Empowered parenting

“When we discovered that Vaidehi had cerebral palsy,we tried to ensure that she led as normal a life as possible. However,it was not possible since at that time,there were no rehabilitation centres or schools meant specifically for such patients. So,I decided to take up the cause full-time and devote all my energy to not only improving my daughter’s condition,but of other such children/patients,” informs Vasant Thakar.

The result of that resolution made by Thakar was Savali,a registered charitable trust working for children affected by cerebral palsy and mental disabilities. It provides these children with a home for a lifetime and gives them care with education,therapies,good living and vocational training,thus helping them become independent. “The biggest worry for parents of such children is their fate after the former pass away. Through the vocational training and therapies we provide,most parents can rest assured of a secure future for their wards,” adds Thakar.

While in the process of setting up this unique institution,Thakar conducted a survey throughout India and found out that despite so many mentally retarded and cerebral palsied individuals in the country,there was a dearth of adequate education and training. The Thakar couple was extremely concerned about the future of these individuals and set out on a mission to provide them with education,vocational training,therapies and most importantly,love and care. “At present,there are more than 100 children under our care,out of whom 35 are lifelong dependants. We hope to make them self-sufficient,so that they can lead normal lives and exist independent of any kind of support – financial or therapeutic,” says Thakar,who gave up his job to work solely for the cause of Savali.

Savali has,at present,all required facilities and services under one roof. Its present building was constructed in 1997 without any financial support from the government,although the Thakars had taken financial help from a bank. Savali,set in sylvan surroundings in Kothrud,is probably the first-of-its-kind organisation in India working for lifelong care of mentally retarded and cerebral palsied individuals. Truly,what could have easily been a grave adversity for the Thakar family,has been turned into an opportunity to reach out and benefit scores of families battling the same fate,with equanimity and poise.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is caused by damage to the motor control centres of the developing brain and can occur during pregnancy,childbirth or after birth. It connotes a group of permanent disorders of development of movement and posture,causing activity limitation,attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of CP are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation,perception,cognition,communication,and behaviour,by epilepsy,and by secondary musculoskeletal problems. There is no known cure for the disease. Medical intervention is limited to the treatment and prevention of complications arising from its effects.