For ‘special’ children

I am the father of a most wonderful, sweet and bubbly child. Nicole is 12, very intelligent and can memorize the newspaper entertainment columns at a glance. She loves singing and dancing and simply adores watching Bollywood movies. She has designed clothes from different fabrics in styles that are amazing. Yet, she is a very ‘special’ child with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the autism spectrum disorder called Aspergers. (Children with these disorders look and act very normal but do not make eye contact. If they have ADHD it could be mistaken for autism.)

During the holidays these ‘special’ Zoroastrian children have a very difficult time since they are accustomed to living by timetables. At the special schools which they attend there is a timetable for what to do and what not to do. During the holidays (this year the summer vacation lasted two whole months), there is no organized activity for them. It is very difficult to find singing, dancing or painting teachers for my daughter. The first lesson is usually the last. It ends in tears for my wife and daughter since most teachers are not trained to handle ADHD or autism.

During the school vacation, when many normal Parsi children take advantage of the Holiday Programme for Youth or the Zochild camp, there is no comparable activity for Zoroastrian children with autism, ADHD, those who are mongoloid or developmentally handicapped. Why are these ‘special’ children forgotten and swept under the carpet? Do the Parsi Zoroastrian elders of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet or Zoroastrian youth organizations not care for these very ‘special’ members of the community? Why are no camps organized for them? Why is nothing special done for them? The World Zoroastrian Organisation had once sent S. P. Jain Sadhana School for such children $ 1,000 dollars for the Parsi students studying there.

Because of excessive inbreeding, many Parsis have mental or physical problems. I find that many such people are unusually talented, but very shy. Please, Zoroastrian Parsis of the universe, show them your love, care and compassion. If you happen to be related to one of these autistic, ADHD or mongoloid children, call up the parent and child right now, invite them to your home and shower the child with lots of love. If the child has ADHD, put away all your delicate crystal and curios. Is it not better to show your good taste and breeding by caring for your own family members rather than displaying meaningless crystal and curios? Our ancestors never ignored their relatives no matter what their mental or physical condition was. I remember my grandfather and uncles making weekly visits to all our relatives to check on how they were doing. Sadly, none of my relatives care, no matter how closely related they are.

In your immediate neighborhood, have you, in the last one week, greeted any Parsi who is ‘special,’ tried to talk to or befriend them? Do you know how much joy a simple ‘Hello’ and a wave would bring not only to the child but to the parents and grandparents as well? "Autism Speaks” is an organization formed in USA to find out why autism has turned into an epidemic. Many important people there have come out in support of autistic children and their parents. Bill Cosby has termed the parents and relatives of autistic children ‘unsung heroes.’ Would you not like to be an unsung hero? Doing some very special things quietly and living through a personal hell, I know what I go through. If I had the support of my fellow Zoroastrians, life would become much, much easier.

There is a pressing need to organize camps for ‘special’ Zoroastrian children. For this I need to interact with loving and caring Zoroastrians and urge them to help me find sponsors for a camp for developmentally challenged children. We would require funds and camping grounds. The venue could be at the S. P. Jain Sadhana School or any other place convenient to all.

Readers can send donations for a special Zoroastrian children’s camp (please mark for summer camp) to Mehernosh Shroff, Convenor, 21 Western India House, Sir P. M. Road, Bombay 400001; tel: 91-22-22845723 or 91-9322403761; e-mail: seaworthy@vsnl.com. Funds for the S. P. Jain Sadhana School should be sent to Sister E. Gaitonde, Principal, S. P. Jain Sadhana School, Sophia College Campus, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Bombay 400026; tel: 91-22-23517913/23510853; fax: 022-23511954; e-mail: spjsadhana @gmail.com; website: www.yougive mewings.org

MEHERNOSH P. H. SHROFF