Case study 1
Hemanna, a 27 years old person with locomotor disability belongs to a family of eight members from Andhra Pradesh. His farmer father struggled to feed mouths during his growing years.
When Hemanna took the written test for joining the Industrial Training Centre in 1998, he neither knew English nor was he good in academics. Yet, recognizing the diligence in him, APD gave him admission in the Electronic Mechanic Course. Little did Hemanna realize this decision was to be a turning point in his life.
APD’s faith was not in vain. Hemanna worked hard every step of the way – to improve not just his life but also that of his family. He worked as a cleaner in a night shift at a hotel to see him through the shared lodging and boarding expenditure.
Hemanna went through an illness (can we mention the illness )in his final year for which he could not afford treatment. APD referred him to a hospital where he was hospitalized. His inability to attend classes and illness de-motivated Hemanna but APD’s regular counseling saw him through this bleak phase in his life. He applied himself once again and came first in his final practical exams.
With the help of APD’s Career Guidance and Placement Unit, Hemanna found a job in Thermometric Pvt Ltd, an electronics company. Such was his proficiency at work that his employer called APD to convey his appreciation and request for more students like him. He was now taking complete responsibility of his family, especially after the death of his father and paralytic attack sustained by his mother.
The pursuit of personal gains was not the be-all and end-all for Hemanna. He has supported other like him to join APD and took care of them in their initial days of struggle.
His aspirations to explore new horizons made him apply for positions in various companies. After six years of work experience, he attended a written test and cleared the practicals for the post of a Technician at ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization).
His dreams were about to soar like ISRO’s own space missions. ISRO is proud to have a technician like Hemanna at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
The ups and downs in Hemanna’s life are similar to thousands of people but he is not like them in many ways. Yet, he made use of APD’s comprehensive facilities to come up in life. Hemanna’s life story is inspiring one – even with mediocre academic skills, commitment and hard work can make one go places.
Case study 2
Prashanth is a six year old boy with cerebral palsy. (To describe condition here). He belongs to a low income group with his father working as a coolie and mother is a housewife. The lack of improvement in his condition made his worried parents take him to Chennai for treatment. A session of therapy and Ayurvedic treatment did not bring any relief to his condition.
After learning about APD, his parents brought him here where he joined the Shradhanjali Intergrated School. The members of the Therapy Unit assessed his condition after which he underwent regular and intense neuro-re organizational functional therapy. Slowly but surely, his movement became regulated. He was able to sit, stand and walk with support. After many years, for the first time, his very own little fingers began spooning food in his mouth. With support, he learnt to dress himself and manage bathroom activities.
Prashanth is beginning to discover life on his own terms – making friends and learning in the class room. His progress has brought much joy to his parents and his teachers. The process of empowerment has just begun for Prashant – with the hope that he will be able to take tall strides in the journey of life.
