Kozhikode: A booklet published by Calicut University’s community-based Disability Management and Rehabilitation Programme (CDMRP) on parenting children with disabilities during the pandemic has been translated into several foreign languages by Unesco.
The 10-page guidelines, titled ‘Life in the times of Covid-19 – a guide for parents of children with disabilities’ published by CDMRP along with Unesco, New Delhi, has been translated to Spanish, Russian, Nepali and Spanish sign language. Translation of the guide to Arabic and Portuguese is also underway. Versions of the guide have been made available in the digital library of Unesco as well.
The short and simple guide has 11 sections, explaining aspects that a parent/ caregiver must take into account while taking care of children with special needs during the pandemic.
It includes guidelines on children’s cleanliness, exercise routine, food habits, emotional and psychological wellbeing, entertainment, helping children take up responsibilities at home, training and behavioural issues. The guide also has a section on the importance of psychological wellbeing of parent/caregiver.
CDMRP, which is a joint project of department of psychology at Calicut University and social justice department of Kerala government, was recognized in May as a Unesco chair.
“We had initially prepared the guidelines in Malayalam. In April, we along with Unesco, New Delhi, published it in English and after that there have been demands from Unesco offices in foreign countries to get it translated to their native languages,” said Raheemudheen P K, joint director, CDMRP.
He added that apart from translations to foreign languages, the booklet has also been translated to Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Eric Falt, director and Unesco representative to India, has said in the foreword of the booklet that the guidelines are action-oriented and would help serve all families with special needs in dealing with the extreme crisis of Covid-19.
The CDMRP has been running 10 Community Disability Management Clinics in Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kannur districts. It has also been running an Advanced Disability Management Clinic for four years. There are around 82,000 beneficiaries under the programme.
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