KE SAFIYA

KE SAFIYA- Autism Centre
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/KESafiya-Autism-Centre/351946128170440)

    Today, my second official day with L’Arche Kerala, known here as Ashaniketan, we spent the afternoon visiting with the folks from KE SAFIYA Autism Centre. It is a school for children with autism. L’Arche is mainly adults. In rare circumstances they offer placements for children, but typically LArche is meant for adults with developmental disabilities. Being around all these energetic children was amazing. I couldn’t help trying to take everything in at every moment. So much life and excitement. Lots of energy put forth by those taking care of all the little kids.
     There was one little boy, in particular that I couldn’t help fixating on. This was a difficult task as he wouldn’t stop moving. He would not sit down; there was too much to see and do. He would move from one corner of the building to the complete opposite in a flash. But he didn’t run around. He would move very gently, so much so that his teachers would barely notice that he had left. He was clever in this way; move so you are indistinguishable. Before snack time had officially begun and been distributed he was already walking around the room with a cookie in his hand. Even after everyone had finished their snacks he had located yet another biscuit as he continued to move around. Hilarious! At one point he was twirling a flower around in his hand. I really loved it and tried to capture a photo with my camera. He took great interest in the camera, came over sat right on my lap and took a bunch of photos with the flower. I got a couple of great ones with him too. He liked looking through the photos on my camera. It was probably the only instance where I saw him sit in one place for longer than twenty seconds. What a fabulous little boy!
    The afternoon was a delight! KE SAFIYA is incredible. It is a resource centre comprised of a special needs school including vocational education and rehabilitation. KE SAFIYA is set up to have a variety of resources available under one roof as opposed to shifting from centre to centre for testing or other. Part of the aim is to help guide youth at a young age. For example children below four years old will go into the “Early Intervention Service” which focuses on motor skills, cognition, and communication. The Vocational Training centre is pre-vocational training dependent upon abilities. Skills offered include office management, home management, teachers aid, candle and card making.
    Other programs KE SAFIYA offers includes parent-infant programs, guidance and counseling programs, audiological evaluations and interventions, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and sensory therapy, among many other options.
    I was surprised to see such a far reaching organization here in India, and yes that is partly my narrow mindedness. Compared to Canadian standards occupational and physio therapies are more common but not so much with autistic or developmentally disabled individuals. I worked at a physiotherapy clinic but our clientele was geared towards sports injuries, as there were two Olympic teams located in town and lots of avid skiers. A good friend of mine is studying recreational therapy and has looked into the benefits of this type of therapy with the developmentally disabled, but it is nowhere near mainstream. All this being said I would appreciate this facility if it were in Canada, let alone in Kerala, India.
    All in all my experience this afternoon was beyond enjoyable. I was so impressed with KE SAFIYA and would like to visit the facility while I am still in the area. I wish the center the best of luck and success with what they are offering to autistic children.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/KESafiya-Autism-Centre/351946128170440