Expressnews
PUDUCHERRY, Feb —In yet another pioneering initiative, Satya Special School inaugurated a first-of-its-kind initiative for rural children: a mobile van for sensory and early stimulation.
The mobile unit was inaugurated on February 7 by Mr. NK Muthappa, vice president, MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange of India, Ltd.), the corporate sponsor of the mobile unit.
The project is important to reach sensory stimulation services to rural children who might have sensory integration or sensory processing issues. A child with sensory integration issues might be able to receive input from the senses, but is often unable to organize the input and respond appropriately. There has been a rise in reporting of sensory integration issues after COVID across the world.
Sensory stimulation labs are usually available in urban centres, rendering them out of reach for the average rural child requiring sensory interventions.
The van, supported by MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange of India, Ltd.), will help around 300 children in the early stages of their development. The solar-powered van is outfitted with special equipment that can be rolled out to create a sensory stimulation centre. Apart from the van, a hydropool with a treadmill, and a smart therapy ball will also help children with their therapeutic needs.
“Children from rural areas are often left out of the rehabilitation map, as reaching services to them becomes difficult and expensive. We are thankful to MCX for understanding this critical need and supporting us in this project,” said Chitra Shah, director, Satya Special School.
The mobile unit has several aids and appliances intended to help stimulate a child’s sensory faculties, as well as the interplay between them, for proper sensory development. Apart from physiotherapeutic equipment, the van also features a smart therapy ball, an interactive physical therapy ball that measures and improves movement and pressure.
The mobile unit will be staffed with a sensory integration therapist and a physiotherapist who will help the children and parents with the therapy. As part of the capacity building of parents, they will be trained on therapy they can perform using household objects as well, so that the van can serve more children, with occasional touchpoints.
Schools in rural Puducherry can also avail of the van’s features, as many of the children with sensory issues slide down to learning difficulties and, in some cases, learning disorders as well.
