Jammu, Oct 02 (KNO): The Social Welfare Department of Jammu & Kashmir, in partnership with the Brainpreneurs Foundation, has launched a new VYOM (Vibrant Young Open Minds) centre at Bal Vikas Kendra in Lower Roopnagar, Jammu.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Oberver (KNO), the event was graced by Commissioner Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda, who highlighted the challenge of identifying children with neurodiverse needs that VYOM aims to address. Other officers of the department and representatives of Brainpreneurs were also present, including eminent neurologist Dr Sushil Razdan and CEO of Brainpreneurs, Sunaina Tickoo.
Dr Razdan highlighted VYOM's role in providing comprehensive services such as physiotherapy, special education, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychological assessments, parent and child counselling, life coaching, and career counselling, all under one roof.
According to an official press release, VYOM is another initiative by the Social Welfare Department, which undertakes an Integrated Program for Early Childhood Development, Converging, and Intervention for Health, Nutrition Well-being, Physical, Psycho-Social, and Cognitive Development. VYOM is designed to cater to children with various neurodiverse backgrounds, including intellectual disabilities, slow learning, autism, ADHD, and cerebral palsy.
“Owing to the Social Welfare Department's efforts and Brainpreneurs' expertise, VYOM's impact extends beyond its centre. It has already conducted teacher training programs in four government schools, enhancing awareness and identification of special needs with the help of child and adolescent psychologists,” it said.
Brainpreneurs Foundation is an NPO formed with a focus on child development, mental health, and holistic growth, the press release said, adding, “The foundation has organized or co-organized around 50 webinars, seminars, and interactive programs covering important issues around awareness and education for topics like Neurodiversity, Inclusions in families, educational institutes, workspaces, parent management, training programs for teachers, among others.”
VYOM will commence operations on October 3, 2023, and is expected to make a significant impact in providing comprehensive services to children with neurodiverse needs, the centre announced.
The event also saw the participation of Vivek Sharma, DG SWD, Jammu; Harvinder Kour, Mission Director, Mission Vatsalya; Ashu Behl, Chief Accounts Officer, DSWJ; Shivali, DD, Planning DSWJ; Mahmood Khan, DD, Admn DSWJ; and Mamta Rajput, District Social Welfare Officer, Jammu—(KNO)