Sudha Nambudiri, it has been over 7 years since your first write-up for us, and your consistent support for the #TogetherWeCan ideology is greatly appreciated. When this father reached out for support, referred by a speech therapist in another center, you were the first person who came to mind, and we trusted that you would convey it the right way. We can never thank you enough. Dear Professionals, No matter our frustrations, there is no justification for us to behave this way. It's fine to consider our profession 'noble,' so let's not start there. To err is human. If we make a mistake, we should admit it and make amends. We need to collectively take responsibility for this. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Let's not get defensive and say, "not all therapists." Instead, let's do what it takes to prevent such experiences. Invite the parents in and empower them. Their lived experiences matter, and we can learn from them and the children. After all, our goals are the same: to improve the quality of life for families. It takes an exceptional amount of courage, effort, and energy for anyone to raise a complaint against a system within which they function and upon which they depend. Let us not silence these voices. Dear Parents, Please do not wait outside therapy centers. It is your right and duty to be with your child during one-on-one sessions. Therapy should not be a segregated activity in isolated settings. It should be integrated into your life. To do that, you must learn more about your children, understand the goals, why they are important, and how to work with your child. Do not buy into the argument that "your child will not cooperate if you are inside." How will you raise a child if you do not learn to cooperate with them? Professionals can and will change jobs, move on, but it's your life. Please use the sessions to learn and grow. Learn from your children too. More sessions do not guarantee progress, but the more you learn and understand your child, the more your life will improve. Together We Can, co-create knowledge, transfer skills, and take collective responsibility. Dear Policy Makers and Implementers, Please establish district-level committees so that parents do not have to go to so many people for so long, begging for their grievances to be effectively and promptly addressed. This is not an isolated incident, and we all know that. What more are we waiting for? There have been detailed petitions, meetings, RTIs, PILs, court orders, and even a Ph.D. Now, what's the next step? Sudha Nambudiri, thank you for always being the first to stand up and speak up for the children. #RegulateTherapyCenters #ChildSafety #Transparency #ParentTraining #NoClosedDoors
