Home visit and Counseling Programs for the persons with profound Disabilities

From – June 24 to – July 4, CIL Kathmandu engaged in home visit program where the team of CIL traveled to different homes of the individuals having profound disabilities (those people whom the regular activities/interactions is also quite complicated despite the support of their attendant or caregiver because of their disabilities). Ten different houses were visited within the Kathmandu  metropolitan wherethe team properly observed, interacted and consulted with the people themselves and their caregivers and exhaustively reviewed their conditions and problems in order to make some recommendations and pressurize the governments and the concerned bodies in regards of people with disabilities of such kinds. 

The project was carried out under the financial support of Ministry of Social Welfare – Bagmati province through the Kathmandu metropolitan city. The home visit program was led by Krishna Dahal, where the counseling service along with minor aids to comfort their daily living like, hygiene keats, energy drinks and food stuffs, etc were also provided to the person visited.

The visits and discussion focused on boosting the motivation and psychological well being of the individual struggling out of their physical/psychological condition and their primary caregiver who needed to spare their full time for overall caretaking of the individuals. Meanwhile, the sittings also outlined some problems faced by the individual and the family, the services/amenities enjoyed as the part of the right by the individual and the family, cause and impact of the physical/psychological impairments on the family and finally the expectations/suggestions to the state and the responsive agencies towards the people having the profound disabilities.

The parents and the primary caregiver identified various issues that directly corresponded with the problems and challenges faced by the disability experiencer and their members of the family. Many of the families reported that the complete impairment didn’t allow them to be mobile and active in other activities and economic gain. This in turn was found to be creating pressure on financial strengths of families. Similarly, the expenses of the disability survivors was also found to be higher as compared to other ‘normal’ individuals. The problem of not having an alternative caregiver, facility of therapies and medical care with considerable discounts and also at their own residents were put forward by the guardians. Additionally, the difficulty in communication and understanding of their needs, expectation and condition was also repeatedly found since, many of the people with disabilities had multiple functional impairments. The families also drew our attention towards the predicaments experienced dring the attainment of disability identity card and the services like allowances. The Government bodies were found to be indifferent towards their issues and forcing them to present the survivor to their agency, which was almost impossible and highly costlier for the families to arrange the traveling of people who had complete impairments.

Almost all the families reported that no services except the regular social security allowances were provided. Only a very few have rarely received some energizers and hygine keats from the local Governments and the non-government organizations. Almost all the caregivers, especially the parents, were found anxious about the future of their children with disabilities. They seemed concerned on the negligible possibility of any support and rehabilitation from the state after their demise. 

The families expected for the provision of trained caregivers and also for the caring and rehabilitation centres where the persons with disabilities could be provided the services/facilities they required. The people with disabilities also wanted further financial assistance to manage their daily needs and handle their families. Some also expected to be prioritized on employment opportunities from the Government, so that employed non-disabled person could take care of the family well. Many wanted that the responsive/responsible agencies be understanding and considerate and wished that the services like, identity card and allowances would be provided without any torture. Finally, they wanted the organization like ours to regularly follow and cooperate with them to boost the condition of the disability survivors and their family conditions.

The counseling and comforting provided to the people were also proven effective. The families became happier and more motivated to support their member with impairments and the individual was hopeful to lead as much active and happy life as s/he could within the restriction of his/her condition.

Note:

Considering confidentiality, the names and pictures of the visited homes, the families and the individuals with disabilities have not been publicized.