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Progress Report

Project Title: Intellectual Disability in Sindh Needs Attention
Implementing Organization: National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) Pakistan
Location: Sindh, Pakistan

1. Introduction

The National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) Pakistan continues its mission to support children with intellectual disabilities by providing free and accessible rehabilitation services across Sindh. With your generous contributions through GlobalGiving, NDF has been able to expand its services and reach some of the most underserved communities in both rural and urban areas of the province. Intellectual disability demands continuous and specialized rehabilitation, and your support is making this possible.

2. Expansion of Rehabilitation Services

Over the reporting period, NDF Pakistan successfully expanded its operations to five rehabilitation centers across Sindh. These centers are located in:

• Nawabshah

• Larkana

• Qasimabad/Hyderabad

• Gulistan-e-Johar Karachi

• Gulshan-e-Hadeed Karachi

This expansion reflects NDF’s commitment to “reaching the unreached,” ensuring that children from marginalized and far-flung areas receive essential therapeutic support close to home.

3. Number of Children Reached

Thanks to your continued donations, NDF is now providing free rehabilitation services to over 600 children with intellectual disabilities. This is a significant increase from previous years, demonstrating strong progress and growing community trust.

The services provided include:

• Physiotherapy

• Occupational therapy

• Speech therapy

• Remedial education

• Psychological counseling

• Parent awareness sessions

• Pick-and-drop facility for children from poor families

These services are tailored to each child’s developmental needs, enabling gradual improvement in mobility, communication, behavior, and daily living skills.

4. Impact Highlights

• Increased Accessibility: The establishment of new centers has reduced travel distance and costs for families.

• Early Intervention: More children below the age of 10 are now accessing services, improving long-term outcomes.

• Parental Engagement: Regular counseling and training sessions have empowered parents to support their children’s development at home.

• Community Awareness: Outreach activities in rural districts have helped reduce stigma around intellectual disabilities.

5. Use of Donations

Your donations have been used for:

• Hiring qualified therapists

• Purchasing therapy equipment

• Maintaining rehabilitation centers

• Providing free-of-cost services to children

• Offering transportation support to low-income families

Every contribution has directly strengthened rehabilitation services and expanded access for children in need.

6. Challenges

Some key challenges include:

• Rising operational costs

• High demand for services in remote rural areas

• Need for more trained professionals

• Limited awareness about intellectual disability in some communities

Despite these challenges, NDF remains committed to sustaining and further expanding these services.

7. Way Forward

NDF Pakistan aims to:

• Increase rehabilitation capacity to reach 1,000 children in the next phase

• Introduce assistive devices and adaptive tools for children with severe disabilities

• Train more therapists and community workers

• Strengthen partnerships with local and international donors

• Enhance outreach programs in rural Sindh

8. Appreciation

NDF Pakistan extends heartfelt gratitude to all GlobalGiving donors. Your compassion is transforming the lives of hundreds of children and giving hope to families who had nowhere else to turn. Together, we are building a more inclusive future for children with intellectual disabilities in Sindh.

1. Executive Summary

During this reporting quarter, NDF Pakistan made significant strides in raising awareness, expanding outreach, and strengthening rehabilitation services for children with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Sindh. A major highlight was the successful launch of a new rehabilitation unit in Qasimabad, Hyderabad, marking an important milestone in our mission to extend services in urban underserved areas. Through this initiative, the project directly empowered families and built inclusive pathways for children with disabilities to access health, education, and social services.

2. Key Achievements This Quarter

• New Unit Launched:
  A new NDF Rehabilitation Unit was inaugurated in Qasimabad, Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), Government of Sindh & globalGiving Donors. This unit is already serving 50+ children with disabilities, providing physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and remedial education.

• Community Outreach & Advocacy:

  • Awareness sessions held in local communities, schools, and religious centers reached over 700 individuals, including parents, teachers, and local leaders.

  • Media coverage of the launch created broader public visibility on the need for inclusive disability services in Sindh.

• Therapy Services Provided:

  • Total therapy sessions delivered this quarter at all Centers:

    • Physiotherapy: 480 sessions

    • Speech Therapy: 370 sessions

    • Occupational Therapy: 310 sessions

    • Psychosocial Counseling: 120 sessions

  • Pick-and-drop transport services were provided to 85% of registered children.

• Capacity Building:

  • Conducted one 3-day training workshop for rehabilitation staff and caregivers, focusing on behavior management, communication skills, and use of assistive devices.

3. Challenges Faced

• Limited Funding restricted outreach activities in rural peripheries.

• Shortage of professional therapists continues to affect therapy session frequency, especially for speech-language services.

• Stigma and misconceptions in some communities slowed enrollment of new children.

• We express heartfelt thanks to GlobalGiving and our international donors whose generosity continues to create meaningful change in the lives of children with intellectual disabilities. Your support allows us to break stigma, provide essential services, and empower families in Sindh. We look forward to your continued partnership.