For more than half a year now, a yellow and blue bus has spelled hope for parents of children with special needs across Himachal Pradesh’s remote villages. Onboard are occupational therapists and physiotherapists with a gamut of equipment to use during their hour-long ‘Therapy on Wheels’ sessions.
The bus was rolled out by Aash Child Development Centre run by the Samphia Foundation that works with kids having developmental disabilities on December 3 to mark the World Disability Day. Funded by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, the bus has helped the organisation start their ‘Therapy on Wheels’ initiative.
The difficult terrain of the state located in the foothills of the Himalayas often led to kids being unable to reach the centre established by the NGO for their physiotherapy/occupational therapy sessions. Even if volunteers visited the child, it was difficult for them to carry the required equipment. It was then that the idea of the bus was floated.
The vehicle was designed to accommodate all the needs of the kids like a ramp to show wheelchairs on board. It also has a place for all the equipment including a treadmill. It goes from village to village, with parents bringing the kids to the bus and taking them home after their sessions.
