These hearing impaired kids to share space with normal ones

Hard work has finally paid off for the Bansod couple. Eight of the hearing impaired children they trained have been admitted to standard I in normal schools.

Bal Vikas Kendra, started by Ekvira Multipurpose Foundation, is a special foundation that caters to the needs of the differently abled. It is run by Suchitra and Shrikant Bansod of Akola. This unaided, non-residential day care centre addresses various problems of the hearing impaired, providing them education, training, hearing-aids etc. So far, 97 parents have approached Bal Vikas Kendra seeking help from the couple.

“The aim of not running a residential centre is to keep the parents involved in the development of the impaired. We focus on empowerment of parents as they can further help in building confidence of their kids,” said Bansod, who holds special workshops for the same.

Helping the impaired, Bansod provides free education to students in a well-developed and technologically sound environment, which will help in rehabilitation of the hearing impaired. Currently, the couple is supporting 22 children at the centre, in three mediums (English, Hindi / Marathi). Special home work classes are also conducted for their academic support.

Ekvira Multipurpose Foundation was established in 2007 and is working for the welfare of handicap, mentally retarded and the youth and women. “The foundation has been established with the motive to create opportunities for the handicap children, encourage their talent and give a concrete structure to their progress” said Bansod.

The Bansod couple gives auditory-training, speech and language-training right from infants to 6 year olds. The Bal Vikas Kendra also trains parents in order to help them communicate better with their handicapped children.