BHARATI PAWASKAR
They are a bunch of enthusiastic learners - and there’s no age bar for exploring a totally new or an everyday life-skill here. A child as young as five or six can easily find herself in the comfort zone here and a senior citizen too can spend a purposeful afternoon learning to paint or sing or play a musical instrument. It’s their place, a home where all are welcome, irrespective of age or their neurological conditions. It’s Owl House.
“It is unbelievable how my son communicates now. He is actually able to tell me what he wants and needs. And nothing is more important to me, at this point of life,” exclaims a relieved parent whose son has shown a tremendous improvement in his social skills after he began to visit the Owl House regularly.
“The Owl House is a community service initiative that opened its doors for kids and youth with neurological differences, primarily Autism Spectrum Conditions along with their parents. Everything here is based on an individualised plan developed for each member and their family in accordance with their specific needs and strengths,” briefs Renuka Figueiredo, programme co-ordinator at the Owl House and a psychologist by profession.
After it began operations in June this year, the Owl House has held 40 workshops various areas. There are currently 60 people on their database and a team of nine including the four educators works in varying capacities. There are 17 regular members and about 20 others who come in for workshops a few times a month.
“The individuals between 6 and 31 years of age who are diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, sensory processing difficulties, intellectual difficulties, ADHD, Down’s Syndrome and specific learning difficulties are our students,” informs Renuka.
Autism is a part of an individual but it definitely does not define who they are. No matter what the diagnosis is, it is important for us to view them first as an individual and then as having a condition. Our ultimate goal as an organisation is to change the focus from ‘eliminating/curing’ various forms of neurodiversity and focus instead on coping, acceptance and acknowledgement of the distinctive strengths of each individual.
Running on Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm, there are individual training sessions on a daily basis where life skills are taught. On Wednesdays and Saturdays there are workshops for regular students as well as other individuals with special needs who go to school and resource rooms. They become little chefs, learning to make snacks and drinks, independently. The music circles allow playing different percussion based instruments and learn other skills through music. There are creative dance movements too with expressions through dance. At sensory art workshop, various art-related activities are held to stimulate and excite the senses. “While our workshops on Wednesday involve working inclusively with special needs children, on Saturdays the centre is open to neurotypical individuals as well in order to foster inclusion and sensitisation of both groups with the other,” says Renuka, adding, “On Tuesdays and Fridays from 5 pm to 6 pm we conduct skill training programs in small groups. Here the participants are trained in recyclable art, pottery, cooking and baking etc.”
The biggest source of joy for parents is, to see their children get the chance to socialise, learn and experience life in safe and fun environments. Parents have noticed communication gaps being bridged through natural interaction at the centre during workshops and are often pleasantly surprised at the various skills their children pick up in a short period of time. Many students coming in to individual sessions too show significant progress in areas of communication, self-confidence and specific professional skills.
“We are currently helping as many people as possible but will definitely need to expand our team and centre as required to be able to help many more individuals with special needs and their families across the state and country,” Renuka agrees.
A few like-minded individuals from Mumbai decided to set up a centre to provide support to and empower people with special needs. They realised that there was a serious need for a service in Goa that takes care of the personal and professional needs of each child. And so, The Owl House took shape to create a stable and nurturing environment that is child focused and enables individuals with special needs to become integrated members of the community and thus lead more purposeful and meaningful lives.
