Neuro Visual Rehabilitation Unit

This project was a big dream of our former Chairman, Late Shri K Neelakantan. This project requires a lot of medical supervision, expert advice, and more than anything support from parents. As one of the biggest ambitions of Shri K Neelakantan, ACT decided to fulfill his dream of setting up a Neuro Visual Rehabilitation unit at the premises of Adarsh Charitable Trust, Kureekad.

Statement of Problem

It has been seen from experience in Adarsh special school that there are some children who are affected by Cerebral Palsy and other related disorders and in whose case visual impairment (low vision or near total blindness) is very significant. The brain damage that causes cerebral palsy often affects the muscles of the eye, leading to this problem. In these cases, even after overcoming other problems like consequent improvement in mobility level, sensory perceptions and related abilities, visual impairment remains unattended. In fact, about three out of four such children have a problem with squint and/or myopia(near-sightedness). Unless the problem is detected and attended early, it could result in complete loss of vision in the affected eye. Normally, children with visual challenges are sent to “blind schools” where Braille method is adopted to teach them. And for those with other issues we have special centres like Adarsh. A child with a combination of these two, as explained earlier, has the issue of not getting a professional set up to address this issue. Our effort through this project is to, at least, initiate a trial on this. ACT has signed an agreement with Giridhar Eye Institute to implement the project at the premises of ACT at Kureekad. The project was officially announced at the silver Jubilee Celebration of Giridhar Eye Institute on 17 th September 2022. The agreement was officially handed over to Shri V. Sathyanarayanan, Chairman of ACT by Dr Giridhar at the function. Background work and analysis are going on. It will be implemented soon.

Financials – To set up and run this unit

We may have to look for a support for this noble and essential project.