Autism is a state of mental activity far beyond the grasp of human knowledge. The condition shows varied outputs, but what goes on inside the autistic people is unknown to mankind. Down Syndrome is yet another misunderstood genetic disorder. Facial disfigurement and other such defects are found in children affected by down syndrome. Here too, science cannot tell the goings-on of afflicted people.
Conservative societal norms have long shadowed stricken people and forgoed them as subhumans. As Calvin (comic) rightly put it “Some people just don’t like variety”. Due to such irrational norms, many such people have been placed on the edges of society. In this dark representation of the world, humanity lights the path. Help came to the affected community in the way of different NGOs and one of them is Sandesh(NGO). Sandesh pins the hopes and dreams of the marginalised section by giving them a purpose. Members here are shown the way to join the workforce and rise in its ranks.
During my one week - 30 hrs at Sandesh, I saw individuals being taught varied skills from coating to designing of diyas, sewing to crafting. In addition to providing them vocational training, these tasks gave them the ease to practice motor skills with the incentive to rise in stature. It was right here, at the sheltered workplace unit, we spent most of our time.
Sandesh was comparable to a self-sustaining economy, giving to those who need, and taking from those who had. Therefore, it relied heavily on its sales of handmade products. Thus, me and my band of volunteers helped by churning out about 500-600 diyas. In introspection, I realised that we were quite privileged. In our daily lives, we all are surrounded by options, in fields like cooking to painting, reading to walking. Not at Sandesh! Here, the members had only 1 job, and 1 way to do it. This changed my outlook. The quiet and sophisticated members sitting on the desks all day, changed into cavalier knights charging ahead with a ‘Never say die’ attitude.
Among the numerous members were a few who, apart from having other medical ailments were cut short of hearing and speaking. Yet, they strived onward with great pride in their every work of art, continually excelling at their sole task.
Even though almost everyone had a genetic disorder, they all seemed normal like us. They opened their hearts to us and shone with an outward radiance. Always polite, they greeted us with broad smiles etched from cheek to cheek, much unlike the conservative society.
The special cases such as Sangeeta and Edwin were handled by the Utsav Daycare. Here, many members ranged from being totally unresponsive to extremely hyperactive. The members were unfit to work. To me, many seemed in another world, a world above ours, seeing us through a coloured scope. When my friend and I were left to handle two special children did we see, the amount of patience and care required by the caretakers. Their utmost dedication to the cause was seen in their every action.
In the other building was the early education and pre vocational unit. Many early identified cases were brought here. Their ages ranged from a few months to 14 years of age. To remedy for the inherent condition, their motor and speech skills were honed. In the early education unit, we spent a lot of time teaching attention deficit hyperactive children how to use a fidget spinner. It was a real challenge to teach him. But when we got there, we were ecstatic. As they say, patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet.
During this week long enlightening journey, I long pondered upon 1 question, ‘ Are they autistic or are we(in our thinking)?’When such ideal individuals are stigmatised by society and chimed at for a few impairments, I see the world going nowhere. And then I think of Sandesh and say “We rise when we lift others.” This marginalised section of society shouldn’t be shadowed by prejudice. Their capabilities in decisive tasks and politics mustn’t be muzzled. Instead, a pragmatic and futuristic approach must be delved upon to reintroduce the shunned into the society. We must remodel our archetype of the impaired to fit the verity of the modern ideals. We must destroy the dossiers of past marginalising these sections. Restricted thinking has led to problematic situations in the past. The future must be ours to take and rule, with all glory. A loss in the very ideals of the liberal society of introducing these members, would lead to disastrous consequences to society, at large. To quote an old saying, History, will repeat itself. The outdated so-called ‘perfect’ outlook of society must change path and truly mature into a judicial view of society with no man left behind.
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