Story Chaima

Chaima (14) is a social and friendly girl with spastic paralysis, hearing problems and a developmental delay. She lives on a char (sandbar in the river) and has been attending special education in Ghior for 5 years.

Her father earns his money as a rickshaw driver and her mother earns some extra income with her work for BanglaMa. Since Chaima has been in school, both she and her family have been progressing gradually. Chaima has become less shy and has made friends at school. She enjoys role-playing games, drawing and coloring. Like a real adolescent, she gossips and dances with her classmates at school. She loves doing puzzles and takes pride in being able to write short words. Because of problems with her oral motor skills, she sometimes drools and is shy to talk, but there is improvement, and at home and at school she communicates with supportive signs.

Thanks to several courses at her school, her mother learned sign language and there are fewer frustrations at home. Through family development training, the family is better able to set priorities and save money. There are worries too; Chaima’s mother worries about her future, because who wants to marry her daughter?

Also read the story of Alif Mondol