by Father Gregory Almeida
MUMBAI, JUNE 19, 2017: Thirty six professionals from different Mumbai-based organisations – a majority of them Salesian - attended a workshop aimed at helping them understand and help children with learning difficulties which was conducted by Father Ajoy Fernandes, Director of the Don Bosco Research Centre, Prafulta Counselling Centre, Mumbai on June 13. The seminar was coordinated by the YaR Coordinating Centre in collaboration Don Bosco Balprafulta.
Participants from Shelter Don Bosco Wadala, Don Bosco Balprafulta Matunga, Bosco Boys Home Borivli, Maria Ashiana Lonavla, St. Dominic Savio Boys Home Andheri, Don Bosco school Borivli, St. Dominic Savio Church Wadala, Aasara Trust Thane, Sneha Sagar Andheri, IAPA- Indian Association for Promotion of Adoption and Child Welfare Matunga, Sahayini Social Development Society Wadala and St. Catherine Home Andheri were present for the day-long workshop at Don Bosco Provincial House.
Father Fernandes gave a presentation on Specific Learning Disability (SLD) and explained through activities the methods to deal with such issues. He also explained the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and multi-model management, which includes medication.
He spoke about Dyslexia, and explained through a video and orally about the different types of Dyslexia. A small activity was conducted to help participants understand it more clearly. Two group activities were also conducted to identify and understand the problem from a child's perspective.