Aakanksha Lions Institute of Learning and Empowerment with support from Sense International India organised East Regional Network training workshop on Mental Health with the states of West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh coming together in Chhattisgarh over the span of three days from December 20 to 22, 2021. Participants of Deepshikha from Ranchi, Vikalp from Bihar, Aaina from Odisha, PGSS Gorakhpur, KSEDA from West Bengal are attending the training which aims to have exchange of information across the states and strengthen parents, educators and adults with deafblindness as local support groups in order to motivate them, build their capacity and contribute towards their social well-being.

 

To live a life with disability is not just a challenge to the Person with Deafblindness (PwDb), but also to the people associated with them. When PwDb, their families, friends and well-wishers come together and share their experiences, a network is created. Sense India has been supporting three national networks - Udaan, network of adults with deafblindness; Prayaas, network of families of persons with deaf blindness and; Abhi–Prerna, network of educators working with persons with deafblindness. Regional network meetings aim to strengthen local networks by bringing them together and addressing their needs at regional level. Through these meetings they are able to learn from each other’s experiences to respond to their local need within the community setup. December 20, first day of the meeting was graced with the presence of Krishna Kumar Nayak, CEO and Founder of Aakanksha Institute and Akhil Paul, Executive Director, Sense India. Akhil Paul said, “It is for the first time in the east region we are addressing the topic of Mental Health for persons with deafblindness, their family members and educators.

 

These trainings are done for sharing information with each other and learning in the process”. Nayak welcomed all who travelled from different states to Raipur to attend the training and learn from each other. He said,” It is important to address mental health issues which have increased in the society and need immediate attention. Due to pandemic everybody has gone through tough time, and it is appropriate that this training is happening for our benefit.” Parents from all the states shared their concerns about making their children independent and they learned importance of using sign language for communicating with their children. The group of special educators and CBR workers attended session on understanding mental health and adults with deafblindness spent time in knowing each other and the importance of technology in their life. Shrutilata Singh, a person with deafblindness herself shared information on various technology aides available to communicate better, encouraging participants to communicate more with help of these aides.