It is late in the evening and Durga is busy teaching prose to her students. With many students seated in the living room, taking notes in Hindi and a few others waiting for her to correct their completed work, she makes sure her 12 year-old boy completes his drawing lessons. Her watchful eyes shift from her students to her son, who seems very much a part of her class.
She takes a break from her lecture for a minute and says, “Vaibhav shows great interest in karate. He will be getting his beginners belt in June.”
Winding up her tuition classes she continues, “Now, he interacts with everybody well, thanks to Mathrumandir and the special school in Anna Nagar he goes to.”
While Vaibhav continues playing, trying to grab her spectacles, she smiles and recalls the day her baby was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, a genetic disorder, when she was in the sixth month of her pregnancy.
“Back then, many doctors insisted that I aborted the baby, and reminded me of many alternatives like adoption. But I was determined to have a baby, despite my late pregnancy and its consequences. With a supportive family, who believed in my strong decision, I was confident that I could raise the baby in an amicable atmosphere,” says Durga.
She feels that there is more awareness and the level of acceptance for such kids has increased, unlike in the past, when special children were viewed differently.
“We take him everywhere we go, be it family gatherings or movies. We try to keep him socially connected, which is a major part of the treatment. I find that wherever we go, he is loved and adored by all,” she says, beaming with pride.
Talking about the special attention required and the time she spends with Vaibhav, Durga emphasises that it is very important for parents of special children not to lose hope and patience.
She says that parents have to be understanding and adapt themselves to the needs and requirements of these differently abled children.
And, for Durga her little boy is nothing different from any other child in the same age group.
With the sole aim of making him independent, Durga says she is not worried much about his career.
“I treat him like any other 12-year-old; to me he is absolutely normal. I make him sit along with my students and help him with his lessons, so that he doesn’t feel that I am forcing him to study. I also make sure he interacts a lot with the other kids which will improve his communication to a large extent. I am not bothered about the days to come or his career. My only desire is to make my son lead an independent life,” she adds.
Hair loss is part of the disorder and Vaibhav loses tufts of hair everyday and he has almost become bald.
“He refuses to wear a cap. But, I have heard that in Western countries, people shave off their hair as a style statement. Let him follow the trend (laughs),” as she lovingly taps her son’s bald head.
“Vaibhav is a smart boy and there is more to discover about him,” she adds.