Speical needs wheelchair appeal

Helping Children with Disabilities by Viv Knowland MAR MIFA

In September 2008 as part of a sabbatical travelling around the world, I found myself in Sri Lanka doing voluntary work with Senahasa Trust. It was both an enriching and rewarding experience.

For seven weeks I worked alongside Jennie Hawkes, a paediatric community nurse, at the SCRC, a centre for children with disabilities near Galle. During this time I got to know the children, most of whom suffer from either cerebral palsy or Down’s Syndrome. We put together a programme of reflexology and massage and the children loved having their treatments.

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Viv at the Children's Centre

The therapies helped their spastic or contracted limbs, hands or feet to relax. Many of the children I treated cannot sit, stand or walk and often have additional problems with vision, speech or hearing impairment so it was encouraging to see smiles on their faces and happy parents watching on. The children with DS often had problems with concentration and were sometimes disruptive in group classes held at the Centre. However, after a treatment with me they were always more relaxed.

Whilst the children were attending group classes or having one to one sessions with other therapists I would give reflexology or massage to the Mums. They, after all, have the responsibility of care for their disabled child 24/7 and most are completely exhausted. They were very appreciative of the treatments.

I also had a two hour weekly session with the permanent staff of the Centre. I taught them a simple massage sequence incorporating some reflexology techniques on the hands or feet so that they could share with this with each other

The Special Needs Wheelchair Appeal

The heart wrenching situation is that so many children are in desperate need of a wheelchair. To see a parent struggling to carry in a dead weight eight year old for example is a real pull at the heartstrings. The Sri Lankan Health Service can not offer financial assistance to purchase these. There is simply a tragic lack of equipment and facilities available to these unfortunate children.

It only took a couple of minutes to make up my mind to help raise funds to buy some special needs wheelchairs, which cost £225 each.

I did this by setting up my own page on the Justgiving website (www.justgiving.com/vivienknowland).
Within six weeks I had raised £2,600 – enough money to buy 12 chairs that are adjustable as the child grows. The page is still active and any donations will be gratefully received. These new wheelchairs which are individually made and fitted have now been delivered but there are many more children in need..

Senahasa Trust continues to complete projects and progress major building work in Sri Lanka

Understanding local people and their needs from within communities is a key element of success

22 month old at a physio session