Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Innocent Smiles @ Bala Vihar

Have you ever seen the blissful smile of new parents? Have you ever realized the satisfaction and love of your parents when you smiled, giggled, spoke, walked and reacted for the first time? Many might have already experienced those feelings. They can understand its difficult to express all those emotional arouses in 2-3 words.
Today I felt am lucky enough to be born this way, I can speak, express and communicate to people. I am independent (how you read on..), I can understand and respond. You might be wondering why am penning these stuffs. I can get it. Today I was privileged to meet some beautiful souls at ‘Bala Vihar’.
Bala Vihar, a unit of Guild of Service is the home for special persons (mentally challenged but very special). Bala Vihar was born in 1953 and has come long way to care, protect and rehab special children and adults. It had a humble beginning with 5 residential students. Today they have 350+ special people with them, children till the age of 18-years stay at the Kilpauk wing and adults at Veppamputtu.
I have been to their Kilpauk branch today and met children who addressed us (class participation) as ‘Akka’ or ‘Anna’. They have the most innocent pair of eye ever seen. Many children came forward to interact with us, smiled beautifully and greeted us.



Those children were either born with it, or suffer Down syndrome and/or other causes. Their IQ is below 70. People suffer from severe mental retardation are unable to their daily routines independently. Such persons need extensive care and support through out their life. Here at Bala Vihar children are taught about daily living skills like getting dressed, using washroom, etc.
At Bala Vihar, they train children (residential and day-scholars) in self-help skills, socialization skills i.e. communication and interaction, basic academics and hygiene. They also provide rehab programs as physiotherapy, speech therapy, vocational training, etc at very reasonable fees. They quote their achievements as the pass-out students who have been rehabilitated and have become independent workers earning a comfortable livelihood.

Now, you (readers) can understand how privileged we are to be independent, have our own view and express it amongst million other benefits and advantages. I feel we owe them and society the “privilege of being us” and need to pay it back.

You can help Bala Vihar here contribute.

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