| The
Somya Initiative
 The
Somya Initiative, formerly called the Parent Support Network,
was set up in 2004 with a clear direction and well-established
plan of action. At the outset it aimed to provide a forum
for parents to benefit from each others' experience, be active
partners in their child's holistic development, and for the
improvement of existing services and facilities to enhance
this process.
Efforts in the above is carried out by working with parents
and family members understand the ideology and principles
of appropriate handling and nurturing of children from a very
early age. Training sessions in the do's and don'ts of parenting,
workshops and focused discussion attend to the needs of all
ages from the dependency of infancy to the emerging maturity
of adulthood. Working on hitherto untouched topics like sexuality,
marriage and reproduction are some of the specific issues
dealt with in the recent past. Recreational activities, visits
to historical places and learning the creative arts are some
of the outreach events organized by parents themselves.
| SFCD assists in the realization of the above
by providing support to: |
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help families to access various resources: |
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information regarding community and provincial
resources from Ministries and agencies serving the special
needs community |
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information and best practice strategies for specific
disorders |
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human resources: in-home workers, mentors, and individuals
who may be able to help them in a variety of manners |
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research, compile, and develop resources
with our community partners and other groups |
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assist families to determine their own short
and long term goals. |
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train, educate, and empower families (ie,
by means of their participation in and assistance with
the development of training workshops) |
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follow up our initial contact with families
to ensure goals have been met and/or services have been
provided |
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provide emotional support |
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develop a volunteer base to help link parents
to other parents to share ideas and for the purpose of
mentoring. |
Embedded in the activities of the Parent Support Network
are other outreach events that involve the social needs of
adolescents and young adults with mental disabilities in the
form of regular peer group interactions, field trips to popular
places, and creative pursuits.
Eminent pediatricians, gynecologists and psychologists educate
the participants about various aspects of sexuality
Focused Discussions (Sexuality
and Marriage)
Families share their experiences related to sexuality and
marriage on the one hand, and employment, vocational training,
micro credit and marketing of products on the other.
Some FDGs held:
Koshish
Special School, East Delhi
Aanchal
Special School, East Delhi
Tamanna
School, South Delhi
Akshay
Prathisthan, South Delhi
Navjyoti,
South Delhi
Handicapped
Children's Parent Association, West Delhi
Masoom
Special School, North Delhi
St
Stephen's hospital, North Delhi
Max
Balaji, East Delhi
Interact
School, Noida
Till date of the 85 schools in Delhi, the Field team along
with a psychologist and other relevant professionals has conducted
meetings in 60 schools since July 2006.
On the 8th of November 2008, a National Seminar on the Adult
needs of persons with mental retardation is scheduled to be
held where participants from across the country have already
registered.
Newsletter
"An informed parent is a better parent"
The monthly Newsletter is a regular feature which provides
crucial information, expert opinion and views of parents.
1500 copies of the Newsletter are widely circulated so that
the benefit of the Somya experience could be extended to other
disabled children, their parents and stakeholders and other
NGOs in the field.
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