Tag: mumbai

Categories
Event

Attend: Flower show at Marine Drive

In a city fast losing its green cover, this plant and flower show is sure to gladden you. Don’t miss.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Mumbai city is currently inundated with cratered roads and accompanying debris and filth. Ordinarily, too, the city has long given up the green cover it used to enjoy to large plots of land housing residential and office buildings.

So in the midst of this concrete jungle, any respite in the form of plants and flowers is surely a welcome change.

Yesterday, the Governor of Maharashtra Ch. Vidyasagar Rao inaugurated a flower and plant Show organised by ‘I Love Mumbai’ on Marine Drive, Mumbai. The exhibition houses several varieties of flowering and non-flowering plants, which are on sale as well. The showing is on till January 17, 2015.

Ch Vinodha, wife of the Governor, Nana Chudasama, Founder of ‘I Love Mumbai’, Shaina NC and Sardar Tara Singh, MLA were among those present on the occasion.

Head to the plant and flower show at Service Road outside Wilson Gymkhana, next to Taraporewala aquarium, Marine Drive, Mumbai.

(Pictures courtesy Raj Bhavan, Mumbai)

Categories
Autism

A 14-year-old with lower gross or fine motor skills

Children on the Autism spectrum often display core deficits in motor skills, while others may face problems of another nature.
Kamini Lakhaniby Kamini Lakhani | saiconnections01@gmail.com

Part 2 of the Autism Diaries – Discussing the Autism Core Deficits

Neeraj is a 14-year-old on the Autism Spectrum. He is non verbal and communicates using the PECS (Picture Exhange Communication System).  He has problems with both gross and fine motor skills. He displays attention and hyperactivity issues. His parents and teachers need to work hard on keeping him engaged. Reading and writing is a problem for him. The focus right now is on self help skills, on giving him the quality of life that will help him be independent. He needs to be challenged mentally through situations where he needs to solve problems.

Contrast Neeraj with Dheeraj, who is also a 14-year-old on the Autism Spectrum. He studies in a regular school and is doing fairly well. He scored 70 per cent in the last exam. He also may have some attention problems. He finds only Math and Science difficult and hence needs some remedial intervention for this. Otherwise, he is independent and engages in reasonably good conversations. At present, we are working on emotional sharing and understanding the true meaning of friendship.

Both boys were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. How do they share the same diagnosis and yet appear so different? Autism spectrum core deficits

The definition of Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Children with autism are less able to interact with the world as other children do. Typically they have deficits in three key areas:

  1. Verbal and non-verbal communication
  2. Social awareness and interactions
  3. Imaginative play (variable interests and behaviours).

To provide a comprehensive definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder, there are separate labels for different points on the spectrum. At the least affected end, you find labels like ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’, ‘High Functioning Autism’ and ‘Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified’ (PDD-NOS). At the other end of the spectrum you may find labels such as ‘Autism’, ‘Classic Autism’ and ‘Kanner’s Autism’.

Keeping the above definition in mind, Neeraj may fall under the category of ‘Classic Autism’ and Dheeraj may fall under ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’ or ‘High Functioning Autism’.

The Core Deficits of Autism

Dr Steven Gutstein, renowned psychologist and founder of RDI (Relationship Development Intervention), has outlined certain core deficits of autism. These core deficits are mostly shared by everyone on the Autism Spectrum, irrespective of their language abilities, IQ or academic success.

  1. Declarative or experience sharing communication: If they are non verbal, they may point to get what they want. If they are verbal they may ask for what they want, make demands, talk about their particular interests. But verbally or non-verbally, they may find it difficult to share their experiences and feelings with you.
  2. Referencing: They may learn to recognise and label various facial expressions, or be taught ‘eye contact’, but they can’t borrow your perspective to help them resolve situations of uncertainty.
  3. Regulating: They may learn to follow procedures and scripts, but engage with you, in back and forth interactions, if you are being spontaneous or unpredictable.
  4. Episodic Memory (Autobiographical Memory): They may have a good rote or procedural memory, but lack the kind of personal memory which allows them to reflect on past experiences or anticipate future ones.
  5. Flexible thinking: They may understand rule-based thinking, or use black and white thinking, but can’t rapidly adapt or alter plans based on changing circumstances, think of multiple right answers, know when something is ‘good enough’ or see ‘shades of grey’.

AutismRecognising Asperger’s Syndrome

Here is another scenario that you may find interesting.

I recently met with the parents of a student, who has just completed his 10th grade. The boy scored well in his exams. Placement in college is difficult. He displays behavioural issues which may not be acceptable in college. He ‘managed’ to get away at school – but his parents are concerned about what he will do in college. They’ve taken him to different vocational centers around the city, but he displays even more severe behaviour such as self-hitting in such places. He feels that the other students here are ‘abnormal’. He is unwilling to accept his diagnosis of ASD. He has Asperger’s Syndrome.

I went through the core deficits listed above with the parents. They confirmed that their son displayed all the core deficits. So, the point is, Core Deficits of ASD will be present, irrespective of the level of functioning.

For an accurate diagnosis, it is important to use the Core Deficits criteria, as opposed to just looking at language and speech and imaginative play.

There are other problems that ‘attach’ to Autism Spectrum disorders. These are co-occurring conditions. These could be:

  1. Speech or language difficulties? No speech? Delayed speech? Echolalia?
  2. Do they have sensory issues: over sensitivity to sounds, lights and textures?
  3. Motor difficulties: fine motor? Gross motor? Motor planning?
  4. Emotional regulation difficulties: anxiety, depression, aggression?
  5. Physical or diet related difficulties: allergies, limited diet?
  6. Repetitive behaviors: ‘stimming’, hand flapping?

Most programmes focus on improving the co-occurring conditions. By doing this, things may get better. However, unless the Core Deficits are treated, Autism may not be truly remediated.

Here is a query that I received recently.

Hi,

My child was diagnosed to have autistic features at 17.5 months. His m chat was 11 abnormal out of 20. We started special education at this time itself. Now he has improved a lot. He is 23 months now and current m chat is 2 out of 20 and cars is 22.5. Although he is out of ASD but not speaking properly yet. He understands and follows almost 80% commands. He is trying to speak many words but not able to. So I have started speech therapy. Kindly tell me his prognosis. Will he come in line same as normal kids? What percentage chances are there for him to come back to normal, pls tell? (sic)

This is likely to happen when Core Deficits are not worked on. Once the core deficits are worked on, we are likely to see balanced development.

I’m currently following the RDI technique which not only addresses core deficits of autism but also focusses on parent training which helps them manage the uncertainty that comes along with a having an autistic child. Please email any questions you have at saiconnections01gmail.com and I will reply to you.

Do share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.

Kamini Lakhani is the founder of SAI Connections. She is a Behaviour Analyst, an RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) Consultant, Supervisor and Trainer responsible for RDI professional training in India and the Middle East. She is the mother of an adult on the Autism Spectrum. She is also a member of Forum for Autism.

Next: The disconnect between static and dynamic intelligence.

(Pictures courtesy www.dw.de (photographer M Krishna), worldstemcells.com, www.thecuttingedgenews.com. Images are used for representational purpose only

Categories
Enough said

Of flying chariots and other ‘scientific’ claims

If the claims in the recent Indian Science Congress were to be believed, ancient India had invented and discovered everything.
Humra Quraishiby Humra Quraishi

I don’t understand this. If India was really as evolved as all that, where did all the knowledge go? Worse still, why are we such an unevolved species now, when we have technology at our fingertips?

I have been following news reports about the Indian Science Congress held recently in Mumbai, and I am amused and bewildered by turns. The scientists attending this Congress must have been even more bewildered by the goings-on.

Here’s why. If the claims made during this event are anything to go by, the India of yore achieved the unimaginable. Take flying, for starters. As per one claim, Indians had flying devices that not just roamed the skies from one end of the universe to the other, they also hopped planets and were able to fly sideways and backwards. And here we are in present-day India, our flights stalled for hours and passengers stranded when their standard issue plane is able to fly in no direction, including flying forward.

Then somebody else spoke with authority of ancient Indian doctors performing miracle cures and conducting the most advanced surgeries with basic tools.

A Lucknow-based scientist said India knew about America years before Columbus supposedly discovered it in the 15th Century. According to the scientist, not just India, but all of Asia was aware of America long before Columbus. (I wonder who will break the news to US President Barack Obama when he arrives here for the R-Day celebrations).

And then I began to wonder, if we were all that wonderful in the ancient years, at what point did we start losing this information? How is it possible that entire generations became slowly ignorant of their predecessors’ great discoveries and inventions? Surely there must be some record in existence somewhere that documents all these ‘facts’ that were laid out at the Congress? Where is the proof that all this happened?

And assuming that all of this was true, it is a shameful state of affairs that today, we are unable to solve murders that are years old. We cannot contain our pollution levels and we have no concept of population control. We don’t know how to treat our old parents and we are shamelessly sycophantic of moneyed people. Despite so many different industries opening up today, we still push our children into studying either medicine or engineering.

So what is the truth? Were we really such an astonishingly intelligent civilisation? So why are we such buffoons now?

Humra Quraishi is a senior political journalist based in Gurgaon. She is the author of Kashmir: The Untold Story and co-author of Simply Khushwant.

(Picture courtesy www.niticentral.com)

Categories
Autism

‘He wouldn’t respond to me, his own mother’

Autism is difficult to understand and come to terms with, for parents. But they must realise they’re not to blame.
Kamini Lakhaniby Kamini Lakhani

Part I of the Autism Diaries – When a child not responding to his mother is not being stubborn

“He was uncommunicative. He didn’t speak till he was three years old, and even then, he didn’t pick the language as quickly as other children do,” the woman remembered. “He loved playing with building blocks, he would colour in his colouring books for ages. But he hardly ever responded when I asked him a question. Imagine that. My son did not respond to me, his mother.”

In the course of my work as a Behaviour Analyst and an RDI Consultant, I often encounter this sort of plaintive recounting of life with an autistic child. And more often than not, parents tend to blame themselves for their child’s autism. Most are unable to reconcile themselves to the reality of the disorder, and hence, are slower in accepting the situation and getting help.

For others, recognising that their child has autism is the first step they are ill-equipped to take.

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders

The present rates of Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are shocking – 1 in 68 people are being diagnosed with ASD. So what exactly is Autism? Most people have an idea of what it is, but are not entirely clear.

Here’s a definition of Autism which also differentiates Autism from Autism Spectrum disorders, such as Asperger’s syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. (Source: Autism Research Institute, California)

“Autism is a severe developmental disorder that begins within the first three years after conception. Most autistic children look like other kids, but do puzzling and disturbing things which are markedly different behaviours from those of typical children. In less severe cases on the spectrum (Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) or Asperger’s Syndrome), children usually have speech and might even be intellectually gifted, but they have one or more ‘autistic’ social and behavioral problems. People used to think that autism was irreversible. The good news is that there are now a range of treatments that can be really helpful.”

Donna Williams, renowned writer having autism, often describes autism as a bowl of fruit salad. She implies that there are a lot of possible ingredients, but each person living with autism has a different mixture.

I find this to be true. I may have worked with hundreds of children and adolescents affected by autism – no two are exactly alike. They do share some common features in terms of the core deficits. But otherwise, they differ. If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism. Let us not generalise.

About 20 years ago, there were few children being diagnosed with Autism. The prevalent rates were 5 in 10,000. Today the rates have skyrocketed to 1 in 68. True, diagnostic facilities are better today, but that cannot account for such a steep increase.

It is a known fact that autism has a genetic base. However, researchers are now talking about environmental factors that could be responsible for the high rates. These include heavy metals, pesticides, vaccinations etc. Nothing so far, has been scientifically validated.

Since there is no ‘medical test’ available to ascertain if the child has autism, we rely heavily on observation. Three basic areas that we normally look at:

Social Interaction

The child on the spectrum may not play appropriately with toys. For example, instead of playing appropriately with toy cars, they may line up the cars or just spin the wheels around. There may be a lack of reciprocity in back and forth interaction. They may not engage in pretend play.

Communication

One may notice fewer words being spoken, lack of speech or in some cases, no speech at all. The child may not respond to his name by one year of age – this could be a red flag. The child may also seem to be in his own world, not paying attention to what somebody is saying.

Repetitive behaviours

One may also notice the child engaging in stereotyped kind of behaviours, hand flapping or an ‘emotional’ attachment to certain inanimate objects. For those with PDD or Aspergers, one may notice limited interests or inability to determine if others are even interested in what they are talking about. For example the child may have a huge amount of knowledge about airplanes and will insist on talking about this, whether he has an interested audience or not.

Here are some signs of autism to look out for:

Autism signs

Autism symptoms

 

If you suspect your child has autism…

Check with your pediatrician if he/she can run the M- Chat (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers). This is a simple, preliminary questionnaire which points towards ASD. If the pediatrician is not aware of this there are development centers that you could visit.

Visit a child development center such as

– Ummeed Child Development Center, 1-B,1/62, Mantri Pride Building, Subash Nagar, N.M.Joshi Marg, Near Arthur Road Junction, Lower Parel (E), Mumbai, 400011

– Drishti Child, 205-206, Midas Chamber, off New Link Road,Andheri (W), Mumbai-400053

– SAI Connections, 201 ,2nd Floor, Bhagya Ratan Niwas, Above Prabhu Jewellers, 3rd road, Khar (W), Mumbai- 400 054.

Development Centers will normally run a battery of tests and a multi speciality team will carefully observe your child. Contact Forum for Autism (a registered parent body) for support and to connect with more experienced parents.

You are not to blame

The diagnosis of Autism is very difficult to accept. You are not responsible for what has happened. It is NOT your fault. You did not do anything wrong. Instead, below is what you can do, for yourself and your family.

  1. Take care of yourself – physically and mentally. I definitely suggest counselling for parents with newly-diagnosed children.
  2. Go through the grieving process and accept the diagnosis.
  3. Please do not be afraid of the stigma. We need to educate ourselves, our families and the communities that we live in.
  4. Early intervention is proven to be effective. What I find commonly happening in India, is that parents take too much time ‘shopping around’. Study options available – do your research and start working with your child, as soon as possible.
  5. And finally, things will get better.

Do you have questions? Do you suspect that your child has autism? Feel free to send me an email at saiconnections01@gmail.com. I will be happy to help.

Kamini Lakhani is the founder of SAI Connections. She is a Behaviour Analyst, an RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) Consultant, Supervisor and Trainer responsible for RDI professional training in India and the Middle East. She is the mother of an adult on the Autism Spectrum. She is also a member of Forum for Autism.

Next: A comprehensive view of autism, its symptoms and core deficits.

(Pictures courtesy www.thehindu.com, SAI Connections. Featured image is used for representational purpose only)

Categories
Achieve

Mumbai boy wins National Taekwondo championship

Chembur school student Atharva Samant bagged two gold medals at the National Taekwondo championship which was held in Daman two days ago.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

There’s no stopping this boy from winning gold. Chembur-based Atharva Samant (14), who is already a known name in Maharashtra’s juniors Taekwondo circuit for his penchant for winning gold medals, has done it again. The Class 8 student of Swami Vivekanand School, Chembur won two gold medals at the recently-concluded National Taekwondo championship held at Diu and Daman – he was representing Maharashtra after his big wins at the State championships held last month in Mumbai.

Atharva won gold at his favoured events – aekwondo Poomsae and Taekwondo Sparring in the Under-14 category. After the win, he credited his coach Shrikant Mishra for his recent win and all his wins thus far. He has won gold at previous national meets held in Mumbai, Surat and Amritsar.

Categories
Hum log

Want happiness? Look for it on your bedding

Two Mumbai-based siblings brought the famous ‘Happiness is…’ brand to home furnishings, and their venture has found many loyal takers.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

It was a simple idea, but it took social media by storm. US-based Ralph Lazar and Lisa Swerling started the ‘Happiness is…‘ page on Facebook in late 2013, and within days, people were logging on just to see the newest illustration defining everyday moments of happiness. Very soon, the creators started crowdsourcing ideas and illustrating them.

Jairaj RupareliaIn Mumbai, Jairaj Ruparelia (26, in pic on left) was steering the ship in his family business – H&P Textiles – and pondering over a problem. A problem related to bed sheets, more specifically. “A survey of the market made me realise one fact: there is a glaring gap between what 8 or 9-year-olds sleep on, and what a 20-year-old sleeps on. The latter age group is not interested in the cliched Disney-themed designs, or even the usual Batman and Superman,” Jairaj told The Metrognome. “Teenagers don’t even care what they’re sleeping on. But they are big spenders on things that catch their fancy. So we wondered which design would appeal to them the most.”

The team brainstormed over several designs internally. “Meanwhile, I was seeing that the ‘Happiness is…’ page was trending on social media. I loved the concept behind it and had been following it for a while,” Jairaj says. “Then it struck me – why not have these wonderful little designs on home furnishings?” He wrote an email to the page’s creators, asking if they were open to collaborating on a domestic level, where his company would select the couple’s designs for bed sets. “Ralph wrote back the next day, expressing interest,” Jairaj grins.

And so the connection was forged.

Happiness!

The idea was a very unusual one – anyone else in the business would probably have thought of using the designs on apparel first. “We started negotiations with Ralf Happiness Tote Bagand Lisa in February 2014, and told ourselves that the line would be out by October,” Jairaj remembers. “We were also putting together the distribution and retail channels for the new line. We had to move fast with it, because this was a social media trend, ultimately – you sit on it for too long, the trend dies down, and you lose out,” he explains.

Shruti RupareliaVery soon, though, both Jairaj and his sister Shruti (30, in pic on left), who helms the company with him, realised that the project was unviable if they did all the work on their own. “We decided to take our idea to Portico; they already had a retail and distribution channel, and we said we would pay them a certain percentage,” Jairaj says. In the next meeting, however, H&P Textiles decided to sub-license to Portico and work on it together. “It was fantastic! We couldn’t have got a better partner for the venture,” he grins.

Getting the illustrations done

Meanwhile, Ralph and Lisa were briefed about the designs that would most suit the Indian market. “Ralph was stunned to discover just how important family ties are for Indians,” Jairaj says. “Even on their Facebook page, they receive about 30 per cent of their ideas from India, and most of the ideas are about family. The rest are about friendship. There is also a fair bit of ideation happening on ‘me time’.”

The line of bed sets, totes and other merchandise rolled out as planned, and sold out before anyone realised what was happening. “Portico even received complaints about the line’s non-availability,” Jairaj laughs. They quickly consolidated after not being able to meet the high demand at first, and have now expanded the concept with a line of ceramics after tying up with Oasis Ceramics. The duo will now take the idea into apparel.

What if the bubble bursts?

“We realise that all trends die down, that this bubble will also burst some day,” Jairaj explains. “But if you think about it, this concept deals with spreading happiness. It cuts across geographic Mug boundaries. That is why it is more than just a social trend and is so powerful. People turn to the Internet to escape negativity in their lives. What better way to look at something in your home and feel happy?” he asks.

(Pictures courtesy Jairaj Ruparelia)

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