MSI??? What is it!

The field of MSI (Multi Sensory Impairments) in the country is a new and emerging field. It is characterised by a momentum to surge forward for reaching out to as many MSI persons and their families as possible. One of the highlights of this field has been its professional and cohesive approach. There is a lot of value being added to learn from each other and add on to their own work at this early stage of the field. Till date, the initiatives taken in the field of MSI has been very need-based. As a result, the services are very localised to regions, target groups and purposes. This has been able to bring out phenomenal changes in the field in a short span. And these changes now dictate terms to look beyond what has been already established, to how it can be now strengthened and the ways in which new endeavours could be incorporated within the field.

As we find ourselves in the changing times, there are many new development aspects to be taken up:

Identification: The need of the hour is to identify MSI/ deafblind / multiple disability as a separate and unique category of disability in all relevant statutory laws and documents.

Incidence and Prevalence: It is extremely important at this stage to include MSI/ multiple disabilities as a separate category in different surveys, such as the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO).

Assessment and evaluation: For effective assessment, it is necessary to develop a mechanism that could be used across the country (with appropriate regional variations), for identifying children with MSI and their needs. Such a system will empower even the grassroots level workers to identify MSI/ deafblind people in their respective regions.

Human resource development: As the field is emerging and reaching out, it is getting imperative to identify and involve more and more professionals from the single category disability areas.

Philosophy of MSI education: It is perceived that the time has now come, to promote what may be called “The Philosophy of MSI Education’. This approach, while it incorporates many ideas and practices of all the other disability areas such as Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment and Mental retardation (read learning disabilities), however has a set of codes and good practices that is distinct to the field of multi sensory impairment.

Social Communication: The development of appropriate social communication materials is of utmost importance in order to spread the awareness about MSI and its various implications.

Networking: As more and more people around the country are coming together, they have realised the hazard of ‘professional isolation’ that generally comes with such low incidence disabilities. There is therefore this need to form and sustain continuous networking activities both within the NGOs and with the government sector.

Advocacy:  It is important to assist the community in taking responsibility for their own MSI persons. And this could be done by advocating for the rights and responsibilities of this target group and their family members both at the local community levels as well as in a regional and national level.

Involvement of parents: MSI persons and their parents and other family members are the primary stakeholders of the services established around the country. It is very important that they be involved in the decisions for their child...Nothing About Us..Without All of Us!!