Friday, December 03, 2004
Differently-abled, yet human
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
By Damitha Hemachandra
The path leading to the Suhada Lama Sevana is not an easy one. The rocky path ends at the abode consisting of nearly 60 physically and mentally differently - abled ‘children’, who with the assistance of three adults and the charity of others, take care of each other.
According to Dushyanthi, the capable office assistant at the Suhada Lama Sevana who manoeuvres her way through with the aid of a wheel chair “every one at the home takes care of each other”.
“We all have little responsibilities and chores to do,” she said while two mentally handicapped people, who were sweeping the place, proved her statement.
Although the name strictly suggests a house for children, Suhada Lama Nivasa houses individuals aged from two years to sixty years.
Other than a day-to-day care it also provides companionship and provides its members with basic education, life skills and vocational training, although most of the inhabitants tend to make Suhada Lama Sevana their home.
According to the Director of the Suhada Lama Nivasa, Sunethra Weerasinghe the institution is in need of funds, facilities as well as volunteer hands and specialists’ knowledge to improve the situation of the children.
“We need more facilities and training to cater to the special needs of these children,” she said adding that the country is yet to realize the necessity of providing fair chances for disabled children.
According to Ms. Weerasinghe most of the inhabitants of the Suhada Lama Sevana suffer from epilepsy and brain fever, which requires daily treatment costing nearly Rs. 450 daily per child.
“Any one who is willing to help us is welcome to assist us with food, medication, education and voluntary assistance,” she said adding that however there is no door-to-door campaign to collect aid for the Suhada Lama Sevana.
Operating in a building owned by the Gangarama Temple and aided by charitable individuals, the Suhada Lama Sevana does not receive any government assistance.
Many children face the challenge of receiving a formal education since many schools refuse admission to disabled children.
However four children at the Lama Sevana are already receiving university education after receiving their basic education at Mahanama College and Vidhyawardhana Vidyalaya.
Yet this is a story common to many institutions, which cater to differently –abled children in the country. Despite Sri Lanka having 200,000 disabled children and 90,000 mentally disabled children, the country is yet to cater to the needs of the differently –abled. Nearly 80% of these disabilities were caused by birth or disease while the armed conflict plays a great role as a cause of physical disability.
Although the country boasts of a wide spread education system, the mainstream schools in the country do not facilitate physically disabled children. The education facilities available for the mentally disabled children are at low levels in the country leaving the disabled children dependent forever.
Nevertheless the future seems brighter with the increased awareness of the requirements of the needs of these special children.
23 educational institutions for children with special needs follow the same educational curriculum as regular schools. Approximately 2,050 children attend these schools with 573 teachers who have been trained to teach children with disabilities. Extracurricular activities such as physical fitness training, sports training, music, dance, and arts are taught while the possibility of these children gaining employment opportunities had increased during the last few years.
The Department of Social Services has introduced preschool education for children with hearing impairment and intellectual disabilities. At present about 75 preschools are functioning successfully throughout the country while more are to be implemented with JICA financing.
The World Bank and JICA report issued on disability in Sri Lanka observes that; ‘Sri Lanka is having difficulty coping with persons with disabilities, as there is a lack of funds, human resources and services’.
By Damitha Hemachandra
The path leading to the Suhada Lama Sevana is not an easy one. The rocky path ends at the abode consisting of nearly 60 physically and mentally differently - abled ‘children’, who with the assistance of three adults and the charity of others, take care of each other.
According to Dushyanthi, the capable office assistant at the Suhada Lama Sevana who manoeuvres her way through with the aid of a wheel chair “every one at the home takes care of each other”.
“We all have little responsibilities and chores to do,” she said while two mentally handicapped people, who were sweeping the place, proved her statement.
Although the name strictly suggests a house for children, Suhada Lama Nivasa houses individuals aged from two years to sixty years.
Other than a day-to-day care it also provides companionship and provides its members with basic education, life skills and vocational training, although most of the inhabitants tend to make Suhada Lama Sevana their home.
According to the Director of the Suhada Lama Nivasa, Sunethra Weerasinghe the institution is in need of funds, facilities as well as volunteer hands and specialists’ knowledge to improve the situation of the children.
“We need more facilities and training to cater to the special needs of these children,” she said adding that the country is yet to realize the necessity of providing fair chances for disabled children.
According to Ms. Weerasinghe most of the inhabitants of the Suhada Lama Sevana suffer from epilepsy and brain fever, which requires daily treatment costing nearly Rs. 450 daily per child.
“Any one who is willing to help us is welcome to assist us with food, medication, education and voluntary assistance,” she said adding that however there is no door-to-door campaign to collect aid for the Suhada Lama Sevana.
Operating in a building owned by the Gangarama Temple and aided by charitable individuals, the Suhada Lama Sevana does not receive any government assistance.
Many children face the challenge of receiving a formal education since many schools refuse admission to disabled children.
However four children at the Lama Sevana are already receiving university education after receiving their basic education at Mahanama College and Vidhyawardhana Vidyalaya.
Yet this is a story common to many institutions, which cater to differently –abled children in the country. Despite Sri Lanka having 200,000 disabled children and 90,000 mentally disabled children, the country is yet to cater to the needs of the differently –abled. Nearly 80% of these disabilities were caused by birth or disease while the armed conflict plays a great role as a cause of physical disability.
Although the country boasts of a wide spread education system, the mainstream schools in the country do not facilitate physically disabled children. The education facilities available for the mentally disabled children are at low levels in the country leaving the disabled children dependent forever.
Nevertheless the future seems brighter with the increased awareness of the requirements of the needs of these special children.
23 educational institutions for children with special needs follow the same educational curriculum as regular schools. Approximately 2,050 children attend these schools with 573 teachers who have been trained to teach children with disabilities. Extracurricular activities such as physical fitness training, sports training, music, dance, and arts are taught while the possibility of these children gaining employment opportunities had increased during the last few years.
The Department of Social Services has introduced preschool education for children with hearing impairment and intellectual disabilities. At present about 75 preschools are functioning successfully throughout the country while more are to be implemented with JICA financing.
The World Bank and JICA report issued on disability in Sri Lanka observes that; ‘Sri Lanka is having difficulty coping with persons with disabilities, as there is a lack of funds, human resources and services’.
