A trip to remember

Twenty-eight special needs children experience Yercaud without the company of their parents and caregivers

Getting out of the home, camping, trekking and spending time with friends has become more of a fantasy in this new normal, especially for special needs children and their caregivers. As a parent of a neuro-diverse child, I continue to experience this. With schools closed and therapy classes unavailable, the turns of events since last year has taken a toll on people, physically, mentally and emotionally. This has had an effect on stress levels and behaviour, making things more difficult for parents. Recently, 28 special children from Chennai got a much-needed break when Brio Sports Academy conducted a life skill development camp for them at Yercaud. What was unique about the camp was that parents did not accompany the children during the five-day programme. The group left from the city taking the train and reaching the camp with 12 coaches from the Academy conducting activities like trekking, sightseeing and group work.