The sixth interview in the Talking Fingers series that introduces you to the authors of our book, features Aratrik Dey. Aratrik is a poet, writer, artist and a budding environmental activist. Let's get started by chatting with his parents - Bratati and Malay Kanti Dey.
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Q) Would you like to share your Autism journey with our readers, with a special focus on developing communication skills in Aratrik.
Aratrik was
diagnosed at NIMHANS Bangalore when he was 2 years old. The journey was a topsy
turvy, emotional one. He was a typically developing child and all his motor
milestones were at par with his age. Even he babbled and started uttering some
meaningful words; was fond of interacting with his peer groups; had social
smile and also had a strong affinity towards any written word. When he was 17
months old, he started developing some symptoms like flapping his hands,
started losing his words as well as his social skills. His intervention started
when he was 20 months old in a local organization under the guidance of a
speech therapist, a special educator and a psychologist. They also gave us
primary guidance and referred to NIMHANS.
Initial years were
full of emotional turmoil, disbelief, depression and fear of the unforeseen
future. I really don’t want to look back to those days. He progressed very
little up to nine years and the behavior lens clearly failed to identify his
real challenges. Then, on advice of his pediatrician, we visited a developmental
pediatrician and the occupational therapist in his team in Kolkata. The otist,
I’m forever grateful to him, identified his motor challenges and apraxia. From then on I started reading different
manuals and books to get some idea about the condition and how to teach him. We
even founded an organization, named Chinsura Sense Society, so that he could
get a consistent and regular routine to engage him in building his functional
academic skills and to get along with others. We used picture cards as well as
cards with written words, for communication. He was good in using gestures also.
I knew about RPM from my extensive internet searching during the initial years
and whatever information I gathered from the website, used them diligently.
Aratrik could answer close ended questions and basic yes no questions by the
age of twelve. We taught him Bengali first because he got mostly Bengali
language input thorough out the day.
when he was twelve, we started teaching him English for functional purposes. The
tripod grip to hold a pencil was a challenge for him and after repeated and
rigorous practice it still has not been formed perfectly. His tutor always
reported me that Aratrik could write if she held his hand. I also tested but as
I was holding his hand in a gripping position tightly, the outcome seemed
unreliable to me. We continued with close ended questions, and yes no
communication where he pointed to the desired answer and focused on his ADL
activities as well as household chores; those were the areas of challenges to
him.
In November 2019 I
thought about teaching Aratrik typing so that he could write some basic things
like his name, father’s name, address, phone number, etc. After discussing with
his home tutor, Stuti Chatterjee, we chalked out a plan and started from the
very basic thing. For first six months he just typed English alphabets, three
alphabets at a time, and copied his name and father’s name, of course with
physical help. The task was boring but he cooperated. On 2020 march, covid lockdown
happened; I was home 24x7 and monitored his exercises closely. After one year
he was able to type his name, address etc when asked. In June 2021, I first saw
that he could answer questions on his own and then on a miraculous journey had
been started. Aratrik is a music lover and quite a connoisseur of music. His
training of language, I think, is done by his habit of listening to different
genre of music. Now, other than typing on a laptop he uses Jellow App on a tab
to communicate his immediate needs and we carry it everywhere with us.
Q) Please share your advice to other autism parents..
Presume
competence. Never underestimate your child’s potential, never think that s/he
is lacking in comprehension and put extra effort in building communication
skill. Practice matters; regular consistent practice and patience are the most
important parameters in the journey.
Now let's meet the star of the interview - Aratrik
Q) How old are you?
I’m 21
years old.
Q) Where do you live?
I live in a
small town called Chuchura /Chinsura situated on the bank of river Ganges,
about 45 km north to the capital city Kolkata. Historically it was a Dutch
colony.
Q) Do you enjoy outings/vacations?
Yes I enjoy
vacations a lot. Every weekend I go for long drive with my parents. Sometimes
our family friends join us. We go to road-side dhaba for snacks.
Q) Would you like to share a few favourite vacations.
Went to
kalimpong in 2012. It was beautiful mountain and Tista river. Kalimpong is in
eastern Himalaya, calm and cool, heavenly atmosphere.
There was a
Buddhist Monastery in lava.
I very much
love Kalimpong. Some other places I also
travelled like Puri, Digha, Mahabaleswar; but Kalimpong is my favourite. Recently I went to Lataguri and I liked the
trip.
Q) Please
share a few details about your experience of attending the natural art camp you
recently attended.
In my
opinion knowing the nature, understanding its dynamics is important for all. I
liked it.
Q) Please share a few insights about your love of poetry and history.
I love
poetry for treating observational reality in a nutshell and with rhythm,
especially giving emphasis on nuanced language. Going into past is my favourite
time pass; so I like history.
Q) Do you remember the first word/sentence you communicated?
I first
typed my name on asking and my first sentence was: I like Feluda.
Q)How do you communicate?
I communicate
through gesture, and typing. Sometimes I use Jellow app
in my tab.
Q) You like maintaining a journal, please tell us about that..
Maa told me
to write journal, so I wrote. Otherwise I don’t have any special fascination to
maintain journal.
Q)You enjoy reading books, please share a few favourites.
My
favourite books are Maitreyo Jatak by Bani Basu; currently I’m reading it. It’s
a historical novel something about Buddha and his time. I liked Kahlil Gibran’s
Prophet, Amitav Ghosh’s Junglenama and Ishoponishod. I recently wrote a poem that I want to share.
Living My Dreams
I often forget to be an observer
In this world, that is my role---
I live through intense pain, albeit
Peace of mind is my ultimate goal.
I love yore for its joy,
In my knowledge yore is peace;
On its mirror looking into past
I find knowledge of eternal bliss.
I, on this earth seeking for knowledge
Knowledge is my cause to be here,
In my mind I'm the king
Breaking the shackles of my fear.
In the midst of hate and cry
I feel there lies a fountain of joy;
Kindness and compassion flow like a river
Do not be unkind and don't get dried.
In my mind I'm the king,
I know all from death to dearth;
Someday I'll be someplace else
Do not be bounded by this birth.
I'm the king in my mind
Love and love is borne out there;
I'm the maker of my sorrows
I'm the one, a warrior.
Happiness is born in my mind,
My mind is my soul-mate good;
Calm and happy on earnest time
Keep my mind busy to brood.
Understand I'm the Prospero of Naples
Time has changed although;
Yore is ongoing in my mind
I am the feeling flowing to row -
The boat of life in the stream
I'm the thinker, oppressor I'm
I am the king of my mind
I live to live my dreams.
Q) I hear you admire Greta Thunberg, please tell us more..
I know that
she has autism too and she is very passionate about global warming.
Q) Would
you like to become an environmental activist like her?
Q) Are you taking lessons for painting? What medium do you use - Acrylic/water colours?
To me
painting is love. I like to paint abstract things because it gives me due space
of thinking; yore becomes reality. I like water colour.
Q)Please share your experience of writing for the book - Talking Fingers
I was very
much excited while writing for the book.
Q) Would you like to share your future plans with us?
Knowledge
acquisition is the goal of my life. Joy of learning is very much dear to me.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by the guest in this interview are their own independent opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host and owner of the blog. Readers are advised to exercise their own discretion and seek professional advice where necessary.
