Nethravathi, or Nethra for short, is a sponsored girl. Thanks to the support of her sponsor, she and her family have access to important services like education, housing, and healthcare. She lives with her parents and two siblings.

“She loves anything girly like flowers, bindi and bangles,” says Nethra’s father. “She feels very happy when she gets to wear them.”

When Nethra was five years old, she could neither speak nor walk like other children. Her parents decided to take her to a government hospital, where the doctors diagnosed her with an intellectual disability and speech impairment. Nethra joined RDT’s Vikalangula Sangham for support and was later enrolled in one of RDT’s five Intellectual Disability Centers.

Nethra thrived at the center. “When Nethra arrived at the center, she could barely do anything or eat by herself,” explains Kalawathi, Nethra’s therapist. “There has been noticeable improvement in her behavior.”

Unfortunately, the pandemic forced the center to shut down and Nethra had to return home. This created a complicated situation for her parents, both of whom are day laborers on construction sites.

“The lockdown has severely hit our income. When the center had to close due to the lockdown,  Nethra came home, I had to stay at home to take care of her so I could not go for any work,” explains her mother. Bringing Nethra to work with them isn’t an option. Her parents avoid leaving her alone in unfamiliar situations because sometimes it can trigger her.

The lockdown could have severely affected Nethra’s progress, but home therapy has helped her catch up and improve. “I teach her basic things such as bathing, brushing, folding clothes, etc.,” says Kalawathi. “Now she is able to peel garlic all by herself.”

Though the home visits have helped, Nethra’s parents hope the center will reopen soon so that Nethra can continue to learn and grow. “We are waiting for the center to open because it is a safe and secure place for her. Our worry for her will be less,” her mother explains.