To a behaviourist everything under the sun is behaviour, some are learnt and some are innate. Man is a complex creature, he is endowed with a highly evolved mind which scores over and above every other living being. Scientists are trying hard raking their brains to unravel the mysteries of human mind and brain for many years now. Despite all the advancement in science the amount of information we have on this particular area is rather very limited. It is really amazing to observe the vibgyor range of behaviour a human is capable of; in an 'average' or a 'normal' person much of his behaviour is considered as normal or situation-specific, and the response of the individual is by and large preceded by a stimulus or a reason. In normal circumstances the range and variety of bahvioural responses are also expected to be within 'normal' or accepted limits. Most behavioural responses of an individual, let it be a child or an adult, gets modified by his environment or due to his past experiences; some of his responses can be seen as desirable and some undesirable. Much of the behaviour we see can also be derived from innate sources or could be 'brain based'; this is particularly true in the case of the physiological behaviour pattern which every human being has. Behaviour in an individual gets altered or changed due to various factors and thus modified behavioural responses may not be situation-specific or the most desirable. Only the consistent and continuous undesirable behaviour is considered to be abnormal.

Pathway had the great good fortune of a visit by Dr Raja Muthukumar, who came to the centre along with his illustrious brother Mr R Kirubhakaran IAS (Rtd), who shares with his brother a love of working with the handicapped children. Dr Muthukumar is a highly qualified paediatrician with MD(Paed) and FRCP. He is currently with the Castleford Hospital, West Yorks,UK. He has specialized in neurobehavioural and developmental aspects of children.He has a great interest in serving children with special needs as well as children with different beahvioural manifestations. It is his cherished desire to serve children in this country, particularly children at Pathway. His services will be greatly needed not only for children who may have special needs but also for 'normal' children who are being assisted at our Agro Farm.

Utilizing this great opportunity to us of his visit, Dr Muthukumar was requested to address the Director and Staff, medical, rehabilitation and special education staff, and volunteers of Pathway, on his personal experiences in working with behavioural challenges.

In his hour-long highly interesting and rewarding over-view of his work in the UK in the prevailing conditions there, Dr Muthukumar described the key to promoting successful and desirable behaviour and also the culture-specific behavioural responses which are accepted and desirable in the UK. He also described the various behavioural manifestations commonly seen in the school-going children, right from the pre-school to higher classes. Factors causing problems in interpersonal relationships were also listed.

He discussed the diagnostic methods as well as testing methods at great length. The behavioural problems in children, such as, hyperactivity, ADD, impulsive beahviour, often cause considerable learning problems.He also described the mood disorders in children and also problems of teenage girls and boys.

General problems such as anti-social personality disorders, drug abuse, promiscuity, teenage pregnancy etc were also discussed. To assist children with such problems it is important that we reach them before we teach, we need to showcase their specific talents, and also see to it that each child has a charismatic adult as his or her own model to emulate, and also positive reinforcements with generous praise and appreciation is most important. We need to empathize with and monitor all aspects of behaviour in a wholistic manner, and not pitch upon particular undesirable acts as the sole problem. In many cases children with behavioural deviations obviously need medication, with judicious care regarding its dosage, timings, side effects, efficacy, etc, and the practising physician needs to constantly update himself on the ongoing research and findings in this regard, relating them meaningfully to his own experiences.

For the Pathway Volunteers, including his own brother, who were present, and the many friends who come frequently to spend their valuable time with the children, he had a few interesting suggestions. When he questioned them why they came to see our children and what did they gain thereby, their replies covered an interesting range: like, "I want to give away my life to others as Jesus did!", "I love getting involved, just the togetherness", "I want to prove and illustrate the presence of God through what I do for these children, a nice opportunity for me, a calling", "Just as Our Lord Jesus came to serve, not to be served: I was inspired by those words!", and "I keep praying that God opens everybody's eyes to the needs of His children, and fills every heart with compassion", and "If I take care of these children God will take care of me!", and so on. Dr. M offered his suggestions.

Being a friend to a person with disability can bring a rich meaning to your life. Many despair whether they have the gift or aptitude or special skills that may be needed for serving the children, but the fact is that you dont need any such thing, you can be yourself. You will find out that you are with a person who also wants love and acceptance as much as you do. A general rule of thumb is that you should treat a disabled person (specially abled person ) the same way you would want to be treated. Do unto others as you want to be done unto you.

Have your eyes wide open. Be aware of what the Lord God wants to show you everymoment everyday, what you can learn from the other person. The child is the father of man, become like little children, and so on, we read in the scripture. Reflect over it. You will become childlike yourself. The very expression of your face will change, you will be a more happy and pleasant person.

And see the ability in the person before you, not concentrate or focus on the disability. Also, help him or her to discover his or her ability. Painting, or singing, dancing, or just communicating. Listen deeply, patiently, genuinely. If you simply pretend to listen and your mind is elsewhere the child will find out. Let him know that you care.

Take the time to communicate. Ask questions, again and again if you don't understand what he is trying to tell you. People with disability want to be known and recognised as much as you and I need to. Look into their eyes while speaking. Remember they are people with real feelings, hopes, dreams. Dont imagine they have less or nothing of them. If there is anything in them that makes you uncomfortable, like some aspect of physical appearance, like drool of saliva for instance, dont focus your attention on it. Concentrate on the person behind these external appearances. Don't be afraid to touch, we say. The extent of social contacts of touching varies from country to country, follow whatever is right. Shake his hand if he offers his hand. Touching communicates acceptance and warmth.

Your voice and tone should be appropriate to the age of the child. In life we dont talk to a child and a lovely lady and a dilapidated old man with the same single monotonous unvarying tone and voice ( here Dr. M. made a mimicry, to the great glee of everyone present including the children, the various usual tones and voices ). There are so many indescribable nuances. And when you are not sure if the child is going to comprehend something you want to say, it is safe to start from a higher plane than from a lower level, and then slowly you can find your way down to the right level.

The other day I was playing with a five-year-old girl I was meeting after a long time. I said, Good Morning, Miss Jane, and How are you? I hear you have started going to a new school, I hope you like it and the teachers are good, and so on, talking to the child in a serious matter-of-fact voice and tone as to an adult, till gradully we got down to building castles on the beachsand and collecting shells and you would hardly have guessed from a distance which of the two was squabbling and babbling