World Cerebral Palsy Day – Tirunelveli has a sensory park with play equipment for children with intellectual disabilities

To be able to play and enjoy laughter and team activities with the safety and health requirements duly met are the rights of every child. However, children with mental health and physical health challenges such as Cerebral Palsy often find their rights and needs ignored though the basic food and shelter may well be taken care of. But this sensory park in Tirunelveli will warm your heart.

Every child needs to be granted the right to play. Playing games, indulging in hobbies, and participating in sporting activities ensure a child’s wholesome development.

But not all children are so lucky. If not poverty and class struggles that make day-to-day life a survival struggle for some, it can be a debilitating or challenging health condition for others.

You will be surprised and happy to note that for the first time in southern Tamil Nadu, the district administration has created in Palayamkottai a ‘sensory park’ with play equipment — a facility specially built for children who have physical and mental challenges to overcome.

This sensory park has been set up with the primary objective of improving the physical and mental health of intellectually challenged children through the play-way method, reports The Hindu.

This beautiful concept is the brainchild of the Tirunelveli District Collector V Vishnu, an IAS Officer of the 2012 batch (All India Rank 34). An alumnus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Trichy, Vishnu also holds certification in Port Management from APEC Antwerp, Belgium and Project Management from IIM-Ahmedabad, among a host of national and international accomplishments and achievements.

V Vishnu noticed that the Red Cross Building on Tiruchendur Road, a colonial structure, was not being optimally used and therefore his office subsequently took control of the Red Cross building for establishing the Differently Abled Resource Training Centre.

Already some 20 children from Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai, all suffering from autism, Down’s syndrome, hyperactivity, cerebral palsy and other intellectual disability are able to enjoy the facility. Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder. There is no cure, but treatments can help improve function.

The sensory park also has a vocational training and rehabilitation programme. Trainers at this facility impart speech therapy, physiotherapy, basic training like brushing the teeth, going to the toilet, bathing, eye-hand coordination, sensory activities and other occupational therapy to the children.

The equipment here is also specially selected while keeping the children’s mental and physical health limitations and safety in mind. For example, the swing installed in this park has been designed to safely accommodate intellectually challenged children who will otherwise fall from a normal swing, notes The Hindu report.

Naturopathy has been deployed to enhance children’s sensory experience and perception. Made to walk without footwear on the 8-shaped structure with pebble flooring, the children enjoy an experience of a different kind when the protruding pebbles mildly and gently press the tiny feet. This sensation ensures that the blood circulation in the legs increases — thereby strengthening the lower body of these kids, the trainers say.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

According to Mayo Clinic, a Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement and muscle tone or posture. It’s caused by damage that occurs to the immature, developing brain, most often before birth. As the infant starts missing certain growth and developmental milestones, the disorder (Cerebral Palsy) is first noticed in infancy or preschool years.

The innocent and beautiful souls — the kids afflicted with Cerebral Palsy for no fault of theirs — have to struggle with impaired movement associated with exaggerated reflexes, floppiness or spasticity of the limbs and trunk, unusual posture, involuntary movements, unsteady walking etc. notes Mayo Clinic. Simple tasks that we take for granted – such as walking, swallowing, and normal eye muscle balance that allows us to focus both eyes on one object at any given time – become impossible. Some persons with Cerebral Palsy also might have reduced range of motion at various joints of their bodies due to muscle stiffness. The grade or level of affliction may vary though. Some persons with cerebral palsy can walk; others need assistance. Some people have intellectual disabilities, many do not Some have vision and ear function issues.

Article Credits: Times Now News