How did Bangalore Humsafar group form? What number has it grown to today?
When Ms Tejal Shah attended the World Down syndrome Congress in Chennai in 2015, she had the opportunity to connect the experts and parents from all over the world. It was an amazing experience. She wanted other parents to experience that and she also wanted to share the information with the parents who could not attend the conference or were not aware about such valuable and wonderful events being held in the country. That led her to start a whatsapp support group in Bangalore city with another parent. The group is called “Bangalore Humsafar” and as of today there are more than 265 parents in the group.
How does this group help parents and their children?
- Parents empower each other, organize get togethers, bond, help each other, discuss issues, share information, feedback about their daily life, therapists, doctors, inclusive schools and centres which support people with Down syndrome to a large extent.
- We planned and organized an all India Meet of 92 families with children with Down syndrome in 2017 for 3nights and 4days in Bangalore. This was an enriching experience for all involved – they got the opportunity to learn from each other and understand that a holistic approach is the best way to bring out the true potential in children with Down syndrome. Experts from various fields such as art, music, theatre, dance, yoga were invited deliver practical sessions for parents.
- Since 2018, we have been providing free medical checkup camps so that all experts are under one roof allowing children to benefit the most. In 2019, initiated a tie up with Rainbow Hospital which will eventually provide a one stop medical support to all the parent and children with Down syndrome. In 2020, we initiated the first online medical camp in the entire globe. In 2021 we had a tie up with Cloud nine hospital Bangalore and organised free medical camp for persons with Down syndrome
