SHILLONG: San-Ker organised a function on Friday to mark the culmination of its year-long day care programme that began on January 3.
A report card day was organised on the occasion where guardians and parents of day scholars were present. Fifteen persons of all ages and genders took part in the programme. The report card included the parameters of language and communication of the day scholars, knowledge in arithmetic, fine-motor coordination, colouring, hygiene, social skills, different tasks and their execution, helpfulness and co-operation, neatness, eagerness to attend new tasks and relations to others and teachers and games and sports, besides other extracurricular activities. Recommendations and suggestions were also given in the report cards for further improvement of the day scholars. Feedback from parents and guardians were forthcoming on the occasion and one of the parents, Wanda Syiem, expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the management and teachers who have helped him to overcome his difficulties.
According to Syiem, her son being autistic was earlier admitted at Mary Rice centre for special education till the age of 17.
“After staying home for long, he became agitated and aggressive following which I wanted to take the help of San Ker but he said it was meant only for lunatics. Still, we took the day care programme of San-Ker and within a year, his condition improved and he began socialising and the credit goes to the institute,” Syiem said. Later, prizes were given away by the director of San-Ker, Dr Sandi Syiem.
According to San-Ker, it provides day-time care services with a focus on teaching self-help skills besides vocational training for individuals who are mentally ill or mentally retarded, who require constant supervision.
Day-care services expose individuals to a working environment and allow them to gradually adapt and equip themselves to meet the demands of life.
Individuals are given the opportunity to learn at a pace they are comfortable with, so as to make their transition towards functionality a lot easier. Activities are thus structured according to the needs of the individual, with a consideration of the many factors that play a role in their lives, to enable them to learn skills and find meaning or a sense of purpose in their lives.
Services provided focus on training them in self-help skills, vocational training and handicrafts.
