Born on 15 June 1998, Pranav Dinesh Ayachit is a 23-year-old boy diagnosed as mildly autistic with Fragile X syndrome. At just age three, Pranav’s parents Dinesh Ayachit, who works in the service industry, and Vijayalaxmi Ayachit, a homemaker, noticed “small things such as attention span, hyperactivity, no fear of falling, rushing onto the road despite visually seeing traffic, and more.” That’s when they consulted various doctors who advised them to other institutions to conduct further tests, establishing Pranav’s diagnosis and the right kind of treatment for him.
Pranav is much more than what his disability characterises him to be; Pranav has a unique and special talent the world must know about, and that talent is his near-perfect memory. To understand more about Pranav and the life lived by a family raising a child with a disability, we spoke to Mr. Dinesh Ayachit, Pranav’s father who tells us their story in his own words.
We heard Pranav has a special talent, can you tell us more about it as well as when and how it was first discovered? Has it ever been showcased publicly before?
We knew that he had amazing memory as we witnessed several instances earlier. However, discovering his talent, we solely credit Alex Natarajan, Pranav’s teacher at the Centre for Special Education, Indian School Muscat (ISM). On a particular day, Alex could not find his children’s attendance record for several days. He was trying to recall the attendance report, he happened to talk aloud, around Pranav. Pranav then narrated a detailed report of all days about the attendance as well as the events on those days. He also mentioned the reason for the absence of some of those students on said days or the speciality of that day. When Alex found out that Pranav’s report was accurate, he discussed Pranav’s ability with us which we then corroborated. After putting Pranav through various tests, his ability was then showcased during the school’s Unique Talent competition in November 2019 where he amazed everyone. Since then, we have realised, that Pranav only needs to be exposed to details once through any medium and it will last in his memory.
Can you tell us a little bit about Pranav’s education and how you go about it?
We admitted him to Jr. Kg in Vapi, Gujarat, India and then to Std 2 in ISM in 2006. He had to repeat 3rd as he was slow. Following this, we checked with a psychologist who gave us an action plan. We then admitted him to Al Hikma in Ruwi running under the curriculum of National Open School, India, where he completed his 10th standard. As we had no idea of further study for him in Oman, we sent him to India for a year. This was also because we noticed some disturbances and had to consult doctors at All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore.
We got sound advice on a further plan of action but found it difficult to meet them especially as these were not available under one roof and cater to every line became onerous. By then, we were in contact with a method teacher, who taught such children, who put us in touch with ISM CSE’s then principal. We found that ISM CSE had only started in 2017 providing much succour to such students under one roof. So we brought him back to Oman to study at ISM CSE and he has been there ever since. He is no longer interested in studying as normal children do and ISM CSE decided to explore other avenues. Special mention of ISM CSE has to be done as they (Principal/Teachers/Staff etc.-notably Alex Natarajan and Anupama Kaul) have taken a keen interest in raising his life skills to record levels.
What are some of the challenges Pranav has faced throughout his journey?
Learning to do everyday work on his own such as bathing, brushing teeth, folding clothes, as well as crossing the road by himself, or recognising dangerous situations in general.
Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you have faced as a family?
We cannot go out often because of his disinterest in doing so. This is because he is unable to grasp the context of most visits. Also, explaining his behaviour in public to a society that still does not fully understand his condition can be difficult. Pranav is also allergic to colds and cough as well as certain foods, which need him to be on a strict diet. Preventing fever is essential as it can do irreparable damage to his brain. All this stands as a challenge for us.
What are some common misconceptions you believe people have about children with special needs?
People should realise these children are no different than other children, only a bit slower, based on their level of special needs. They tend to alienate such children in life just because they are different. We need to invest time and effort in understanding/coping/interacting/educating them. Their talents, feelings, and potentials need to be explored and tapped. Also, these children need to be guarded against predators. Just because someone is special does not relieve the normal person from taking care of another human being. Rather the fact that they are special only puts the onus more on the rest of us, as we have a moral obligation as human beings to protect and cherish life as we know it.
What advice would you like to give parents and families who have children with special needs?
Please do not alienate such children from your life. Rather incorporate them in it. Take time out from your daily life to spend with them; they will flower. Growth in life/wealth etc. is important but not at the cost of family. If they are happy, then you will be too. They, like all children, will learn only from you. Be on your best behaviour, language, and interactions with them, in front of them, and with any other siblings or people. This will become the benchmark for them. Some of these children do not have the capability of changing this benchmark through reasoning, as it may not be an ability available to them. To parents, please get the right kind of help. No matter their age, get a better understanding of your child’s interests with the help of a professional and then create an action plan that can help them thrive and excel.