News

Volume 4 Issue 16 - August 15, 2006

Book on Cerebral Palsy released in the Capital

D.N.I.S. News Network – Sage Publications launched a book “Management of Cerebral Palsy: A Transdisciplinary Approach” at the United Nations House, in the Capital recently.

The book, intended to create awareness on cerebral palsy in the country, was released by Chandni Joshi, Regional Programme Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

A British charity organisation, Skillshare International, in partnership with Vidya Sagar, Chennai, has been working since 1999 to develop a transdisciplinary (T.D.) approach towards the management of cerebral palsy. The book documents and builds on the experiences of a team of special educators in South India who have been experimenting with the T.D. approach for disabled children.

Explaining the T.D. approach, Sadiya Saleh, special educator, Vidya Sagar, said: “What used to happen earlier was that children with cerebral palsy had to be taken to different professionals for physiotherapy, speech, special educational and occupational therapy. But the T.D. approach trains one person in all the four areas. This makes it easier for parents of special children because they now have to go to only one professional.” Sadiya expressed hope that the T.D. approach is recognised as a Continuing Rehabilitation Education programme of the Rehabilitation Council of India soon.

Speaking about the author of the book Kate Tebbett, Poonam Natarajan, Founder, Vidya Sagar said, “Kate worked with Vidya Sagar from 1999 to 2004. Because she worked with every child there, she thought of promoting the T.D. approach by writing this book.”