Special Home for special children

By Nilika de Silva

Society, often doesn't have time for people who are 'different'. Many families do not understand that mentally handicapped members are not monsters who bring shame to the family.

As we commemorate Mental Health Week we should pause to look at a segment of society who would have the confidence to face life if only we had the time to understand them and the love to give them. The sky is the limit. Even if you were born with certain limitations. Many retarded children can grow up to be useful citizens if only they are given the chance and all the love they do not get from society. The Colombo Home for the Mentally Handicapped Children in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, truly aspires to give these 'special children' a fair chance in life. "What these children need most is love, kindness and patience," Kamani Wijeratne, the matron of this home said.

The atmosphere within this place was that of a family - not of a children's home. The children appeared so close to one another. If one child was not clear in explaining something another would step in and help, just as elder sisters and brothers help their siblings. Naturally having been together over a long period of time they understood each other perfectly. It was the adults who needed footnotes.

Kamani explained to us that the children were happy with the place and this was evident in their behaviour. The pride with which they showed us around, the things they had made, their school room etc. gave one the feeling they had a strong sense of belonging.

There are 14 'inmates' at the home- four girls and ten boys ranging from 7 to 14 years. Three day-students also attend the school.

"One cannot say these children are bad. All children are good. It is just that they need to be given a child's freedom," stressed Kamani who has been in charge of these children for about one and a half years. She is assisted by Janaki Deshabandu who joined the home in February. "They are just like other children. They love cartoons.They remind me about the programmes on the correct day," said Kamani.

When I asked Chaminda (7) what his favourite programme was he said "Nedayo", while twelve-year-old Maduranga preferred "Shanthi".

In the morning and evening a 12 year old conducts the pansil and bhavana sessions. In the evenings they clean the garden before they play. The children who are either suffering from Down's Syndrome or various forms of learning disability have their lessons in the schoolroom. School session is from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Each morning they would have lip training as this helps those with speech difficulties.

They also have lessons in Sinhala, Maths, sensory studies, colour identification, art and handiwork. The children do a lot of handicrafts. They sew rugs and make household things out of waste material.

"Generally they say it is difficult to teach retarded children, but I don't believe that," said Kamani adding "there are some children who have left this home who read and write well." She pointed out to a little boy and said his work had improved very much and they hoped to send him to a neighbourhood school to get him used to school and studying with normal children.

The parents of the children are not charged any money. Apart from the Rs. 300 allocation for each child a month from the government, the home is run on contributions from the public. It is run by a committee of public spirited individuals. "We manage on meals provided by people. Only on the days when there are no donations do we cook," explained Kamani.

Those who wish to contribute to the welfare of the children could help in many ways. They could donate stationery and clothes or meals for the children. It was remarkable how clean the home and children were. This was in stark contrast to how some of the children arrived at the school: not toilet trained, unable to control their actions -unable to take care of themselves.

They have been taught that there must be order and method in everything. They wash their own cups and plates, their clothes, bathe and clean-up themselves etc. Kamani explained that once a week they would put the clothes in the washing machine, but for purposes of teaching the children to take care of themselves, they were made to wash their own clothes.

The Home works towards making these children totally self-sufficient. The main anxiety of parents of such children, is the question, "how will this child manage when I am no longer there to take care of him or her?".

But by the time children leave this home they no longer need to be "taken care of". Girls are kept on an extra year and taught Home Science. After they complete their schooling they will either go home to their parents, or in the case of boys they could be sent to the Madiwela Home. Some parents visit them once a month. The confidence these children have in themselves is reflected in their ambitions. A 12-year-old states he wishes to be a Policeman, and pointing to a friend says "she wants to go home and keep house".

We should indeed congratulate the committee, the Matron and her assistant for giving these children a happy today, and hope of a bright tomorrow.

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