In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will begin a five-year-long programme for early identification and intervention of psychological well being points, impairments, and developmental variations in youngsters.

The ‘Early Identification and Early Intervention’ programme shall be carried out in February in PCMC-run hospitals and 210 pre-schools within the metropolis.

Children aged between 0 to six years shall be included within the programme for 5 years. The youngsters shall be screened and evaluated for psychological well being points like dyslexia, cerebral palsy, autism, mental impairment, consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction (ADHD) and different bodily impairments.

Ajay Charthankar, head, social growth division, PCMC, stated, that youngsters recognized with any impairment shall be offered remedy, remedy, surgical procedure and incapacity aids by the civic physique.

“Teachers will be trained by experts to identify early signs in students for attachment issues, school refusal, communication issues, anxiety patterns, intellectual disability and learning disabilities amongst others. The parents of the children will be also counselled and trained for acceptance of their children in special needs and the required care,” he stated.

The PCMC will strengthen its prenatal screening programme at its Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital and Maternity Home for early identification of impairment in youngsters throughout prenatal checkups and post-delivery.

The assist of consultants from the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) shall be taken for the programme. The youngsters recognized through the programme shall be enrolled on the varied schemes out there for the welfare of youngsters with particular wants, stated officers.

Shekhar Singh, commissioner, PCMC, stated, the target is early identification and early intervention for any impairment discovered within the youngsters and to deliver them into the mainstream.

“Children will be provided therapy for their physical, emotional and intellectual growth. All therapies and medical care required for the overall growth of children with special needs will be provided under one roof,” he stated.

Singh additional stated that the aim of an early identification programme can also be to find out which youngsters have developmental difficulties which will develop into obstacles to their studying or might place the youngsters in danger.

“Awareness activities will be undertaken for early identification and intervention of impairments and their importance in the public,” he added.