Making them ‘special’: Chennai-based Prakarmika Vocational Institute assists persons with special needs

 Persons with special needs acquire skills, get employable

Sapna and Karthik have one thing in common: autism. They gave a vocal music concert in Tirupati recently, thanks to Chennai-based Prakarmika Vocational Institute’s role in unearthing their talent.

Chinmay Joshi of Mumbai, having multiple disabilities including epilepsy, has turned a block printer on Thamboolam bags.

Radhika of Salem, suffering from brittle bone disease, is good at doll decoration with recycled paper.

Aditya Rao from Mumbai and Addu from Bengaluru, both suffering from autism, are good at making handmade chocolates and artificial jewellery respectively.

Once considered ‘onerous dependents’ in view of the nature of their disability and also the long term support involved, they are now welcome everywhere.

The transformation came after Gayatri Narasimhan, founder of Prakarmika, volunteered to reach out to such needy people to not only make them independent, but also integrate them into the society.