By Sha Nigar | Senior Manager
The Association for People with Disability (APD) is a non-profit organisation based in Bangalore. APD runs the Shradhanjali Integrated School (SIS) - that takes in young children with disabilities and transforms their lives. SIS gives wings to their dreams . SIS has transformed lives of many children & they have gone on to become successful doctors, IT professionals, engineers and most importantly - Confident and Independent citizens. Here are some success stories of strength and grit
From severe disability to working at top firms like INFOSYS & BRITISH PETROLEUM(BP).
THIS CORPORATE PROFESSIONAL IS SUPER-ABLED.
Sayyed Zakir was a student of the Shradhanjali Integrated School (SIS) from 1982 to 1990. He was a severely disabled child with Polio in both legs and came from a very poor family. His dad was a bus conductor with KSRTC ( The Karnataka Road transport corporation) . Zakir was the youngest child in a family of 8 siblings . His older brothers started working when they were very young to make ends meet and were electricians , plumbers etc . His family and brothers decided that they had to educate him and get him to do something different . While his family did not have affirmative hopes for the child and no positive ideas about schooling, but they had him enrolled nevertheless. The SIS school designed a rehabilitation program for him that helped him throughout his schooling days.
Zakir vividly remembers that the teachers and everyone else at SIS insisted and forced him to wear his calipers, even though he disliked wearing them. He recalls that SIS was very strict with his calipers and he was encouraged to wear them if he wanted to attend classes. This practice, he says, has now been very helpful and because of SIS he feels very independent.
Zakir currently is a solution design consultant at Infosys in Bangalore. He says he has overcome his disability & many hurdles. In his words “I have practically travelled half the world.” He also had the opportunity to work with British Petroleum in Kuala Lumpur for 2 years . Zakir has a different idea about life; he felt that more than a wife he wanted a partner and therefore married a girl with disability. They now have a daughter with whom they travel across the world. Zakir thinks the SIS school played an very important part in his life and success.
From being unable to take walk to making others walk out healthy
Sunitha was a student of SIS from 1992 to 2000. She was a victim of Polio, which affected both her lower legs. She was brought to SIS in a crawling condition, without any idea about how the future will turn out. SIS designed a strong rehabilitation program for Sunitha which enabled her to walk on crutches. For this contribution, she always credits SIS as an important part of her life. She was always a bright student at SIS and excelled at academics and exams. She later completed her MBBS and attained an MD and is now a successful dermatologist with a hospital in the town of Kolar.
Shape his dream
Looking at his photo you will not notice much difference between him and a child without disability. But when he came to SIS six years ago this student with Cerebral Palsy, has to be carried by his mother as there was no leg movement. Thanks to the work and continuous intervention provided by APD/SIS staff Farzan is able to walk independently. Next year Farzan will be ready to join the regular school and will on his way to become productive citizen of India. There is nothing stopping him now.
There are 200 such Farzans currently study in SIS. Another 25 to 30 will join every year thanks to generous donors like you.
Unique Aspects:
The school maintains an 80:20 ratio of children with disabilities and the non-disabled to promote inclusion. The school has 200 students in nursery through 7th standard. Most of these children suffer from severe disabilities. Almost all of the students come from the poorer section of the society. SIS aims to provide education at only 20% of the cost of schooling which is possible because of the donations they receive from generous people.
Therapy and & medical intervention. We also provide assistive devices like wheelchair caliper rollators etc.
All the children get personalized plans as per their individual needs. They are provided with regularly physiotherapy, speech therapy, assistive devices and medical consultation. SIS focuses on activity-oriented learning, promoting sports, arts and crafts to ensure all-round development. SIS also have three interactive classrooms- Digiclass. These classrooms are equipped with audio- visual devices through which the standard course curriculum is taught.
Facilities like mid-day meals, books, uniforms, healthcare, rehabilitation, transportation and adapted learning techniques supplement their academic inputs. This model has ensured 90% mainstreaming, with most children moving on to regular or special schools.
Challenges:
The Shradhanjali Integrated School at the APD campus focusses on solving all these problem in an integrated fashion
The Association for People with Disability (APD) is a non-profit organization based out of Bangalore. Founded in 1959, we have worked extensively over the last 57 years to reach out and rehabilitate people with disabilities from the economically downtrodden strata of society.
We do this through Education, Vocational Training & Livelihood, Healthcare, Therapy & Mobility Aids, Advocacy and Network & Collaboration with other NGOs. In 2015-16 in education APD directly supported over 25,000 beneficiaries directly and even more indirectly through partner organization in the above areas. Since its inception APD has directly helped over 3,00,000 beneficiaries directly and many more indirectly
Our aim is to create an inclusive society, where people with disabilities are accepted into the mainstream economy and social life. To provide a culture and an eco-system where they can earn, live and sustain themselves with dignity and respect.
Our mission is to:
Risks and challenges
SIS is an established institution working from 1973. APD is running the SIS school successfully mostly on Donor funding and sees little risk for the continuation for academic season 2017-18 the year in which most of the funds raised in this campaign will be used
Links:
By Sha Nigar | Senior Manager
By ShaNigar | Senior Manager
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