Improve Facilities and Service Delivery in Tiruvannamalai Government Hospital

Objectives and Goals:

Making Therapy Available in Non-Cities:

• Early interventions and regular therapies drastically improve the chances of developing the capabilities of autistic individuals at an early age. However, such therapeutic interventions are costly and mostly available in highly developed cities. We noticed that it’s hard to get access to good-quality therapy for autism even in places like Tiruvannamalai. Developing such facilities across Government Hospitals is a strategic way for us to cater to children and families affected by autism who live in small towns and villages.

  
  

Free Therapy for the Economically Marginalized:

• There is currently no free public infrastructure, professionals, or resources offering the therapy autistic individuals need. Some parents who can afford it visit private institutions and pay high amounts for such therapies, while many parents from poverty-stricken backgrounds cannot even afford the transportation costs to visit health facilities regularly, let alone afford the therapies themselves. Therefore, developing free, regular therapy at government public health institutions is the only way the economically marginalized can truly access it.

  
  

Autism Focus in Public Health Care Institutions:

• Focus on autism is currently missing in the policy environment. Most Government Hospitals have necessary therapeutic infrastructure, resources, and professionals for other developmental disorders but not for autism. The need is to develop basic therapeutic facilities like sensory rooms, sensory parks, and professional therapists such as occupational therapists and speech therapists at major Government Hospitals in all districts.

  
  

Pilot Model to Scale Up Autism Care:

• We piloted a project to design and install a model for autism therapy at the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) in the Government Hospital of Tiruvannamalai. Our expert team strategically designed, selected, and installed all the basic therapeutic equipment and infrastructure necessary to provide quality therapy for autistic children. This model is now ready to be scaled up to all government hospitals by the government. We are prepared to provide expert guidance and technical support to scale up this project at both the district and state levels.

  
  

Strategy:

DEIC:

• These District Early Intervention Centres serve thousands of children from marginalized, downtrodden, and poverty-stricken backgrounds daily. It is where the identification of neuro-typical disorders like autism takes place. Families from low-income backgrounds come here for early child care. Children with other neuro-divergent challenges visit these centers to receive treatment and therapy. Naturally, these centers are the best places to start developing centers offering free therapy and rehabilitation support for autism. So, we began the first model at DEIC in Tiruvannamalai. It is the first step in the right direction to showcase a practical therapy unit.

  
  

Pilot Model:

• Although this project involved investing in infrastructure and equipment, it does not fall under the core scope of operations of our organization. However, this one-time pilot was necessary to showcase an example model that the government can scale up.

  
  

Advocacy & Outreach:

• Currently, the government lacks the funds and focus to develop such autism facilities. So, we plan to use this pilot model as an example to advocate for change on a larger scale. Our focus is on supporting the government hospital by providing expert support for its operation and maintenance, as well as conducting outreach campaigns in rural and urban slum areas of Tiruvannamalai.

  
  

The Model:

Overview:

• We have established a comprehensive therapeutic model to enhance autism care at the Government Hospital in Tiruvannamalai. This model includes a state-of-the-art sensory room and a sensory walking pathway designed to address the specific therapeutic needs of children with autism.

  
  

The Need for the Model:

• Children with autism often have unique sensory processing needs that traditional therapy settings may not address. This holistic model we developed offers a dedicated space where children can explore and engage with their senses in a controlled, supportive environment, filling this therapeutic gap.

  
  

Benefits and Therapeutic Value:

Sensory Integration:

• The sensory room and pathway help children improve their sensory processing abilities, which is crucial for daily functioning and interaction with their environment.

  
  

Enhanced Focus and Relaxation:

• Providing a calming space with tailored sensory inputs reduces anxiety and improves concentration.

  
  

Development of Motor Skills:

• The sensory pathway encourages movement and exploration, promoting the development of gross and fine motor skills.

  
  

Emotional Regulation:

• The multisensory environment helps children regulate their responses to sensory stimuli.

  
  

Sensory Room:

Features:

• The sensory room is equipped with various tools and installations aimed at stimulating and soothing the senses of autistic children:

  • Lights: Provide visual stimulation, creating a calming and engaging environment that can help children focus and relax.

  • Fiber Optics: Offer a tactile and visual experience, allowing children to explore light and color.

  • Bubble Tube: Creates a calming, mesmerizing visual effect, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.

  • Infinity Mirror: Creates depth and visual interest, encouraging exploration.

  • Colorful Changing Lights: These elements provide calming or stimulating effects depending on the individual, aiding in sensory processing and relaxation.

    
    

Parent Testimony:

• “My kid loved the room. I’ve never seen her stay so calm and focused at home. She kept looking at the bubble tube and enjoyed staying in the sensory room. It was surprising to see the effects the lights had on her.”

  
  

Therapeutic Benefits:

These tools can help children:

• Self-regulate emotions and behaviors

• Develop sensory processing and integration skills

• Enhance visual and tactile awareness

• Encourage exploration and engagement

• Reduce anxiety and stress

• Improve focus and attention

• Develop fine motor skills through interactive play

Music:

• Gentle, therapeutic music, especially classical compositions like Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach, helps in auditory stimulation, promoting calmness and focus.

Tactile Stimulation Strips:

• These strips offer various textures for children to explore, helping them develop tactile awareness and sensory integration.

  
  

Sensory Walking Pathway:

Overview:

• The sensory walking pathway is an outdoor installation designed to engage children in a natural setting. It provides various textures for children to experience underfoot, helping them develop balance, coordination, and tactile perception. It also:

  • Desensitizes and integrates sensory experiences

  • Improves tactile awareness

  • Enhances self-regulation

  • Develops fine motor skills

  • Encourages exploration and engagement

Additional Features:

• Fish Pond: The fish pond adds a visual and auditory element to the pathway, enhancing relaxation and providing a point of focus.

• Herbal Garden: Adjacent to the pathway, the herbal garden offers opportunities for olfactory stimulation, promoting curiosity about nature. It’s a sensory-friendly space, encouraging exploration, relaxation, and enjoyment. Herbs like lavender, peppermint, chamomile, and rosemary provide different sensory effects, including calming, stimulating, or improving focus.

  
  

Individual and Group Sessions:

Individual Sessions:

• Therapists can use the sensory room for one-on-one sessions, customizing sensory inputs to each child’s specific needs and therapy goals.

Group Activities:

• The sensory park can accommodate small group activities, encouraging social interaction and collaborative play among children.

Caregiver Involvement:

• We encourage caregivers to participate in sessions, learning techniques to support sensory integration at home.

  
  

This model represents a holistic approach to autism care, providing children with the tools they need to develop sensory processing abilities in a safe, nurturing environment. Our initiative not only addresses immediate therapeutic needs but also sets a precedent for integrating sensory facilities into public healthcare systems, advocating for broader access to essential autism therapies.

This structure ensures each section is clearly defined and easy to navigate.