to comprehend basics of verbal and numerical ability. “She can now write her name and identify numbers. She also took up sports and has excelled in badminton,” said Kailash Kumar,her father. Meena is adept at painting and has won state-level championships as well.

The centre has seven trained teachers and therapists who work on speech and physiotherapy. Children with autism and cerebral palsy,too,have been taken under the wings of the centre. “Our main focus is to bring these children in the mainstream,which requires a lot of patience and dedication. Since the area did not have a special school,we decided to step in,” informed Pearl Tiwari,chief executive of Ambuja Cement Foundation.

Like Meena,10-year-old Amritpal Singh,who suffers from cerebral palsy,is a beaming child for he is now able to stand and hold things. When he was brought to the centre six months ago,he was unable to retain his posture and suffered from wrist dropping. The centre’s efforts have also borne fruits for Baljeet Singh,who was adjudged the best male athlete at the Punjab State Special Olympiads held this year. “Till a few years ago,his speech was incoherent and he did not respond to any commands. But now,the 15-year-old has adopted to domestic and social skills as well as self-help skills,communication,cultural and sports activities,” shared Suresh Thakur,principal of the centre.

The centre has also been providing vocational training to mentally challenged children with the aim to rehabilitate them in the mainstream,socially as well as professionally.