Angels at Work - Skills and Ability School, Nerul

This is a special school for children with developmental disabilities run by the Indian Council for Mental Health (Hygiene) (ICMH). ICMH has been providing services for mentally challenged people for 60 years. The organization was founded in 1944 and was also one of the founding members of the World Federation of Mental Health in 1948. At the school we have a centre for animal-assisted therapy where Casper, our therapy dog works with children with developmental disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome etc. We work in co-ordination with the staff of the school to improve social skills, motor skills, and verbal skills as well as resolve emotional and behavioral problems.

When these children with developmental disabilities assist in feeding, grooming, exercising and playing with animals, it promotes the development of motor and organizational skills. But most of all, in caring for the animals these children (whose frame of reference usually does not extend beyond themselves) learn to relate to and communicate better in their interpersonal relationships. Casper provides the children with the opportunity to experience, internal and external sensations, something that they are unable to do with other people.