Aftab Sayyed has been a regular, at STK since he was nine years old. He has significant difficulties in speaking and comprehension as a result of him being intellectually disabled. He was quite challenging for the teacher at the centre to handle. He was dependent on others for his small activities like wearing his clothes, putting on his shoes. Aftab is one of five siblings, out of which a younger brother is also intellectually challenged, his parents work very hard to make ends meet.
Initially, Aftab’s progress was slow but picked up significantly after 2016 he was introduced to a rigorous program of regular goal-based speech therapy. Aftab is now able to communicate and is significantly calmer with his hyperactivity under control . Physiotherapy has helped him with motor coordination and is even able to move his limbs to wear his own clothes independently.
Encouraged by his progress and his interest, he started his training at the STK vocational centre and quickly picked up the paper plate-making activity and was even able to carry it out for longer hours. This was a perfect time to introduce the
concept of money to this young man who was determined to overcome all the roadblocks that came his way. He was then trained to deal with buyers, retailers. Aftab started enjoying this and in a few days became good at it. He soon got an opportunity to work at a food stall near his house in the evening hours. His job is to serve customers,calculate and make their bills. It’s been over a year that Aftab is successfully doing his duties. The stall owner is also pleased with him.
Aftab grabbed every opportunity that the centre provided him and gradually overcame all his disabilities. Today, he feels very proud that even he is able to help his parents and his siblings, a real asset to his family. Now Aftab visits STK twice a week for therapies.
*We encourage the young adults to take up jobs only if they want to and if their therapists feel they would be able to perform a particular function. We strictly avoid and discourage work roles or activities in isolation wherever we think someone can take undue advantage of their disabilities.
