A modest red brick building in Mohakhali DOHS is housing an exceptional institution that is first of its kind in Bangladesh. Being the first in something often works as a cliche marketing ploy, but the claim is seldom as meaningful as in the case of PFDA Vocational Training Center in Mohakhali.
Our thoughts and concerns for the autistic and neurologically challenged often start and end with the primary education and schooling of the afflicted people. But the difficulties and hardships don’t go away when an autistic child is taught to read and write. These children grow up like the rest of us, and the social machine creates little room for them to fit in, let alone prosper.
The reality of the situation becomes obvious when you look into the institutions and support systems available for people with autism or other sorts of neurological inabilities. There are, thankfully, some schools and institutions that provide primary education and care for the developmentally challenged children. But there have been no concerted effort to build organisations that will provide support and training for the developmentally challenged people after they become adults, or just go past the primary education stages.
Parents Forum for Differently Able (PFDA) was founded to fill this void. But aside from championing the cause, PFDA is getting a lot of the work done as well, the most outstanding among them being starting the PFDA Vocational Training Center, a training institute for the developmentally challenged above the age of 15.
All of this has been possible due to the efforts of a lot of different people. But the vision and the brazen commitment of Sajida Rahman Danny was the catalyst that bound all these people together. Mother of an autistic son herself, Sajida formed PFDA in 2011 with the aim of bringing the parents together and fighting the good fight in unison.
This eventually led to the founding of PFDA Vocational Training Centre in 2014. The central purpose of the institute is to enable the developmentally impaired to earn a respectable living and live a dignified life. The PFDA training center is ambitious, but it is very pragmatic in its approach and strategies.
In an attempt to prepare the learners for their future life, the PFDA devised programmes for the pupils to acquire a range of practical skills. “This is where our learners make their breakfast,” Sajida said as she showed the kitchen on the third floor. “And here they eat their breakfast meal,” she said pointing to a long table in a room by the kitchen.
There were many other rooms wonderfully set up for each activities. There is a room for physical exercise with treadmill and other equipments, a dedicated room for just music, one for computer and IT training, for sensory therapy with beautiful colour lighting, for speech therapy among many other rooms. “We also have a weekly hydrotherapy session on the rooftop. It helps to improve motor functions for the learners who have impaired motor function(s),” Sajida said.
There are several rooms dedicated to different vocational training and real professional work. “We have struck up a deal with Hotel Sheraton to make carpet slippers for them,” Sajida informs. “Here they cut the foam bases for the slippers,” she pointed to a neat and organised area. “They can’t sew the wrapper on the base yet,” she continued with a timid smile, “but as for now, we have a professional person doing that on a sewing machine.”
There is another work space where the learners do block print on paper bags. “They can’t make the bags yet but they are very adept in laying down the block print,” Sajida said as she was showing the colourful bags. The plan is that all of these work will eventually turn into professional production and generate income for the learners. They are also taught screen print, office assistance, graphic design, making beads jewelleries, and training in culture and arts.
The bead necklaces looked quite stunning on the dummies, displayed in a storeroom on the top floor. “You know, an autistic person can be far more efficient in certain tasks than regular people. He will never lose time doing something else, will not take tea breaks and will always diligently finish their work,” Sajida commented.
The individually tailored plan for each student at the PFDA Vocational Training Center is something Sajida is very proud of. “They are all different. Some may have issues with auditory perception. A particular sound of speech may bother them. Others may require certain visual stimulation or lack of them. We assess each student and prepare a custom plan for them,” she explained.
Another remarkable feat by the PFDA was to make special arrangement with Mutual Trust Bank to open MTB Care service, which will allow all learners to have their own bank accounts. “The bank will also provide training for the learners so that they can use the bank account on their own,” said Sajida.
There is also lifestyle training provided. People with autism have varied degrees of difficulties with social interaction. The personal planning for students also takes into account the individual difficulties and addresses those with proper teaching and reinforcements. This includes teaching everyone what to do in an emergency or indeed what an emergency situation is.
With 32 learners and 12 teachers (two of the teachers are parents), the achievement of PFDA in just one year looks remarkable. “We are struggling to keep the facility running with all the services we have now, but we will not compromise the quality,” Sajida said. Indeed, the building and immaculately organised systems within the campus are ample evidence indicating the dedication toward quality.
When asked if there is any plan for making residential arrangements in the future, Sajida said that that is “the ultimate target.” “It seems quite distant at this moment, as we are fighting to gather finances just for this school. But a residential facility has to be built,” a pensive but hopeful Sajida remarked. “You know, even though my son is here, I don’t really distinguish between him and the other students. All of them are in a way my children too at this point.”
The lack of fund has not diminished the strength of Sajida Rahman Danny and her comrades. They are planning to celebrate the first anniversary of the PFDA Vocational Training Center on October 23. Sajida hopes that more people will come forward to support the center and be a part of building a dignified and beautiful future for the developmentally challenged people.