Samadhan

Samadhan's Rehabilitation Services involve identifying children with intellectual disability through surveys and bringing them to rehabilitation clinics for assessment. A team of multidisciplinary health professionals provides professional assessments, screening, diagnosis, therapy, and tailored programmes based on individual needs. If feasible, children are admitted to Samadhan's education and early intervention services. For children with other disabilities, appropriate referrals are made to external agencies. Currently, Samadhan operates a two-day clinical service in Dakshinpuri and a one-day clinic in Dwarka.

Samadhan's community outreach involves door-to-door surveys to establish relationships, dispel myths, and provide guidance. It conducts school surveys, raises awareness through media like puppet shows, and organises health camps to identify disabilities. It trains community members in surveying, counselling, and home management. Empowered workers and mothers become faculty, changing perceptions.

Samadhan's Early Intervention programme focuses on children aged 0 to 6 years who have been identified through surveys or referred from various sources. For children aged 3 and above, the programme offers a pediatric clinical programme where they can access therapy prescribed by the paediatrician, special education with a structured curriculum in a stimulating environment, and opportunities for drama therapy and social outings. Children below three years with intellectual disability primarily receive home intervention, with a focus on helping the family adjust and accept the situation. Counselling and guidance are provided to the mothers, and specific therapy sessions are scheduled. Recognizing the prevalence of malnutrition among both mothers and children, it also provides important information on infant nutrition, breastfeeding, and other relevant topics.

Samadhan's Special Education programme caters to children with disabilities, offering educational, diagnostic, and therapeutic services in a regular school setting. With a student-teacher ratio of 1:5, teachers create individual education plans and use locally available materials to develop low-cost educational aids. Most children come from the Early Intervention Unit, aged between six and fourteen. While efforts are made to integrate them into mainstream schools, many choose to remain at Samadhan due to the inclusive environment and tailored support. After age 14, they are referred to the Vocational Training Unit or other organisations for specialized training. The programme prioritizes personal attention, a clean environment, affordable fees, and a trained staff, aiming to enhance overall personality development.

Samadhan's Empowerment of Women programme focuses on capacity building and income generation for local women and mothers. The programme has successfully transformed them into income contributors for their families, leading to changed community perceptions and increased self-esteem. The women are involved in various activities such as creating handicrafts from papier mache, making nutritious laddoos, and producing spices. By combining the mothers' group with the papier mache unit, they collaborate to produce high-quality products and manage the unit themselves. The nutritious laddoos, developed as a nutritional supplement, have gained popularity for their taste and nutritional content. The income generated from selling these items directly benefits the women involved.