The International Day of Persons with Disability has been observed on 3rd December every year since 1992 by the United Nation as proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 47/3. This aims to promote and create awareness of rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. Last year’s (2024) observance was themed on “ Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future. ” The theme reflects the important role of individuals with disabilities in leadership positions for fostering a more inclusive and sustainable world, emphasizing their active participation in decision-making processes. On this occasion, I reflect back upon my experience with a leading non-profit organization in Guwahati, Assam that is actively working towards the upliftment of lives of children and persons with disabilities.
In the month of May, sitting at the study table, anxious about the future pathways to be taken while preparing for the final semester examinations of post graduation, the idea of internships struck my mind. And so when my anxious mind google searched for NGOs in Guwahati at work for internships in counseling and related areas, I found the name Shishu Sarothi, among several others. Their website view starts with a few clips of children with disabilities, playing and smiling, that gives a fair idea of an organization working with children with disabilities. The description was that of a non-profit organization that was started in 1987 with a trained special educator, two students and a group of volunteers and parents. Unsure of what exposure I will get or not, I searched for people in my LinkedIn connections that might have some or the other experience in Shishu Sarothi. The search led me to the profile of one of my seniors during my graduation years in Handique Girls’ College. My anxious mind was satisfied and hence I could concentrate on my studies.
Cut to July, sitting in the comfort of home, while sorting the list of internships, I reached out to my senior working in Shishu Sarothi. Jayashree Bharali (Baa) very sweetly asked me to visit their office the next day and I did the same. As I walked wandering towards the door, a smiling face nodded welcome and said, “Baa is there, you can go inside the room!” I nodded a thank you and walked inside the room. I was meeting Jayashree baa after around three years, we had a lot to share and had a brief discussion on what are my expectations and what will be provided to me throughout the duration of my internship. At first, I was not able to grasp but as she unfolded the structure, plans and working areas of Shishu Sarothi, I could understand it works primarily in a school layout with the aim of building independence and earning a livelihood for children and individuals with disabilities. She explained how it has worked in four major areas of, health, education, awareness and advocacy, and research with its partners and stakeholders. For that day, I proceeded with the formal processes to start my internship duration from August; thanked her for ensuring my convenience and explaining everything to me beautifully, and took a leave.
With anticipation and lots of hope, the day came to join Shishu Sarothi as an intern for two months. I reached the campus and straight away went to the counseling room, while nodding and smiling to the beautiful faces at the reception, Chandan, Manas, Sameer and Suman (nodding them a good morning became a routine). Jayashree baa oriented me with the classrooms and the units, and assigned a unit for the day. The assignment of the units changed periodically as per the convenience, keeping in mind the best for the students.
At first. I was assigned to the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) unit, where I got an experience to understand the behaviors and nature of students diagnosed in the spectrum of Autism, and Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder. For the first glance, the room seemed to be chaotic but when one engages with these children, it is
understood that they are being trained to develop and grow in various areas of functioning of life. What looks like just exploring, learning, laughing, crying, screaming and repeating, is actually a strategically planned, developmentally appropriate intervention. To break down in simple terms, the activities carried out in each and every unit are planned to help the children learn skills that are aligned with their age, maturity and disabilities. These skills help the children to pursue education. This is where special educators come into the picture with their extensive training to address the child’s individual abilities and needs. Not just special educators, Shishu Sarothi hosts a hub of services including occupational therapy and speech therapy, to address the holistic development of the students
One after another, I was assigned to observe and engage alongside the special educators to teach the children in their respective classrooms, or units as they say. Each unit had their own classroom objectives, with admission of children of specific age groups and needs. Each unit has brought new learnings and a new perspective of life and growth. For instance, while in the Special Teaching Unit, I had a chance to talk to a parent for a very brief period of time, and she shared how her child was declared to be not able to even stand on her legs, but now she is walking without any support. This was not about something magical happening, but it was about the hope of a family and the hard work of theirs along with the staff of Shishu Sarothi and every other person that helped them to continue to hope for better. While in another unit, I could listen to the struggle stories of parents, especially of mothers, who are blamed and at times, get insulted and discriminated against based on the disabilities of their children, and yet the parents continued to choose to smile and become the strength of their child.
One of the interesting parts, or unit of the organization, was the classes of pre-primary education that had a theme of inclusivity, and the impact was observable as the children with disability efficiently and quickly learned the class lessons, while the children without disability also built positive attitude, and helping behaviors towards their classmates. This system is a foundational key towards an inclusive society that India strives to achieve with its policies.
I also got the opportunity to watch diya paintings in the Vocational Unit, as it was pre-diwali season when I visited. This unit caters to the young adults with disabilities, and strives to inculcate a sense of confidence to earn a livelihood for themselves by teaching them vocational skills. The products prepared in this unit are sold and a portion of the money made from the sale of these goods goes to the students. The Functional Academics caters to pre-teens and teens offering them academic and cocurricular opportunities, like sports, yoga, drawing and dance, focusing on cognitive skills and physical abilities. It provides tailored curriculum, therapies, and cocurricular activities, ensuring age-appropriate learning and pre-vocational skills training. Here I could observe the practical application of various learning theories that the field of psychology taught me as the basics. The same was observed in the unit of Deafblind Regional Centre, also called the Sparsh program, which caters to persons with Deaf-Blindness and Multi-Sensory Impairment. This unit also made me realize the power of the brain's plasticity to carry out sensory compensation, or sensory substitution, which is a process where the brain rearranges its neural connections to compensate for the loss.
Shishu Sarothi also provides various certification courses, with the Training Department, for masses to cater to the need of trained professionals. It also actively advocates and spreads awareness about rights and laws provided to the persons with disabilities through the Disability Law unit. This is the need as I could observably see the difficulties of persons with disabilities as well as of their caregivers. From basic infrastructural inadequacy to ignorance of the society as a whole towards this group of people, leading to discriminatory
behaviors and ignorant comments against them, these issues needed active arbitration. Another unit, the Early Intervention Unit of Shishu Sarothi caters primarily to the health and developmental concerns of newborns, high-risk babies and young toddlers who have developmental delays or impairments. It also conducts outreach programs and offers outdoor services. One commendable service that this unit upholds is the psychoeducation of the parents and caregivers, which is known to reduce at least some stress and anxiety, if not all, of the adults around the children and their concerns to enhance the support to their children.
Shishu Sarothi is not limited to just this campus or just the region of Guwahati. Over the years it has spread its reach to many other districts, as well as other northeastern regions, through its various initiatives and projects. I got an opportunity to work and make special corners with inclusive learning using Universal Design for Learning, on the recommendation of Jayashree baa, under Alok sir and Biswa Sir. The do-it-yourself learning materials prepared with the help of other interns, were welcomed and highly appreciated by the educators, and encouraged by Mrs. Ketaki Bardalai ma’am, the Executive Director of Shishu Sarothi.
During the internship period at Shishu Sarothi, all were open to receive novel ideas and ways of reaching out to the students. I could easily extend the application of my understanding and knowledge of the psychology field and they would openly welcome, discuss and provide me with feedback as well. Also Shishu Sarothi gives opportunities to beginners and freshers to learn and work in the field of disability, which is an applauding aspect of the organization. Another applauding aspect of the organization was the patience and awareness of the helping staff as well. They are skilled at their work and are very dedicated and motivated to their work.
On the last day of my internship duration, I presented my observations and my learnings in front of the board of directors, special educators and other respected team members of Shishu Sarothi. I kept grabbing recommendations, praises and wishes at the end of it, and took a leave from them. And as I walked away from the building, I looked behind to see just an Assam type structure, inside which remains a world addressing the basic needs and rights of people with various disabilities, reminding me of the Harry Potter series where there remains a magical world leading to a school, Hogwarts, behind a simple looking pillar, Platform 9 ¾. Little wizards and witches being educated with their magical powers, yet stay with non-magical human beings, just like children at Shishu Sarothi being taught to navigate their pathways in this world, even with little to no adequate facility for them. Special educators, therapists and staff working as professors in various magical abilities and spells in Hogwarts. And at times, together fighting Voldemort, the ignorant, unjust and discriminative section of the society; hoping for a better and just society where there is space for everyone to live peacefully.