The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : For special children and their siblings

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Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

For special children and their siblings

Chitra V. Ramani

Bangalore: Children with disabilities, both mental and physical, have a chance to experience what going to a summer camp feels like. Manonandana Trust, rehabilitation centre for mentally retarded and communication disordered children, has organised a unique summer camp for special children and their siblings coming from lower socio-economic groups.

Kusuma Bhatta, founder and director of the trust, told The Hindu that it is for the first time that the trust had organised such a camp in which the siblings of special children could also attend. “Generally, family members of special children do not have an idea about the way they can help them. They try to do everything for them, without realising that these special children can be taught to be independent,” she said. She said that at the camp, the siblings of special children are taught how to take care of them and be attentive to their needs.

Dr. Bhatta said that though many families had evinced interest in sending their special children, they were not able to do so. “Many parents have just one child. The special child has no siblings and is therefore unable to attend the camp. However, there are cases where three to four children from the same family have joined our camp,” she said.

The trust charges a fee of Rs. 50 from the children attending the camp and even picks them up from their homes. “More than 95 per cent of those attending the camp are from poor background,” she added.

For details, contact Dr. Bhatta on 26766938, 26641244.

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