Umeed

UMEED – AN INTEGRATED PROGRAMME FOR THE REHABILITATION OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

SICW provides a structured and professional program to address the needs of children with special needs, who are sent to us by the child welfare committee and who live at the HOME. This program is supported by Hope Foundation Kolkata.

Our work has been guided by the 7 main categories of Child Rights;

Survival and Development
Protection and Participation
Equality and Integrity
Inclusion

UMEED is an integrated programme for the rehabilitation of abandoned and orphaned children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, mental retardation, Down’s Syndrome, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech and language disability and intellectual disability working since 2005.

UMEED, our centre at Beckbagan, has flourished into an integrated program under the able supervision and guidance of a committed team that includes an Administrator, Coordinator, Special Educators, Physiotherapists, Speech Therapist, Counsellor, Doctors, Caregivers and the SICW Board.

This is an inclusive programme where along with the special needs children we also include our in-house normal children.

The program has broken all conventions of alienation of Special Needs Children and brought them into mainstream society. It has provided them with physical, mental, emotional, social, and academic intervention in a professional manner.

The children are sent to regular school and to Udaan at our community resource centre at Jan Seva. In the evening we have our classes from 4.00 p.m – 7.00 p.m. five, days a week.A special educator also provides special classes on Saturdays of dance, music and intervention as required.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS:

These challenged children have improved specific goal oriented cognitive, occupational, social, communicative and academic skills leading to self -reliance. Activities comprise early intervention and stimulation programs, fancy dress events, concerts, storytelling, academic work, art craft, music, dance and extracurricular activities.
These children have met with success with their motor skills due to regular physiotherapy and use of appropriate prosthetics.
Adoption agencies and prospective parents have regularly witnessed the growth and development of the children as a result of which they have been more open and accepting of them.
At the integration level, children are attending the UDAAN program at Jan Seva, our Community Resource and all are attending the UMEED program at SICW in the evening.
This has led to a wholesome approach to their lives where they are getting more joyful, social and academically sound.
The Occupational Therapy at Jan Seva has brought about a sea change in their focus, communication, attention, eye hand coordination, motor movements, hypo and hyper sensitivity and vestibular disorders.

The results achieved by structured and individual goal planning and garnering our activities towards them, have even surprised us when we see our children with multiple handicaps emerge out of their limitations. Today the children are more self-reliant, confident and “ABLE” and we realize that limitations are but of the mind.

“Touch Some Hearts” says Dr. Zarin Dadina, Chairperson Emeritus SICW. A heartfelt message, seeking your kindness.

Stories of Hope

Here are some stories of "Hope" that SICW has given to these beautiful children and their loving parents.

Jeetu’s Journey: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Growth

Jeetu, a 5-year-and-6-month-old abandoned baby boy with Cerebral Palsy, was found in our PALNA (cradle) in December 2021. Medical evaluations revealed that he also faced gross developmental delay, intellectual disabilities, delayed speech, and seizure disorders.

In January 2022, Jeetu joined the UMEED Session, where he underwent assessment by a Special Educator. At that time, he exhibited significantly delayed social and developmental milestones, limited social skills, partial head control, and no speech or eye contact. These challenges presented a unique opportunity for the Special Educator to tailor an effective intervention plan.

To facilitate his all-around development, six-monthly goals were established, focusing on enhancing his social, emotional, and cognitive skills.

Today, Jeetu thrives in various social settings. He actively engages with his caregivers and peers, communicating through crying, smiling, and verbal sounds. He enjoys watching his peers dance and sing, frequently seeking attention from his caregivers and relishing social gatherings. He has shown the ability to recognize familiar faces, sit without support, and has made significant progress in eye contact. With ongoing support and intervention, Jeetu is steadily improving his motor, communication, and social skills.

We wish him all the best for his future.

Note: Name changed for privacy.

Sumi's Transformation: A Journey of Growth and Confidence

Sumi, now a 6-year-old girl, arrived at the Society for Indian Children's Welfare (SICW) with her sister in July 2023, following an order from the Child Welfare Committee. While she showed normal growth and development, Sumi struggled with language and her speech was unclear. Due to her communication challenges, we initially relied on gestures to interact with her, as she had not received any formal education and could only scribble with crayons.

Recognizing the importance of early intervention, Sumi joined the UMEED evening classes right away. Upon her entry into the program, she was shy and lacked confidence due to her communication difficulties. In July 2023, she also began participating in the UDAAN program at JANSEVA, our Community Resource Centre.

Sumi was assessed by Special Educators and a Counselor, and a goal-oriented intervention plan was implemented to support her overall development. Teachers created individual child profiles to ensure steady and tailored progress.

As we focused on enhancing her academic skills, Sumi learned to hold a pencil and write numbers and letters. Her transformation has been remarkable; she is now a charming and happy child who follows instructions and engages with her peers and caregivers. She actively participates in class activities, expressing her physical and emotional needs to her caregivers. Additionally, Sumi regularly attends counseling sessions and is gradually showing progress, becoming more outgoing.

With continuous positive reinforcement and guidance, Sumi is gaining confidence and successfully overcoming the challenges she faced when she first arrived at SICW. Her teachers are delighted to witness her significant improvement.

We wish her all the best for the future.

Note: Name changed for privacy.