The National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple
Disabilities (NIEPMD) in Chennai recently opened a new swimming pool for
children with disabilities at their centre. The pool has all the state of art
facilities and kids will be trained under the guidance of experts. Since
hydrotherapy does wonders to a disabled child, parents and members from the
community have welcomed this latest initiative.
Experiencing the depths of water and indulging in it can do wonders to a
person, especially if they have a disability. Experts have proved how
hydrotherapy helps to improve the many skills of a person with
disability. It enhances the muscle strength, decreases joint pain and even
helps to improve cognitive skills to name a few. The National
Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities
(NIEPMD) in Chennai recently opened a pool, especially for children
with disabilities. Members from disability community have given a thumbs up
for this latest government initiative.
Reportedly, a central government initiative like this for kids with
disabilities has been started in the city for the first time which makes it
even more unique. Children with all kinds of disabilities including muscular
dystrophy, muscular atrophy and autism can get the best swimming experience
at the NIEPMD pool under the guidance of experts. Rs 1.31 crore
have been spent on this project which is already open to the public.
Madhavi Latha, a wheelchair user, is a Paralympic
swimmer from Chennai. Madhavi is the President of
the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India and believes
that swimming can be beneficial to people with disabilities in many ways.
A similar pool for disabled people was started behind the Jawaharlal Nehru
indoor stadium. It is great that such initiatives for people with
disabilities are coming up in the city. Hydrotherapy is great for health.
So any rehabilitation facilities must definitely have it with expert
trainers. When you go underwater, the body weight is lesser. I can make
movements and even jump under water which I cannot do
otherwise-Madhavi Latha, Paralympic Swimmer.
15 children can use the pool at the same time for about 30 to 45 minutes. All
the facilities of the pool are available free of cost for people below
poverty line. Experts will ensure that the pool temperature is maintained
between 32-40 Degree Celsius. A heating system of Rs 31.5 lakh will be
introduced soon. Since the pool is below five feet, children can safely move
around. International standards are maintained to ensure nothing lesser than
the best for the NIEPMD pool.
“Hydrotherapy is very useful in the treatment of various intellectual and
developmental disabilities. Though it is known for helping people with
cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, it is equally good for kids who have
autism and ADHD since they have relatively low muscle tone. It helps to calm
them down and also in enhancing their sensory integration. A hydrotherapy
centre is very expensive and we do not have many such places. It is indeed
laudable that the NIEPMD has set it up for the benefit for all. Special needs
community would look forward for more such facilities being available in more
Indian cities”, says Gopi Ramakrishnan, Co-founder, SCAN, a
popular parent support group in Chennai.
Experts will conduct various programmes and activities for children at the
pool. Experiencing the water is going to be a new and blissful experience for
many kids with disabilities.
BS Santosh Kanna, head of the physiotherapy department of
NIEPMD says to Times of India, “The pool will helps us to speed up the
rehabilitation process and improve the quality of life of people with
disabilities, and help increase the life span of those suffering from
muscular dystrophy by seven to 15 years”.
Also Read: Disability rights groups protest against Dehradun pool for
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