Educating young blind children for a better future

Shiva is a seventeen years old young adult from the mainland, Bukit Mertajam, Penang. He is the youngest child among three siblings. He was born with a condition known as glaucoma, an eye disease that is often associated with elevated intracular pressure damaging to the eye (optic) which can lead to loss of vision and even blindness.Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Due to his poor condition, he needs assistance to manage his daily routines.

When Shiva arrived at St. Nicholas’ Home, Penang, he couldn’t stand and walk probably.He was dependent on the family especially his mother. He was insecure and lacked confidence.

DBMH teachers applied several methods of physiotherapy treatments to assist him to walk on his own such as stretching exercises for muscle elasticity and toning.

We are providing correct body posture treatment, walking gait therapy, manipulation therapy, and hydrotherapy for improvement to speed up the progress of him being able to walk properly by himself. 

Shiva is a slow learner, and he communicates only in Tamil which is his mother tongue. Apart from having glaucoma, Shiva is also diagnosed with some degree of mental retardation which explains his poor social skill. Shiva is classified as a trainee in Group 1 (G1) which means he will only learn basic living skills. Shiva’s favourite food are snacks, junk foods and cakes. He prefers to sleep or plays on the swing.

He has to use parallel bars specifically used in physical and occupational rehabilitation therapy to assist individuals to re-learn walking and gait training, as well as to regain balance, strength, range of motion, and mobility under the watchful eyes of the teachers.

Exercise balls also known as physioballs, swiss balls or fit balls are large, vinyl balls were used to strengthen and stretch his body, improving core stability and balance.

Shiva made lots of progression since the past three years at St Nicholas Home. Nowadays, he is capable of walking by himself with occasional guidance. We plan to train him by using mobility device so that he can lead an independent life in future. We are also very pleased and motivated by his parents who are keen to know his progress and development.

Your donations and generous contributions are the reasons that our children could blossom and build their self-confidence. Your generosity helps the children improve further for a better future despite being physically challenged. We hope that you will continue to support them and shower them with compassion.

Giving is not just about making a donation, it is about making a difference.

NO ONE HAS EVER BECOME POOR BY GIVING.

Thank You for changing their future!

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

Our Captain Dennis now has grown up to a 17- years old handsome teenager. Dennis is the eldest among his 3 siblings. He was brought up by his grandparents. Dennis has been in the DBMH program from the age of 7 and his teachers often comment on his great progress and achievement. Dennis is living proof that these are no disability that can hold a person back to living up to their full potential. The future holds endless possibilities for Dennis, and he is capable of achieving great things with the ongoing love, support and guidance from his teachers.

Dennis is a premature baby, born with bilateral thumbs hypoplasia with left radial hypoplasia. Followed with visual impairment secondary to retinopathy of prematurity. Dennis also has learning difficulties as well.

He is able to hear with both ears and responds when his name is called. He will move towards you and locate the source of the sound. He has no problems communicating with his teachers and friends but there are still improvements to be done to clarity of his speech. He recognises his teachers and friends by touch and is always ready for a conversation. Perhaps, he might need extra support from the class teachers or speech therapist to improve his speech because the intonation and pitch is unclear.

His wrist bones on both hands are deformed with small thumbs on both hands. His thumbs do not function at all. He has adopted to using only four fingers on one hand well so that he is able to pick up small objects. He can hold a spoon in one hand and can hold a cup using both hands.

Captain Dennis is an independent boy who is able to shower, dress and feed himself. He is also able to follow instruction and daily routine on his own. He loves to dance and listen to music. He also can send cloths to laundry and collect it by himself.

“Is a beautiful sea side but I can’t see it, only can feel it”.

 “ WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET BUT WE MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE”