The Madhuram Narayanan Centre (MNC) for Exceptional Children conducted a five day camp (October 29th - November 2, 2001) at Chennai for 30 mentally retarded children with multiple disabilities from Tirupullani in Ramnad District. Tirupullani, an economically backward area, was chosen by the Centre for a study of children with malnutrition and disability for a project coordinated by Networking Information on Parenting (NIP) of Bala Mandir Research Foundation (BMRF), sponsored by UNICEF and implemented by MNC.
Of the nearly 100 children screened for nutritional deficiencies in that area, 30 children with multiple disabilities were selected for comprehensive early intervention.
Madhuram Narayanan Centre brought these children with their parents to Chennai and gave them early intervention medical, therapeutic and developmental training. Leading medical experts examined these children and gave them advice on treatment. Special educators of the Centre assessed the children and gave individualised programmes and trained the parents on the spot so that they could train their children at their homes. The Centre’s physiotherapists demonstrated and taught the parents the therapy for their children. Calipers and braces were provided to some children by “Mukthi”, a philanthropic service organisation in Chennai. Representatives of MNC will do the follow-up work at Tirupullani.
Sheela Balakrishnan, IAS, Secretary, Social Welfare, Tamil Nadu, A Kalaivanan, IAS, State Commissioner for Rehabilitation of the Disabled and Soundararajan, Director, DPEP who visited the camp appreciated the initiative taken by the Centre, and promised action to provide them needed services.
A specialist’s time for a special child.
On the spot dental check-up; counselling the parents on dental care.
A nutrition specialist addressing parents.
The Chennai Out Reach Camp for the Tirupullani children is yet another innovative programme of the Madhuram Narayanan Centre.
Comprehensive intervention – a specialist (homeopathy) examines a child.
A parent relates her experience.