Haircuts on the Spectrum

Sitting in a hairdresser’s chair for 30 minutes sounds like a simple ask but for children with sensory processing difficulties like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the sounds, sensations and smells can feel traumatic for both them and their caregivers, as Drina Fernandes, mother of Jonathan, 18, discovered when he was …

A Sweet Spot for Abdullah

Veenu Naik walked through the doors of Sethu for the first time in 2010, concerned that her son Abdullah, 2, couldn’t focus, talk or stand. The doctor she’d taken him to referred her to Dr Nandita de Souza, the developmental paediatrician who’d treated his own son. “Dr Nandita told me …

WAYS TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO READ

Author:  Shenessa Barreto | October 6th, 2021 The importance weighed on reading to or for children cannot be underestimated. Reading for pleasure benefits a child’s overall education. Enhancing social and cognitive development, the child wellbeing and their mental health. So, how do we shift the focus from books just for …

Power of Images!

Author:  Dr Nandita de Souza | September 29th, 2021 When talking to children and families about various mental health conditions, a good clinician will make efforts to banish confusing technical jargon from the conversation. However, this is easier said than done. As part of our professional training, quite often, our …

Lesson Learnt

Author:  Andre Velho | August 5th, 2021 Back in 2016, Kashmira brought her 5-year-old son, Kabir (names changed) to be assessed at the Sethu Centre. Kabir was subsequently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Mother and son were immediately referred for autism intervention, which began a few days after Kabir’s …