Exploring Care and Living Options for Parents and Adults with Special Needs: Panel Discussion

Speakers:

1. Ms. Swagata Banerjee: Teacher & Parent to adult with Autism
2. Ms. Swati Gokhale: Founder-Director Aastha Charitable Trust & Avdhoot Residential School for the Intellectually Disabled.
3. Ms. Shilpa Huzurbazar: Founder-Director Sanwad Speech, Hearing and Research Foundation & Rajiv College of Speech and Hearing.

Course Description:

This panel was designed to look at future plans of parents with children with neurodivergence. Given that children are likely to require extended support for activities of daily living, recreation and vocation, it is imperative for parents to plan out both finances and living options for the future. SLPs and other professionals are able to understand the cognitive level and performance patterns while working in the early stages and can help the parent in decision making. Ms. Swagata Bannerjee, outlines the factors that parents must keep in mind while choosing the residential place/program. Ms. Swati Gokhale discusses about advantages of early detachment and starting regular hostel stays. Ms. Shilpa Huzurbazar discusses hand holding by SLPs and also advantages of residential programs.