This project
involves the
'special'
children in
Ajmer district.
Children who are
called Mentally
Handicapped as
their
limitations
range from
mental
retardation,
autism, cerebral
palsy, learning
disability etc.
To educate and
rehabilitate
these children,
various
activities would
be conducted
under the
following
programs:
-
Day care
centre.
-
Community
base
Rehabilitation
program.
With the help of these programs, the
organisation
would be giving
its services to
around 225
mentally
challenged
children in the
Ajmer city.
Background
and History
Mental
Retardation
refers to
significantly,
sub average
general
intellectual
functioning
resulting in or
associated with
concurrent
impairments in
adaptive
behaviour and
manifested
during the
development
period
(Definition of
American
Association of
Mentally
Retardation
Grossman 1983).
It is a
condition that
describes
children and
adult who are
limited in their
ability to
learn. They are
socially
immature. It
characterizes an
inability to
participate
meaningfully in
play with other
children.
Mentally
Retarded
Children have
inadequate
adaptive skills
like
communication,
self help,
social and
academic skills.
The prevalence
of Mental
Retardation is
estimated to be
approximately 3%
of the global
population.
Approximately
75% of diagnosed
Mentally
Retarded persons
are of mild
category and
rest of 25% are
distributed into
moderate, severe
and profound
categories.
Nearly 10% of
people with
Mental
Retardation have
associated
medical
conditions like
epilepsy,
Hyperkinesias,
while 4% of all
children with
Mental
Retardation have
multiple
handicapped.
There are about
7.5 Million
Mentally
Retarded
Children in
India
(NSSO,1991).
There have been
no systematic
National survey
to determine the
prevalence of
M.R. in India.
However, in
estimation the
figures vary
from 22 to 32.8
per thousand
population.
Generally,
mental
retardation has
a strong
association with
the family
history the
possibility of
mentally
retarded child
is associated
with the
maternity age of
before 18 and
beyond 35. In
rural areas the
incidences of
retardation is
more, due to non
scientific
methods of
delivery of the
child. Such
special children
needs special
educational care
and required
concerted
efforts for
their adjustment
in the
mainstream of
society.
Rajastan Mahila
Kalyan Mandal
has been working
in the field of
training and
education of
mentally
challenged
children since
last 10 years.
Working in this
field is
actually, a
great challenge
due to the
ignorance,
prejudice and
biases of the
community about
these Mentally
Retarded
Children.
This project is
working to help
the mentally
challenged
children live a
self reliant and
dignified life
in the society
through
education, and
by creating a
congenial social
environment for
their
rehabilitation.
Education,
health care and
vocational
training is
provided to 225
mentally
handicapped
children. Health
care of these
children will be
taken up.
Another
component is the
Community
sensitization
towards issues
related to the
mentally
handicapped and
their rights.
Awareness about
prenatal,
neonatal and
postnatal care
of mentally
challenged
children is
addressed.
Please
click here
for more
information on
this project.
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