By Chirag Sutar | Communication Manager
Atma has formed an expert group of practitioners from 20 different NGOs in Mumbai who will collaborate to improve access to quality of education for Persons with Disabilities. The first consortium of ‘Gati - A consortium on education for Persons With Disabilities’ took place on Friday, November 25th, 2016. This was followed by a second consortium on January 27th, 2017.
Atma Executive Director Mary Ellen Matsui says, “Gati is a place for knowledge creation and sharing in the disabilities space. At Gati, participants will showcase their work, network with peers, learn cutting edge best practices and advance the cause access to quality education by authoring white papers.”
Only a select group of practitioners will participate in workshops, do site visits and work in groups over a period of one year as a part of Gati consortium.
Umang Founder Dr. Bhawna Kerkar says, “A conference like this will help us to standardise things in the Special Education sector. As of today, many experts are doing different things. What we need is a concerted effort.”
Dr. Bhawna Kerkar is a Clinical Psychologist with over 18 years of experience in the area of Psychological Testing and Counselling. Umang is a special ed organisation based in Mumbai that has graduated from the Atma Accelerator Programme.
Bhandup-based organisation Vardayini Apang Seva Sansthan (VASS) is one of the new organisations working in the disability sector. Dr Asavari Shinde, Founder, VASS says, “In Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the government is only conducting surveys on disabilities. Manpower is very low. We need professionals in ground. We need quality education for Children with Disabilities. We need a forum to discuss these issues.”
While VASS is not a part of the Atma Accelerator Programme, Atma is encouraging organisations with quality programmes that work at grassroots level to strengthen the collective voice of the disability sector in Mumbai.
Sonali Saini, Founder, Sol’s ARC says, “I want to have a healthy dialogue about what the issues are. First thing that is required is a realisation that change is required and that we want to get better. We all make small changes but they are not enough for the entire sector. A consortium like Gati will be a good start in that direction.”
Mumbai-based Sol’s ARC has been on the forefront for advocating additional concessions for disabled students applying for Secondary School exams. The concessions included increased extra time, grace marks, the selection of alternative subjects and a special curriculum suitable for students with special needs.
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