Outreaching the Neurodiverse Bengal with IAC

Could one evaluation unleash a child’s potential and open doors to a world of endless possibilities?

Guided by this motto, our RCI-certified rehabilitation psychologist, Mrs Sarmishtha Bhattacharya, along with her team members Shaireen Ali and Trisha Chakraborty, embarked on a mission at Riddhi Society for Remedial and Integrated Education and Sanchar in Kolkata. 

The aim was to continue IAC’s strong commitment to helping individuals with different neurodevelopmental issues through neurodevelopmental assessments and intervention, regardless of their financial situation.

At Riddhi Society, the psychologists created detailed diagnostic reports using assessments like Conners-3, Raven’s Progressive Matrices, MISIC, the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, etc. Such assessments generate reports that provide concise and vetted information about their behaviour, development, and cognitive functioning. 

Therefore, we can reflect on the individual’s description of abilities and challenges and formulate suitable interventions.

But, unlike Riddhi, the visit to Sanchar had a different objective: to establish a library of educational and therapeutic resources for their students. These students come from families living below the poverty line and are unable to afford a standard lifestyle, adequate nutrition, neuro-developmental therapy or any assistive technology to help with their neurodiverse challenges. 

Thus, creating a comprehensive repository of data on the student’s capabilities and difficulties can support the creation of the library. So, the diagnostic assessments were mainly for mental age detection including DST, VSMS, and Cattel’s “g” test: scale1. The reports served as a tool for planning and procuring the required materials. 

The collected data and the educational plans drawn out of these visits bridge the gap between the “haves” and “have nots” among the neurodiverse children in Bengal. 

The India Autism Center serves as a proponent of inclusivity for neurodiverse individuals, persisting in its commitment to the principle that every child merits the opportunity to thrive, notwithstanding their respective backgrounds and neurodevelopmental disorders.