“I feel happy.”
Five-year-old Kiran lives in a two roomed tinned house in Kathmandu. His mother works as a housemaid for a Guthi community* leader without pay, to secure their house. His father is a labourer. Early on, Kiran’s parents noticed that there was something different about him. At first, his parents thought that over time he would develop like his peers, but they began to realise that Kiran needed more support.
Kiran’s mother is a member of a Toybox supported mother’s group, this meant that Kiran had been coming along to the Learning Centre frequently. When our Nepal partner SathSath were notified about Kiran’s challenges, a field visit and observation were completed. Kiran was supported for medical check-ups and the visits to the hospital confirmed that Kiran was autistic.
*A Guthi community is a social and religious community that ties members together through shared responsibilities, rituals, and communal property.
Gaining A Legal Identity
Kiran’s mother was counselled by SathSath about his medical condition, his legal identity and his disability card, and Kiran was supported to sign up for therapy sessions at a specialised centre. However, neither Kiran nor his sister had any legal documents. Without a birth certificate, Kiran would struggle to access the help that he needed. Through legal guidance and support from SathSath, the family started the process of getting their legal identity. To do this, first the family had to return to their village.
Kiran was overjoyed to return to his village and meet his relatives. He later expressed, “In my village, my grandmother has a lot of goats. They walk like this!” and proceeded to get on his hands and knees acting like a goat. Kiran shares, “I want to go to my village again to see the goats and my mother has told me that we will be going soon.”
When Kiran was asked how he felt after obtaining his birth certificate, he shared “I feel happy.”
Pictured Below: Kiran with his mother
Striving For A Disability Card
For Kiran the challenges with bureaucracy did not end at his birth certificate, Kiran is also entitled to get a disability card. To get a disability card, doctors from his ward must verify the medical reports however the doctors only visit each ward every 2-3 months. Soon, Kiran will get the doctor’s visit for his disability card. But for now, Kiran has been getting medical discounts through his legal identity documents, and he will receive medical allowance once he obtains his disability card.
The family are very relieved to have secured their children’s legal identity and are now hopeful about the future. Kiran’s mother explains that,
“Without a birth certificate, we would not appeal for Kiran’s disability card which deprived him from services he was entitled to. Now, we are hopeful and his birth certificate has facilitated many legal opportunities for him.”
Pictured below: Kiran with his toy car (L) Kiran and his mother with his birth certificate. (R)
Overcoming Challenges
Since joining the project and receiving support for his disability, Kiran has made some remarkable changes. Growing up, Kiran did not interact with anyone besides his mother, and he struggled to communicate clearly. Now, his speech is more understandable, and he will often ask for toys to play with and express his thoughts. He has also started making friends with the other children at the Learning Centre.
Kiran’s mother expressed through tears of joy, “I feel really happy that my children are legally secured. Before I was often stressed and feel that I have found a support system at the Learning Centre’s mother’s group. As for my son, he is improving, and I feel that now I can finally hope that the future is bright for all of us.”
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