Existing Support groups for Developmental disabilities:
1)AIKYA
We do have parents support groups, for parents of children and youth with Intellectual challenges (children with Autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, Learning disabilities and multiple disabilities).
Our experience – very successful if the group members are constantly in
touch, interacting, sharing, mentoring, supporting etc
I am willing to offer my services and expertise to any support group.
Thanks
Parvathy Viswanath
Director – AIKYA
Website : http://www.aikya.org/
Email : parvathyv@hotmail.com / info@aikya.org
2)
Schizophrenia Awareness Associations Ekalavya self-help support group working for the cause of persons with mental/nervous disorders (shubharthis) and their caregivers (shubhankars) located at Pune.
Area of Work : We work for the cause of mental health restoration for persons with mental/nervous disorders (not limited only to schizophrenia) and their caregivers. To de-stigmatise, persons-in-recovery are known as shubharthis (literally, seekers of well-being) and their caregivers as shubhankars (literally, well-wishers of shubharthis).
Major areas of our focus :
a. Creating right awareness, removing myths & misconceptions about mental disorders in the community. Means used : publishing books/newsletter, organizing public meetings, making presentations at schools/colleges, organize poster competition on mental health, participate in exhibitions on health, present papers at conferences at the national & international levels.
b. Conduct self-help support groups separately for shubharthis & shubhankars, whose needs are different. Initiate discussion on topics of relevance to their life, arrange talks of professionals, followed by question-and
-answer sessions, conduct formal short-term courses for shubhankars & SAAthis (volunteers). Our shubharthis are taught the 70-year old self-help Recovery Method (www.recovery-inc.org) to enable them cope with day-to-day disturbing events. SHSG meetings are held in Marathi at Kamala Nehru Hospital, Pune, every Saturday for shubharthis & 2nd & 4th Saturday for shubhankars, between 5.00 & 6.30 pm. SHSG meeting in Hindi/English is held at Sumati Health Centre, Pune Camp, on Thursday between 4.30 & 6.00 pm.
c. Network with other similar charitable organizations working for the cause of mental health within India and outside. To strengthen the self-help culture & movement, we initiated efforts for forming SETU, The Association of SHSGs at Pune, representing SGs which work for twelve different social causes.
d. As part of rehabilitation of shubharthis, organize occupational/vocational training for the shubharthis at Pune, thereby giving them psycho-social & vocational skills. This helps them to regain self-esteem and earn some pocket money from sale of products made by them.
Experience :
It has been a very rewarding experience. I found members of the group being able to experience smooth transition from why-me to I-am-not-alone to there-is-still-hope, all-is-not-lost frame of mind. After joining this SG there is an attitudinal change based on the dictum We dont wait to get well to do things; we do things to get well & grow. Over a period of time, having regularly participated in the SG meetings, the members are able to grow out of their self-centred activities and reach out other new-comer strugglers. This evolutionary urge to help other needy is nothing short of practising day-to-day spirituality.
Willing to share your expertise in such Support Groups.
Yes, indeed, as we have been doing for the past few years. Our volunteers have gone to places such as Ahmednagar,
As part of our tenth anniversary we wanted to further promote self-help support group movement. So, we organised a workshop for Pune-based SHSGs working for different causes on 15th Dec 07. The enthusiastic encouragement of the participants resulted in forming, SETU (bridge), The Association of Self-Help Support Groups.
Best wishes to enable you carry on with the noble task = Gurudatt Kundapurkar – 020 25441620
Contact Details : Schizophrenia Awareness Association
Office & activity center : Kamalini Kruti Bhawan, 14 Ganesh Nagar,
Association regn.no.Maharashtra/1155-97/Pune dt.18.12.97 &
Public Trust regn.no.F/14439/Pune dt.18.12.98.
Source : Karmayog Yahoo Group