ASED
Opening up the world to children with disabilities
Location
Jaipur, India
Context
An estimated 2.2% of India’s 1.4 billion inhabitants, or 26.8 million people, live with a disability. Only 61% of children and young people with disabilities attend school, and almost 55% of people with multiple disabilities have never attended school. At national level, the importance of implementing an inclusive policy has been recognized since 2006. The aim is to create an environment that ensures equality of opportunity, protection of rights and full participation in Indian society for people with disabilities.
Project
The aim is to provide a specially-equipped bus for children and young people with disabilities. The bus enables them to take part in extra-curricular activities, thereby promoting their integration into society. It also gives them the opportunity to put into practice the skills they have acquired at the specialized center.
They can take part in sports competitions and special events such as World Disability Day. They can also visit nature reserves, cultural sites and more.
This openness to the world is a key element of their schooling/training. It encourages communication, team spirit, cooperation, self-confidence and self-esteem. Skills that help every child and young person to lead a more independent, adventurous, creative and dignified life, and to be better integrated into society.
Interaction with the outside world also helps to generate positive public attitudes towards people with disabilities and reduce prejudice against them.
Impact
Direct beneficiaries
- 270 students and trainees (2022-2023)
- 65 professionals, including special educators, teacher assistants, physiotherapists, speech therapists, a therapist for cerebral/cortical visual impairment, and teachers from the B.Ed. program (a recognized two-year training program for special educators).
- 40 trainees in the B.Ed program
Indirect beneficiaries
- Families of students and young people in training.
- Society as a whole, which plays an essential role in this inclusive program.
Partnership
On this project, ASED is working in partnership with Umang in Jaipur, which specializes in supporting children and young people suffering from mental retardation, autism and multiple disabilities.
Umang began its activities in 2006 on the initiative of parents of children with disabilities, and is supported by a team of experienced and qualified professionals. Since its inception, over 600 disabled people and their families have benefited from the services provided, which include a special education center, an inclusive education unit, physiotherapy and speech therapy services, a vocational training unit with sheltered workshops, and a therapy unit for cortical/cerebral visual impairments. Umang also provides on-the-job staff training, state-recognized special educator training and home training programs. ASED and Umang have been partners since 2017.