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At the Children's Resource Centre down Chitra Lane people deal in...
Hope and courage
My first visit to the Children's Resource Centre down Chitra Lane, Colombo 5, was to get a hearing test (ABR test) done for my child, two years ago. My daughter was a six- month-old baby then, and I was so anxious, worried and scared about the test, the procedure of sedating her and about what the results would be.

Yet when I walked into the school my fear and anxiety were swept away by the quiet atmosphere that prevailed. The school and the place where the hearing test was done were spotlessly clean and the staff extremely helpful, kind and above all, very efficient.
As my baby's test was underway, the lady who was handling it told me that my baby's hearing was normal, even before she made the report.

Later when we came to collect the report it was she who advised us to bring our baby for Infant Stimulation to the pre-school of this Centre. This school provides a wide range of facilities for special children. My child started her first day at school even before she was one year old. I was amazed by the ability of the teacher at the pre-school who cared for my baby efficiently. It gave me confidence and strength to continue with the stimulating methods that she used on my daughter.

My daughter suffers from Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Delay and there were times when I felt that she would never make any progress. It was after visiting this institution that I was given hope and the courage to handle my child's situation.
Periodically, the parents meet up with the Directress of the school to discuss the progress and the shortcomings of their children. She has hands-on experience in every aspect of a child and up to now has given me valuable advice when I needed it most.

Apart from infant stimulation, my daughter receives physiotherapy from a very pleasant and competent therapist. During the last two years I've seen the number of children increase rapidly. As a parent I feel that there's much dedication and hard work put in by the management and the staff to cope with the increasing workload. As for any institution of this nature, funding from the State is imperative as well as from NGOs and individual donors. Contributions to an institution of this nature will definitely help to improve their facilities and help them accommodate more children.

There is so much parents need to learn when they have to handle children who are intellectually impaired. Encouragement and empathy is needed for parents to get on with their lives as normally as possible. The child needs a lot of love, care, happiness and attention more than a normal child. The Children's Resource Centre gives it all and even more.
Mega Perera

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