Educating young blind children for a better future

Being born blind is perhaps the worst dreaded disability, an able world can think of. A life without light, is in askance of pity always and that is what, one thinks. Dignity takes a back step.  Surviving is more important.  The horror of a dark world is numbing to one who has experienced light. The predicament for an individual who is born blind is much larger, as one is not even aware what it is to “see”.  It is survival, amongst those who see, that takes a toll and the fight is a life long.

Siti is one such child. Born with multiple disabilities and blindness she was a bundle of inactive life, till the age of 8. Born to an unwed mother, and abandoned in the care of an old and poor grandfather, she was growing up in penury lacking basic survival needs of independence.

She was born without eye balls and multiple clefts on the lower jaw. Nostrils were not properly formed and hence respiration was her problem. Her intake of air was only through mouth and lack of oxygen proper reaching the brain resulted in her stunted growth, both physically and mentally. She was lagging in her milestones immensely and today at almost 12 she is of a size of a 7 year old and mental ability according.

Yet Siti is the brightest star at the Home. She reiterates the fact that, all the world is made of faith and trust and pixie dust. When she was brought to the home, she was only eight and with a physical and mental growth of only a toddler. Helpless, introvert, totally unaware of surroundings, unable to communicate and walk, she was a life with no hope.

Abject penury, undernourishment had worsened her growth levels. Imperfect speech made her introvert as she was unable to communicate well. However she was blessed with perfect hearing and agile mentally to learn. Non conducive living conditions at her home had made her an unhappy, introvert, scared and shelled. She lacked toilet training, eating norms and many other basics which one actually learns as a way of life.

It was here at St. Nicholas that she got her proper home. Her vegetable, pitiable conditions had to end and the home took full charge of making her independent and worthy of living a life of self dependency.

Dedicated efforts from the teachers, house mothers and medical attention slowly made impact on Siti and she was able to mobilize her self towards facing life. She was slowly able  to stand, move and now ably walks around the home without even an aide assisting. She pushes the wheel chairs of other immobilized friends guided by her teachers. A sightless angel, she lights up each corridoor, each path she crosses. Patience of her teachers have made her learn to do her own basic chores independently, She is able to take a bath, wash her plate, eat on her own. She also goes to her classrooms to learn tasks of ability. Identifying a known touch is her forte and she never misses to gurgle a sound of acknowledgment or passing on a hug.

Her deformity of face is her current problem as the low oxygen levels cause her delayed growth. The home has been succesful in getting her case well attended by medical team and Siti has undergone her first facial reconstruction earlier this month. Her lip cleft has been sealed and she has recovered well.

Our sincere thanks to you for providing a better future for the young blind and multi-handicapped children. You’re a lifesaver. Your contributions will continue to help many other children like Siti to lead a secured and better life regardless of their disabilities.

We at St Nicholas Home are very proud of Siti’s good progress and with donations received through GlobalGiving; we can continue to help Siti and other children in the programme towards improving their lives for a bigger and brighter future! Therefore, we would like to thank all our contributors for your support and donations.

Links:

• St. Nicholas' Home website