Special Needs Children and Their Parents Need Us!

This pandemic has been hard on all of us across the world. For special needs children and their parents, the challenges are immense.

Maithree (pronounced “my three”) at Chennai is an association of parents of exceptional children. I became aware of it from a friend. Here are excerpts from a report of Hamsini P, a Psychology major, based on her interviews with 25 parents and others.

The parents. Many parents are unwilling to accept the reality for their children at first, a few of them even enrolling them in regular schools — breathing a sigh of relief — until they observe their children’s academic performance troubles. Many endure the brunt of the stigma attached to raising a child with any sort of learning disabilities. One mother says how her family began to shun her and see her child as a product of sin, perhaps sin from a past life. Such a stigma goes to show the kind of “normalcy” society has established, casting away everything else as abnormal and undesirable.

Maithree. For parents, it is a beacon of light in the dark tunnels of their lives. While the children are taught the necessary skills, parents are trained to be their teachers and counsellors. Maithree provides a sense of community as one parent proudly states: Each child is everyone’s child!

The children. The long-term vision of Maithree is to build self-esteem in the children, as mental health is finally gaining the voice it needs in society. The values of vocational training as well as arts and crafts are imbibed in the students — hand-eye coordination, jewellery making, and painting, for example — so that there is growth all around as a person. Being creative stimulates the mind and enriches it, improving productivity and consequently self-confidence and sense of independence. One student Varsha is invested in making her own necklaces with unique designs. The vocational training helps build careers and independence in their adult life, thereby rounding off the person as a productive citizen. Such comprehensive artistic development beyond academic development makes Maithree unique.

Hamsini P concludes. What touched me the most is the fact that everyone has a positive outlook on the future of themselves and their children. Hope has managed to overcome their initial despair.

For its donors and supporters, Maithree is a movement in solidarity for human equality and empowerment. Together they have helped educate over 3,000 children in 25 years through its 18 centers. Those in India can donate or volunteer. Those outside India may contact mail.maithree@gmail.com

For an idea of giving this holiday season in America, consider this writing.