Malankara Social Service Society (MSSS) initiated the project for the person with deafblindness (SPARSH) in February 2017 in partnership with SENSE International India with the support of the Azim Premji Foundation (APF). The project started with 23 (14 KK, 9 TVM) beneficiaries, and now we have 133 beneficiaries until the end of the quarter. 15 efficient and energetic staff members are working for the project’s success. We have two resource centres with physiotherapy centres in our two functioning areas.
UPI ID: thedirectormalanka.10003928@csbpay
Service area of MSSS for the deafblind project.
MSSS work in TVM and KK district with 133 beneficiaries in total. In TVM we provide service to 71 beneficiaries and in KK 62. We also deliver our service to the beneficiaries in the areas of Pathanamthitta and Kollam as well.
Resource Centers
At present we have 2 resource centers for the smooth functioning of the project. Since we deliver our service to two different states, we have separate resource centers as well. In Tamilnadu our resource center is located at Kirathoor which is about 60Km Away form MSSS and for Kerala we have it at the MSSS itself. Both the centers are equipped with resource center, sensory room and a physiotherapy room along with class rooms where we provide different service to the children.
Parents Network Group
As per the guidance and objectives of this project we are more focused on building a network among the parents and the children with adult defblind for helping themselves with their own effort. This this project is run with in a time frame it is important to build the capacity of the parents to fight for their rights and to function as a registered group of parents to approach any officials collectively representing a large group. We have a registered network group at TVM named “VELICHAM” and at KK named “ THALIR”.
Major Achievements
- Distributed Assistive Devices from RM Info teach
- New center inaugurated Trivandrum
- 7 Wheel Chairs Distributed on world wheel chair day
- New year and Christmas gift distributed to the beneficiaries
Activities
- Clinical and functional assessment
- Medical and nutritional support
- Assistive devices
- Individualized education plan (IEP)
- IGA (Income generation activities)
- Educational Resources
- Vocational Training
- Outing Programs
- Sparsham
- Karuthal
Hope story of Pavithra:
Hopelessness is a condition, to seek the ray of hope is a choice. Eleven -year-old Pavithra wants to become a nurse when she grows up! Pavithra was born to Mr. Shivakumar who is an auto-driver and Mrs. Suja V who is a home maker. She was diagnosed with genetic profound hearing loss and low vision. Growing up with her two sisters in an economically backward family, nobody ever identified that she was differently abled and not disabled.
Stories which stay consistent doesn’t leave a mark, but stories which actually takes a turn brings a lot of change. Pavithra’s story took a turn on March 2019 when she was in first standard,her parents met a CBR worker and was introduced into the projects and programs for children like Pavithra, which later made Pavithra be a part of the Senses success stories.
At that point of life Pavithra was a hyper active girl who could communicate verbally, was good at academics but had no interest due to lack of proper attention and response. She struggled with different languages. Mr. Brind Ajith was the key worker who trained Pavithra and equipped her to read Malayalam, English, Hindi and Sanskrit with little supportand can write Hindi letters and even few words. According to her mother” Pavithra has improved a lot. She is better in her studies now”.
Ever since she became a part of the Sense India, she is a differently abled girl, active and smart according to her trainer still weaving her success. It is the relentless effort of her mother, who encourages and supports her daughter to achieve all the milestones along with the team. Pavithra is no more a dependent girl, soon you will see how she fence her disabilities and fly high.
Anisho Nishin:
Five years ago if you have met Kichu and tried talking to him he wouldn’t even have recognized your face, would have sobbed and made noises. Anisho Nishin aka Kichu was born to Arul Selva a Coolie and his mother Nisha as a pre mature baby diagnosed with MSI. Seven-year-old Kichu found it difficult to communicate his needs and emotions instead cried out loud, shook his head when he was lonely and stayed numb. This was Kichu’s condition until he was introduced to Senses India through a partner organization, it was his window to hope.
Kichu who failed to hold an object properly, who made loud noises instead of conveying his need in a period of five-year training from his educator Mr. Reji started improving his ADL activities, identifying people and using sign languages for communication. The greatest relief of his family was hearing him call Paa, Amma.
His grandparents were his greatest support systems after Amma, a good part of their attention and time were devoted to Kichu, following his needs, improving his skills and instructions from his trainer. Isn’t it evident that his family is going to be his core strength in this journey along with the Sparsh team.