Click to play videoNew Delhi: Children with physical and mental disabilities have a difficult life ahead of them. But what is even more difficult is perhaps for the parents to come to terms with the fact that their child needs special attention and care.
"When she was just two-year old we realized she was not focusing, not reaching out visually. Our first reaction was disbelief and shock. How could this happen to us?" Nandita Saran, mother of a 17-year old visually and mentally impaired girl Snigdha says.
"There are few schools that cater to specialized needs of these children. We went to two schools. The one that caters to mentally challenged kids does not have any provision for children with visual impairment. There are schools for the blind children but they don't take kids who are mentally challenged. We cannot send out daughter to any of these schools," she adds.
Disbelief, anguish, apprehension — words cannot describe what parents go through when they first realize their child is different from others. So how do they put their pain aside, work around the barriers and focus on their care and education?
Nine-year old Rewaant, a pre-term child who suffers from delayed milestones has gone through many surgeries but to no avail.
"So many surgeries happened and at the end of it we realised its not taking us anywhere. I finally asked my doctor where does my son stand? He said, 'your son is just a piece of vegetable.' We can't help much," Rewaant's father Saurabh Nagpal says.
"We are always thinking about Rewant. While other parents think about their children’s career in engineering IIT etc I plan how I would protect my child from this world. When we're not there he should live independently. I'm afraid whether he will ever get married or not. I'm afraid what will happen to him after us?" he adds.
Rachna Nagpal, Rewaant's mother tells she has been helping her son to overcome difficulties, but the society acts indifferent towards such kids.
"Its frustrating when you see your kid getting discriminated by others. All kids have behavioral problems and even Rewaant has them. It hurts when small kids set aside Rewaant," she says.
Similar is the tale of Shravan and Babita Tripathy, parents of a 12-year-old girl Diksha who is diagnosed with 'down syndrome'.
"The disability takes a toll on us financially. We need money for all the check-ups. How can someone who earns only Rs 5,000-6,000 per month bear it?" Diksha’s father Sharavan Tripathy says.
Disability in some cases is completely incurable and the kids who suffer from such disparities need help, protection and care. It does not take much but just a little cooperation can make a world a difference to them.
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