Arya is a lovable, affectionate girl, who was born in extremely difficult circumstances and has faced multiple challenges since birth. She was given up soon after birth by her young mother. She had been cared for by an IAPA foster family, but as caring for her is very expensive and challenging, she is now living at Sangopita, an institution for severely challenged children.

Arya is both physically and mentally challenged. She has cerebral palsy (amongst her many medical problems), which prevents her from controlling her muscle movements and speaking complete words. Furthermore, she had difficulty eating and digesting food. She has also suffered from severe asthma. As a result, her milestones have been grossly delayed so far.

Fortunately, in recent months, her asthma attacks have decreased in severity and frequency, allowing amazing development in her social and cognitive abilities. A prominent neurologist was consulted and believes that given physiotherapy and development therapies, Arya will be able to regain some control of her muscles and express herself more successfully.

UPDATE: June 18th, 2009 (from an e-mail to LTL from Smita Zankar of IAPA)

"Arya is showing benefits of regular physiotherapy. Given the level of her disability, she has shown very good progress. She would soon be enrolled into home management sessions through ADAPT ( formerly known as The Spastic Society of India). These would be individual and group sessions, thus educating her about behaviour in group activities too.

Arya was recently examined by a Paediatric Orthopaedic for consultation on surgery for her legs. The doctor recommended injections, medicines and continuation of therapy. He would examine her again 3 months later to decide on the need for surgery. Arya's physiotherapist will be trying to help her with callipers based on the Doctor's advice.

Arya's health too is improving. She now needs less support with her breathing, and the frequency of nebulisations has gone down. Just a few days ago, Arya got the opportunity to stay with other children, some of them with special needs like hers. During this short stay of about 10 days, she seemed to do well with them all, making friends, and adapting well to the new atmosphere. She showed happiness in coming back to her foster parents."

Gaurav was abandoned at birth by his mother. Early on, he was found to have cerebral palsy, severe myopia in one eye, and autism. Due to these conditions, Gaurav has had difficulty with his vision, he was not able to eat solid foods until the age of 9 and still has trouble eating most foods, and he has struggled greatly in school.

Gaurav has suffered early deprivation of cuddling and physical contact from adults, and has multiple congenital anomalies to cope with. After coming under IAPA care at the age of 13 months, he has been in foster care with a loving family. A therapy plan has been set up for Gaurav after numerous medical tests and consultations of the medical experts. According to this plan, he has been receiving physiotherapy and occupational therapy on a regular basis of six days a week. Medication is monitored by the neurologist who has treated him for the past five years. Despite his special needs, Gaurav has thrived in the warmth and affection of the foster family.

UPDATE: July 2008

Gaurav has continued therapy for his neurological anomalies. He has been making slow but steady progress in all areas of life. Early this year he went through certain medical procedures followed by intensive, bi-daily physiotherapy for 6 weeks. This has given him new strength and flexibility in the arm that had thus far been limp and lifeless.

Steadying his nervous system with medication has been helping him to focus his attention. His social responsiveness has improved remarkably and performance in school is much better. He has been promoted to the next class.

Efforts continue to find permanent parents to adopt Gaurav. Until a family is found, financial help is direly needed to sustain Gaurav's medical care and to provide him with the best available opportunities for development. Funds are urgently needed to arrange for extra coaching to help him cope better with normal school work.

UPDATE: June 18th, 2009 (from an e-mail to LTL from Smita Zankar of IAPA)

"Gaurav too is doing very well. His school has been very happy with his interest in studying. He has developed interest in singing and is well versed with a number of children's songs. He is learning to play the Tabla. Gaurav enjoys group activities like sports; has performed in cultural programmes through the school, and has learnt dancing as a performing art. Gaurav is well behaved and disciplined. He exhibits good observation skills, though a small attention span. There are times when he has no control over his emotions and actions; hence he is on continuous medication. He has had regular physiotherapy to help with his spasticity.

Since we have not found a suitable adoptive family for Gaurav, we were working on alternative plans of rehabilitation for him. His foster sister and her family have come forward to look after Gaurav long term. All the necessary procedures to move him to his new home have been completed. Gaurav is looking forward to this move. He would be moving to a city called Pune. He gets along well with the foster sister's husband and son. He would be attending a school for children with similar disability, where the foster sister is a teacher. Gaurav will continue with his therapy, and medication. In spite of this long term arrangement, our efforts to find a suitable adoptive family will continue."

Sonu Raju is a thin-built boy whose birth date is unknown, but he is approximated at 12-13 years old.

Sonu comes from a broken family. He ran away from home to escape his father's violent temper and lived on the streets until he was reported to the Juvenile Justice System. As he was placed in an institution while authorities tried to find his family, Sonu completely missed out on schooling for a full year.

Placed under IAPA care towards the end of 2005, Sonu has been looked after by a single foster family of IAPA. Sonu has since recovered from his extremely poor health and is growing healthily. He is almost fully recovered from a severe case of tuberculosis as well. Sonu has become a part of a large and nurturing foster family and has been making good progress in school although he is in a lower grade for his age.

Sonu is unusually talented at drawing and creating cartoons, and is passionate about sports. Efforts to find a suitable family to adopt him have been unsuccessful so far due to his age.

Sonu needs opportunity to develop skills that would prepare him for a better future. Two areas of development identified by his foster mother and the social worker are in the English language and painting.

UPDATE: June 18th, 2009 (from an e-mail to LTL from Smita Zankar of IAPA)

"Sonu Raju has scored good marks and gone to higher class. He is growing taller. Sonu likes being with people, and enjoys showing his drawings to them. He is very fond of drawing and colouring, and takes pride in the ones he has done. He does them meticulously. When wishing his friends on their Birthdays, Sonu makes the Greeting cards himself. Sonu comes across as a young person who would enjoy outdoor activities. He is fond of children and shows his concern and love towards them. Our efforts to get him placed in an adoptive family are ongoing, but unsuccessful thus far."

The Society for the Education of the Crippled (SEC) has grown tremendously over recent years. They have four schools, including a program for Alumni that employs them and makes them productive members of society. Each school has teachers for grades 1-7, a physical therapy facility, a kitchen to provide children with hot meals, music class, a workshop to build customized braces and crutches, and swimming class for some students who need swimming as a method of rehabilitation. Please view these photos to see what the schools provide daily and the students of S.E.C.

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Music Class

This video is of a weekly music class for students at SEC.

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SEC Information

This video shows day-to-day activities at SEC.

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Kajal

This video shows some of the physical therapy activities that students undergo. Teachers and mentors provide individual care for each student.

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Mayesha

This video shows an example of a condition that a student at SEC may have, in addition to how SEC works to treat the child.

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Mustofar

This video exemplifies some of SEC's physical therapy practices as well as some basic real-world training they provide students.

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Learning English

This video illustrates some of the standard classroom education students at SEC receive.

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Manju Utamchandani

Ms. Utamchandani, the product coordinator at SEC, speaks about SEC and its mission to care for students.