Session I: Genetics and Prevention | Session II: Information Communication Technology Enabled Services | Session III: Types of Disabilities | Session IV: Therapeutics | Session V: Policies and Programme

Session III: Types of Disabilities

The session was chaired by Dr. G. Kumaresan, Professor of Paediatric Neurology, Institution of Child Health (Retd.), Consultant, Child Trust Hospital, Chennai and Dr. Vibha Krishnamurthy, Medical Director of Ummeed Child Developmental Center, Mumbai.

Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Associate Professor, NIMHANS, Bangalore, spoke on the early intervention for children with autism. He stressed on the importance of follow-up for siblings at-risk. He discussed his impressions of anti-psychotic drugs often prescribed for children with autism. He emphasized on the importance of early detection for effective management of a life long impairment like autism.

Dr. Jayanthi Narayan, Deputy Director (Admn), National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, Secunderabad, spoke on the topic of management of children with multiple disabilities in their early years. She stated that early intervention should support families to achieve their own goals, promote child management and mastery of independence. This can be achieved by the involvement of family members in planning, implementing and monitoring programmes for multiple disabled individuals. It is important to set realistic goals for the child and generalization of skills is acquired through training to situations at home and school.

Dr. Annie Shyam, Director, SPASTN, Chennai, spoke on the management of children with mental retardation and cerebral palsy in a day care centre. She said that early intervention enhances child development, prevents further deterioration, provides remedy for potential problems and increases adaptability of the family. The primary focus areas for babies within six months are positioning, stimulation, psycho-motor skill development, communication, sensory integration and play. She provided an overview of SPASTN approach towards intervention programs, transitional plans and integration programs in services management of disabilities.

Dr. S. Sunder, Consultant in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chennai, spoke on the recent trends in therapeutic rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy. He emphasized the need for a long term follow up in therapeutics for children with cerebral palsy to prevent the development of secondary disability. He spoke of various training methods used and stressed upon the environmental restructuring to suit the needs of a CP child facilitating adaptability and functional independence.