QUESTIONNAIRE : Safe and healthy therapy practices

#KOCHI_TogetherWeCan

....towards safe and healthy therapy practices...

Dear Parent,

In the wake of far too many episodes of unhealthy practices within several (not all) private run therapy centers for children with special needs in Kochi, a couple of frustrated parents/professionals & other like-minded individuals started a group called “Together We Can”. The objective of this group is to initiate a campaign in the City (Kochi) & soon state-wide & nationwide towards creating more awareness about rights & duties of -:

1. Children diagnosed with specific disabilities needing therapeutic intervention

2. Parents of children with diagnosed disabilities taking therapeutic services in private centers

3. Professionals working in the field

4. General Public

Phase# 1 of the campaign focussed on spreading awareness about the rights of Parents of children taken to Early Intervention programs to private centres & whose children are not in a position to communicate on their own what happens during the therapy sessions. By spreading this campaign by word of mouth, social media and all other feasible methods we hope to raise the interest of the public and other stakeholders in this matter.

We also advocate the setting up of a qualified external agency that comprises all the stakeholders to monitor such private therapy centres.

Phase #2 of the campaign would entail the parents to fill in the below questionnaire. This would then be tabulated to identify the extent of rights violation. The finding would then be sent to the State Human Rights Commission. Please read though the entire questionnaire before starting to fill.

Consent and Willingness to participate in this Campaign: Circle you option from 1 or 2

1. I do support the objective of #KOCHI_togetherwecan campaign and agree that rights of parents must be safeguarded. I am willing to fill share and fill in all my personal experiences and reveal mine and my child’s identity as I understand it is for the larger good and my support is significant.
2. I do support the objective of #KOCHI_togetherwecan campaign and agree that such rights of parents must be safeguarded. However I am willing to share only a few personal details and experiences because I fear it will affect the future of my child as I still feel very dependent on therapist for helping my child become independent. I fear my sharing my honest experiences with therapy centres will jeopardize my child seeking their help.

Name and address : ______________________________________________________________________________________

Age and Diagnosis of your Child: ___________________________________________________________________________

Number of years/months you have been seeking therapeutic help for my child: _______________

#KOCHI_TogetherWeCan

....towards safe and healthy therapy practices...

1. Have you been a participant of the one to one session between the therapist & your child at the Center. If not,  were you able to monitor what was ongoing during session through a cctv or one way screen -: Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Have you been explained what to expect realistically -: Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Have you been involved while formulating the IEP & made aware of progress. - : Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Have you been explained what is being taught, why and how, elaborating on the goals & methods being used-: Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Have you been recognized as a resource person being serviced & has the centre initiated coordinated efforts with other centers/therapists with who your child undergoes therapy. -:  Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Have you been trained to handle a home program -: Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

#KOCHI_TogetherWeCan

....towards safe and healthy therapy practices...

7. To be shown the specific written plan for the 45 minute to one hour session that is given -: Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Has your child been always handled by trained professionals & not by any other untrained staff in the center-: Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Has the centre shown in writing their best practice policies :- Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Have you ever been denied or threatened to be denied further therapy services if the parent questions when any of the above rights are violated. Yes /No

Comments if any: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU PARTICIPATION ☺