Julley everyone,

We are back from our first village trip and it was fantastic!

We toured with a Ladakhi drama group of "Future Leaders" (through HEALTH Inc) who created and presented a play about a young man going through a psychotic episode...this is a first in Ladakh to raise awareness about this taboo topic. The drama was very well received and we can now add acting consultant and dramaturge to our resumes! 

Before each drama, we held a village meeting with leaders to discuss the results of last year's research and to drum up ideas for next steps of inclusion for people with disabilities.

We were also able to do some follow-up home visits and worked on creating a list of all the people with disabilities in the Hanu Valley...later this month we will use this list with a doctor from the health department who will accompany us back to this valley in order to assess and issue disability certificates for people to receive a small monthly pension.

We are trying to post some photos of the great team we worked with and the "Taj Mahal" (our tent that provided great sleeps)...not sure if it will be successful...we'll keep trying though.

We are back in Leh for about a week to work with the hostel for deaf children and children with disabilities, Hilfe/REWA Society, the new pediatric ward at the hospital and of course, to present the research at the International Association of Ladakh Studies conference. Oh yeah, and of course, we'll relax a bit too ;)

Hope you are all well,

Lex, Izzy, Norma, Deb & Eric