NT Reporter
Margao
Developmental and behavioural paediatrician and director of Sethu Dr Nandita De Souza on Saturday said that Goa was in a good position to change the story of disability from gloom to bloom. She stressed on the strength of neuro diversity, as well as the importance of families and communities in embracing each child and person as they were.
Dr De Souza has been working for 20 years with children, families and communities to nurture strengthen and build capacity through family centered services, training advocacy and strategic partnerships towards building a fully inclusive Goa.
Speaking at the Vichar Vedh lecture series at the Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao, she said, “One in six people in the world have a disability. 80 per cent of these children live in low income countries like India. We are blessed to be in Goa where we value each other at a human level and we care deeply. We can change the story of disability in Goa from gloom to bloom. We need to celebrate neuro-diversity, be neuro affirming, focus on strengths and personal experience and build bridges with families, schools, professionals, workplace, and communities across all ecosystems including government, private and social sector.”
She encouraged adopting the three A’s of acceptance, accessibility and accommodation exclaiming that ‘Together we can do it for our state.’ “There is no one like you and everything is about diversity. It is wonderful to be unique and having differences, it’s a huge wealth. We change as we grow and diversity is within us. Neurodiversity celebrates all kinds of minds. We are different in how we process and make sense, how we learn, think and behave and that is a good thing,” she said.
In her experience working at Sethu, Dr De Souza said that by living with neuro divergent kids, the parents also become resilient.
“Having the child with the family is important. Families are unique, and they help to find solutions. The families are really the true experts of their children,” she said while also advocating for the mental wellbeing of the family as well.
She also advocates for the adoption of the ICF’s Biopsychosocial Model rather than the conventional medical model which advocates for every child to grow, be welcomed and grow to the best of their potential.
