Pune: New Sensory Garden at Fergusson College Aims to Assist Children with Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder

Shivajinagar, 19th August 2024: Deccan Education Society’s Brijlal Jindal College of Physiotherapy has developed a Sensory Garden for children with Sensory Processing Disorder or Autism on the premises of Fergusson College. This is the first Garden of its kind in Maharashtra, and it will also provide medical treatment guidance.

The garden, created in collaboration with Mahaveer Enterprises, was inaugurated by senior Child Specialists Dr Anand Pandit and Dr Pournima Pandit. Deccan Education Society’s Chairman Pramod Rawat, Secretary Dr. Anand Katikar, Local Management Committee Chairman Dr. Sharad Agarkhedkar, Prof. Dr. Snehal Joshi, Prof. Dhananjay Kulkarni, and Salil Jain were also present on the occasion.

A child may dislike certain tastes or only prefer crunchy foods, may enjoy fast food or completely reject it. The child might dislike being hugged or constantly put their fingers in their mouth. Parents may observe that the child only likes soft clothing. These are symptoms of being hypersensitive or insensitive to touch, sound, height, taste, or movement. Medically, this condition is called Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). It can occur on its own or be related to autism. Currently, the prevalence of SPD in the country is 1 in 6 children, while the prevalence of autism is 1 in 68.

Against this backdrop, hypersensitive children need to be desensitized, while insensitive children need to be sensitized. To address this issue, a sensory garden has been developed at Fergusson College. This garden will provide expert physiotherapist guidance, along with opportunities for balancing and walking on various surfaces such as hard, smooth, and pointed, as well as using different types of swings, coloured paths, and other tools. Exercises will be conducted from 9 am to 7 pm to help balance SPD and self-absorbed senses using these tools.