When Manikandan came to us in 2006, he was intellectually disabled, could not speak clearly and walked with a limp. He also found it difficult to use one of his hands and was dependent on outside assistance.

Today, he is in the Primary Group and the self-help training that we provide has seen a marked improvement in him. He is able to communicate his views and needs clearly because his speech has improved. Also the limp has been reduced to a large extent. He is in the process of enhancing movement in his hand as well. He can also feed and dress himself without support.

Coming to Sri Arunodayam was transformational for Manikandan.

Vijay was three days old when his parents abandoned him near a Government Hospital in Tiruvannamalai. Seven years later, in 2007, he was sent to Sri Arunodayam. Due to the lack of any social and educational stimulation, his physical, communicative, social and emotional development was impaired and he required constant supervision.

Over the past three years we can see how the environment at Sri Arunodayam has benefited him significantly. He is making steady progress in our Early Intervention Group. He now enjoys colouring and painting, is able to communicate excellently, as well as being physically independent. Also, he has emotionally developed and now spontaneously expresses his affection for his friends and doesn’t fail to lend a helping hand.

When seven year old Banga came to Sri Arunodayam in 2008, he suffered from Pica, a medical disorder that induces an appetite for non-nutritive substances like metal, soil, paper etc. Though he was in the pre-primary group, he was completely dependant and hyperactive. He needed to be constantly supervised.

Today, we can see the radical change that the physiotherapy, occupational therapy and special education programs that we run, have wrought in him. He can communicate well and is more cooperative during training and therapy. As he learns to be more independent, he is beginning to enjoy himself especially on the recreational trips that we organise for the children. His newfound independence allows him to dress himself, eat healthy and indicate his needs.

Sri Arunodayam has been able to provide Banga with a new lease of life.

The Cradle Baby Scheme, organised by the Tamil Nadu government to reduce female infanticide, was the means by which Sunithi came to be with us in 2006. Two years old at the time, she was completely dependent on outside aid, had low vision and was bedridden. She showed neither signs of communicative development nor any emotional or social tendencies.

She was immediately placed in our Early Intervention Group and our therapists, care givers and special educators walked the extra mile to help rehabilitate her. Today, after four years, we can see the fruit of their labour. Sunithi is independent – she can walk without aid and can feed herself. Additionally, her communication has improved to such an extent that she gestures and speaks, to converse and vocalise her desires.

Sri Arunodayam has been a place of revitalisation and restoration for Sunithi.

In 2006, when two year old Saravanan was found abandoned in a vegetable market in Vellore, he suffered from mild intellectual disability, was bow-legged and had no vision in one eye. He was unable to talk or walk, apart from being disinterested in everything around him.

The last four years at Sri Arunodayam have seen a marked change in him. He now communicates through hand gestures and monosyllables and responds excellently to questions and comments. He is no longer dependent on outside aid and is able to clothe and feed himself. Our Early Intervention Program, which is designed to meet the delayed development needs of children, has seen a massive improvement in Saravanan. His apathy has disappeared to such an extent that he now enjoys and craves being the centre of attention when in a group of children!

Abandoned because of a neurological condition that caused his body to shiver continuously, Gokul came to be with us at Sri Arunodayam in 2003. He was also intellectually disable, mute and was highly dependent on outside aid.

When he arrived, we realised that all he needed was a little care and affection, so we placed him in the Pre-Primary Group, where he has been undergoing therapy and training. Today, the change in him is phenomenal! He is independent enough to dress and feed himself and even tries to talk! However, his inability to speak clearly, doesn’t slow him down. He is an excellent mimic and can imitate any action to communicate his views! Educationally, he loves Mathematics and can add, subtract and has memorised the tables from one to five! Today, Gokul has been classified an independent child!