Support excluded kids with disabilities in India

Pritam was three years old when his family first began to notice that something was different. He didn't maintain eye contact, remained absorbed in his own world of self-directed activity, and didn't respond when called. He would often break toys and household items, seemingly unaware when he was scolded. At home, these behaviours were frequently misunderstood, and they created real distress within the family.

Pritam's parents, from a rural farming community with limited awareness of developmental conditions, initially wondered whether supernatural causes lay behind his behaviour — the laughing to himself, the lack of response to instructions, the apparent absence of fear, the frequent shouting. They turned first to a local healer, but saw no improvement. A visit to a primary health centre followed, where they were told Pritam might have autism and advised to seek specialist services in a city — support that was simply out of reach, financially and logistically. Nearly a year passed without any structured support.

The turning point came when an Anganwadi (community childcare) worker told the family that children like Pritam could improve with the right support. A team from Nishtha visited their home soon after, and gradually, through counselling, the family began to understand that Pritam's condition was developmental, not something to fear, and that timely intervention could make a real difference.

At the Bhalobasha Day Care Centre, a comprehensive assessment confirmed mild autism, along with the reassurance that Pritam had the capacity to learn, to develop communication skills, and to build independence in daily life with the right support. At the time, he wasn't yet speaking in meaningful words, avoided eye contact, and showed behaviours including head banging, hyperactivity and low attention.

A structured programme followed: behavioural therapy to support social interaction, speech therapy, occupational therapy for daily living and sensory regulation, psychological counselling for Pritam and his family, and psychiatric consultation where needed — alongside ongoing guidance to help his parents support his learning at home.

The change has been steady. Pritam now responds to his name and recognises family members. He has begun expressing his basic needs in short sentences. His hyperactivity has reduced, head banging has decreased, and he has grown more independent in daily routines such as brushing, bathing, eating and using the toilet. He has now been enrolled in a primary school and is gradually moving towards mainstream education.

His parents' understanding has transformed alongside him. Once unaware of what autism even meant, they are now active, informed participants in his care. Access to therapy that is so often unavailable or unaffordable in rural areas — made possible through Nishtha and the support of The Karuna Trust — has eased both the financial and emotional weight the family once carried alone.

Pritam's journey is a reminder of what early identification and accessible support can achieve. There is more progress ahead, but each step — a word spoken, a name recognised, a small act of independence — is one that once felt out of reach.

Thank you for making journeys like his possible.

Shamim Molla was five years old when he was first brought to the Nishtha Centre, unable to walk and able only to crawl. His speech was extremely limited — a few unclear sounds, but no way to truly communicate. His parents were deeply distressed, uncertain whether he would ever walk or lead an independent life.

Shamim's early months had already been marked by difficulty. During a prolonged and complicated labour, his mother lost consciousness before help could reach her, and he was born at a primary health centre following a birth affected by a lack of oxygen. In the years that followed, his parents began to notice that Shamim wasn't developing the way other children did — he struggled to grasp objects, drooled persistently, and by the age of five, still could not stand or walk. School remained out of reach.

The family, from a farming community in rural West Bengal, faced significant financial hardship; Shamim's father is a marginal farmer and his mother an agricultural labourer. Without the means or awareness to access medical care, they turned instead to local healers, oil rituals and blessed water — never knowing that therapy could help.

It was a community awareness programme, and encouragement from local Panchayat members, that first brought the family to Nishtha. A multidisciplinary assessment confirmed cerebral palsy linked to birth asphyxia, along with delays across his motor, speech and adaptive development.

From there, a structured programme of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and parental counselling began — alongside guidance for the family on how to continue supporting Shamim's development at home.

The change has been steady and real. Shamim can now stand and walk with support. He has begun using simple words, his drooling has reduced significantly, and he plays and interacts with other children. He is now able to attend a regular school.

His parents' outlook has shifted too. Where there was once little hope, there is now confidence — a family more informed, more involved, and better equipped to support their son. They express sincere gratitude to Nishtha and The Karuna Trust for providing accessible services under one roof, free of cost, which would otherwise have been beyond their reach. This support has reduced both the financial and emotional burden on the family.

Shamim's progress is a reminder of what early identification and consistent, accessible support can make possible, even in families facing real financial hardship. For every child like Shamim, that support only exists because of donors like you.

Thank you for making journeys like his possible.