Anchal Special School – Anchal Research and Rehabilitation Centre
Back Ground : India ratified the Charter of Human Rights of the Disabled in October 2007 and it is committed to work for their rights to bring some sunshine to their lives.
The latest Census figures of India reveal a strange phenomenon wherein, despite advanced medical facilities and outreach programmes the overall population of disabled in India has gone up from 2.13 in 2001 to 2.21 in 2011.
This could partly be attributed to the fact that while the earlier census had listed only five types of disabilities the latest one has eight as the criteria for inclusion.
But there can be no excuse for the increase of disabled persons in the country and all other progress means nothing if we cannot treat them at par with normal citizens and provide them education and growth opportunities to live a life of dignity in the 21st century.
Anchal Charitable Trust, as a responsible member of the social sector had realized its role in this fight from the very beginning in the nineties. It has, over the years, developed and introduced various schemes in co-ordination with other agencies to make a significant dent in the grim scenario.
The Project
Since inception of Anchal, the project caters to the need of over 100 mentally challenged children including those suffering from Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and Down syndrome. These children are mainly residents of North East and East Delhi and belong to different economic segments of society. The thrust is on the underprivileged section of society.
Mental retardation is a condition when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communicating, taking care of him or herself, and social skills. These limitations cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than a typical child. Children with mental retardation may take longer to learn to speak, walk, and take care of their personal needs such as dressing or eating. They are likely to have trouble learning in school. They will learn, but it will take them longer. There may be some things they cannot learn.
Mental retardation is not a disease. You can’t catch mental retardation from anyone. Mental retardation is also not a type of mental illness, like depression. There is no cure for mental retardation. However, most children with mental retardation can learn to do many things. It just takes them more time and effort than other children.
What Are the Signs of Mental Retardation?
There are many signs of mental retardation. For example, children with mental retardation may:
- sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children;
- learn to talk later, or have trouble speaking,
- find it hard to remember things,
- not understand how to pay for things,
- have trouble understanding social rules,
- have trouble seeing the consequences of their actions,
- have trouble solving problems, and/or
- have trouble thinking logically.
About 87% of people with mental retardation will only be a little slower than average in learning new information and skills. When they are children, their limitations may not be obvious. They may not even be diagnosed as having mental retardation until they get to school. As they become adults, many people with mild retardation can live independently. Other people may not even consider them as having mental retardation.
The remaining 13% of people with mental retardation score below 50 on IQ tests. These people will have more difficulty in school, at home, and in the community. A person with more severe retardation will need more intensive support his or her entire life. Every child with mental retardation is able to learn, develop, and grow. With help, all children with mental retardation can live a satisfying life.
Equipped with latest gadgets and with dedicated staff the Anchal Centre provides total package of need base services to special children and their families.
The Goal
“Anchal Research and Rehabilitation centre is forever in a state of expansion to help out more people with a greater choice of profitable trades, which these challenged people may adopt for improving their financial status.”
The Coverage
Children are mainly residents of East Delhi and belong to different underprivileged economic segments of society.
The Activities
The following activities are being provided by Anchal Research and Rehabilitation Centre:-
- Medical treatment: An initial medical treatment is conducted to find out the problem of the child.
- IQ Assessment: An IQ assessment test is being conducted to find out the category of mental retardation of the child i.e. Mild, Moderate, Severe, Profound.
- Special Education: On the basis of the category of mental retardation the child is provided with the education facilities according to the capability.
- Occupational Therapy: Occupational Therapy is given to enhance the motor functioning of the limbs.
- Speech Therapy: Speech Therapy is given to the children suffering from speech malfunctioning.
- Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy is given to enhance the Physical functioning of the body.
- Vocational Training: Vocational training is given to the mentally challenged children in order to make them stand on their own feet. The following activities are being taught in the school:-
- Making of files and folders
- Paper Bags
- Making of envelopes
- Candles and related items
- Flower Making
- Counseling: Counseling is being provided to the parents of the mentally challenged children for helping them to cope up with the situation.
The Support Activities
- Weight Loss programme
- Home Training Programme
The Other Core Facilities
- Special arrangement for short stay home of children for behaviour modification.
- Functional Academic Programme.
- Anchal is in a process of establishing a sheltered workshop where older children are imparted training in different vocations and skill enhancement, to enable them to be self-supporting members of society.
The Beneficiaries
Children suffering from Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Down Syndrome in the age group of 3-25 yrs.
The Admission
The admissions to the Special School are open throughout the year and a nominal fees being charged from the children as per the income of family.
The Legal Status : Member of the Local Level Committee (LLC)
- Anchal Charitable Trust is a permanent member of the Local Level Committee of Shahdara District of Delhi under the National Trust Act A Local level committee is required to be constituted in every district of the country.
The main functions of the LLC are:-
- To screen, appoint and monitor legal guardians.
- Promote activities such as awareness such as awareness generation, convergence and mainstreaming of persons with disabilities.