After a lot of research, parents of the inquisitive kids decided to start 'Together Life Skills Centre' in Powai to give a holistic programme to autistic children.
"What will happen when we grow up? What will Lakshmi and Jayanthi do?" For Sangeetha and V Chakrapani, this innocent question from their 12-year-old son and daughter about their siblings with autism not only hit them hard but also made them start a life-skill centre to help such children get ready for independent living after the lifetime of their parents.
"My children – Krishna, Jayashree, Lakshmi and Jayanthi – have taught me the true meaning of life. We came to know of Lakshmi and Jayanthi being autistic when they were at the age of two and three, respectively. We refused to believe initially, but soon we had to start helping them lead a meaningful life," said Sangeetha, adding that the bond that her children shared has now made her strongly believe that autistic people can co-exist with others in society and have fun and live a happy life.
"One day, Krishna and Jayashree came to me and asked what would happen after they finished schooling and went away for higher education. Would their sisters live alone? If so, what would they do without them? This made us think hard," said Sangeetha.
As parents grow older, their children with autism, who are now adults, are phased out into residential facilities or are taken care of by relatives. "Communication being one of the most severely affected areas in the life of a person with autism, living independently is a huge challenge. Understanding others and making oneself understood by people apart from one's own parents are huge challenges," she said.
The couple travelled across the country to check on residential centres in India as well as vocational centres in Mumbai. After a lot of research, Chakrapanis decided to start 'Together Life Skills Centre' in Powai to give a holistic programme to autistic children. The centre will be inaugurated on June 9.
"The centre has been designed to offer training in four areas: kitchen management, self-care and care of the environment, pre-vocational and vocational training, and management of free/leisure time. Conducted in a specially created life space, our students will undergo vocational training, run a bakery, manage a kitchen, take care of their personal needs, learn to relax and have fun, run a library and learn to integrate with people from all walks of life," said Sangeetha.
CONTACT DETAILS
Shop number 12, 13 and 14, Poonam Kirti CHS, Poonam Nagar, Andheri East
Mob.: 9930358173
website: www.togethersee.org
email:togethersee@gmail.com
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