My wonderful moments at Proyash

by M. Tamanna Ahmad, Lexington, Massachusetts


For children and young adults with Special Needs, living in a developing country like Bangladesh is not only difficult for the person, but for his or her family as well. The fact that so few institutions are made to serve their needs is perhaps largely due to the general perception of Special Needs in Bangladesh. People with Special Needs are often misunderstood and mistreated, and it is not uncommon for their condition to be concealed or viewed with shame.

An institution like Proyash is a unique and necessary one in Bangladesh. As one of the few schools geared specifically towards students with Special Needs, it provides the much needed support, education, and structure for the students and their families. The faculty and staff truly care for the well-being and progress of their student, and they have a genuine desire to help them to become independent individuals. Because Proyash is under the direction of the Bangladesh army, it one of the most organized institutions in the country with a very strong infrastructure and plans for expansion. Its services are aimed at various forms of disabilities, including vision, physical, brain, and hearing. The programs include vocational training for 18-25 year olds, parent-child structured classes, and an Early Child Development Program. It is very clear that Proyash seeks to develop not only the individual with Special Needs, but also the entire support system for that individual.

While Proyash is meeting a much needed demand in Bangladesh, it has only been able to meet a very small fraction of that need. Proyash has the potential to become a model and focal point for Special Needs in Bangladesh: its ability to distribute resources and knowledge across the country would undoubtedly touch lives far beyond its own reach. While it has a dedicated staff and a strong infrastructure, the school is not up-to-date with most of the latest information, methodology, training, and technology needed for Special Needs education. It is need of various therapists, such as occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, to build its services. They are also in need of assistance in thorough curriculum development, as well as equipment, tools, and assessments now seen as necessary to Special Needs development.

 Proyash has the potential to have a ripple effect on the rest of the country. With the right assistance, it will inevitably fulfill this potential to have an impact on the thousands waiting for the sort of help they can provide.