capacity building of intellectually challenged persons, their parents & siblings, awareness and advocacy for their rights
I wanted to dismantle the myths about intellectual disability and prove to the parents and the larger society that a significant improvement in their functioning can come if we create appropriate learning and work opportunity for them. Disability is a social construct; we need to respect diversity of being in this world. Extreme neglect and marginalization that intellectually challenged persons have to go through because of ignorance of the society, disturbs me immensely.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Shanti
Last Name
Auluck
Website URL
Country
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Muskaan / Parents Association for the welfare of Children with Mental Hanficap
Organization Website
Organization Phone
011-41761873 / 74
Organization Address
sector B, Pocket-2 Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070
Organization Country
India
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Your idea
Name Your Project
capacity building of intellectually challenged persons, their parents & siblings, awareness and advocacy for their rights
Country your work focuses on
India
Describe Your Idea
I wanted to dismantle the myths about intellectual disability and prove to the parents and the larger society that a significant improvement in their functioning can come if we create appropriate learning and work opportunity for them. Disability is a social construct; we need to respect diversity of being in this world. Extreme neglect and marginalization that intellectually challenged persons have to go through because of ignorance of the society, disturbs me immensely.
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
It is ironical that even academic Psychology has such shallow understanding of the mind of intellectually challenged persons. My three decades of working with them including my own son has shown that it is only cognitive functions that are not optimally working, their personality aspects e.g. emotions, psychological needs, self, aspirations etc. are growing at the same pace of development as any other person of a given age. I have been instrumental in evolving training programs to address their need for overall development. In this process I have gained some unique insights about the condition of intellectual disability which I plan to write in the form of a book.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
I have worked with large number of young intellectually challenged persons and their families and extensively spread the awareness in the larger community seeking their support in organizing services for the challenged people. There has been overwhelming response. More and more families are approaching us for guidance and plan to initiate similar services in their areas. The biggest achievement is that we have been able to establish the capabilities of intellectually challenged persons and the need for appropriate education and training for the same. We reach out to parents and other similar organizations through bi-annual magazine called “Indradhanush” as well as presentations/lectures etc. We have been constantly supported by volunteers in our mission. It was amazing to find out that there are large number of people who contribute to support the cause. Lots of my students in LSR college and other colleges have been giving time to help us in varied kind of activities. I taught Psychology at LSR college, Delhi University from 1976-2005 before taking voluntary retirement to give full time to the mission.
My deep interest in Indian Philosophical systems also called spiritual traditions showed me the way as to how contemporary Psychology (western in its origin) can expand its horizons further by looking into these knowledge systems. I have given lectures on this topic and written papers which are published and presented in various conferences and seminars. I have been providing counseling support to students and families.
I along with other people working in the field of disability have been actively advocating the rights of people with disabilities e.g. 11th five year plan, inclusion of disabled children in Right to Education Bill, awareness building for UNCRPD which has been signed by Govt. of India and now amendments to the PWD Act.
However, I am very aware that much work needs to be done. I would be happy if in my life time whatever work I am able to do should lessen the difficulties of intellectually challenged persons and their parents of future generation.
Problem
• Education and training of intellectually challenged persons
• Employment opportunities for them
• Knowledge and emotional support to parents
• Dismantling attitudinal barriers in the community which is responsible for their marginalization and neglect
• Advocacy of the rights of disabled people at Govt. level to secure needed services, development of strategies to address these issues.
Actions
Our efforts in dealing with the issues mentioned in point 7 have yielded very positive results. We have following activities to address these issues:
• vocational training program: it includes comprehensive training covering all aspects of personal development e.g. social, emotional, cognitive, sports, extra curricular activities, communication, advocacy and vocational skills.
• work centre: trained adults are placed in various work units e.g. food processing, bakery, masala, candle, diya, office and gift stationary and block printing. The quality of products that they are manufacturing is very good and we have been able to find good marketing for the products.
• Potential developement unit for severely challenged children: severely challenged boys and girls are helped in developing daily living and adaptive skills along with a preparation for simple vocational skills.
• Pre-Vocational program for children between 10-16yrs: comprehensive training program emphasizing upon various skills that are needed to live an adult life with minimal support.
• Teacher/officeAasstt. Training: young adults with higher functioning levels are trained to work as assistants in office and class rooms.
• Parent counseling: support services to the parents along with information about the various concessions and benefits offered by the Govt.
• Parent training program: IGNOU has chosen Muskaan as a study centre for running 3 months’ parent training program. Two such programs are conducted in a year.
• multi-services camp / lectures and workshops for parents and teachers: an interaction with the specialists is organized to create better understanding in the parents and teachers about the disability.
• Newsletter “Indradhanush”: informative articles along with other relevant information is published for the benefit of the parents.
• Recreational activities: picnic, sports, painting sessions, evening parties of music and dance for the mentally challenged people and their friends.
• Advocacy & awareness: contact programs are conducted with school and college students to create better understanding about intellectual disability and need for creating growth opportunities for people with intellectual disability. We are also involved in advocacy with the Govt. policy and planning to secure for the rights of persons with disabilities.
• Residential facility: people with intellectual disability need support services in this area specially when the parents become old, sick or pass away. We are working towards creating such services which may get started in 2-3 yrs.
Results
My dream is to spread the awareness as well as services as far and wide as possible. We plan to open up more work centres in other parts of Delhi. I am personally giving more and more time to advocacy with the Govt. because I feel that the reach of NGOs is always going to be limited. If we have to reach out to large numbers, we need to work with the Govt. to create the necessary infrastructure support for awareness generation, education, vocational training and work opportunities, assisted living after the death of the parents etc.
The above mentioned activities have been going on for more than two decades. We are constantly reviewing and improvising our program, sharpening our focus on the important issues, trying to reach out to more and more people. Our biggest problem is lack of professionals who have good knowledge background, skills, sensitivity and compassion. Such people are rare to be found in the field of intellectual disability. Moreover, the better qualified professionals rarely come to the field for service delivery.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
• 2009-2010 --Preparation of a team of professionals and parents to start other work centres
• 2010-2011—starting professional training courses for teachers and care givers
• The above two are very demanding projects and would require great deal of time and energy for managing them efficiently. Besides, we are also making efforts to start group homes where intellectually challenged persons can live in secure environment ( when their parents become too old, sick or after the death of their parents)
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Lack of good teachers and other professionals
How many people will your project serve annually?
101‐1000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
$50 - 100
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for more than 5 years
In what country?
India
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
How long has this organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
Yes
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Such partnership helps in exchange of learning experiences and ideas as well as advocacy which is critical to the growth of field and services.
Muskaan is run by the partnership of parents and professionals. Our volunteers have been taking care of entire marketing of the products that our challenged person produce in work centres. Friends from the community, schools and colleges and other organizations have been contributing by raising resources for our activities.
We are networking with other NGOs working for people with disabilities as well as Govt. organizations e.g. National Trust to work on policy development and strategies for its implementation.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
Do have plans
• to start work centres for intellectually challenged adults in other parts of Delhi
• start residential set up for challenged adults so that they can have safe place to live after the death of their parents
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
My son has Down’s Syndrome, a kind of chromosomal disorder which is necessarily accompanied by intellectual disability. It was a devastating news for me when I came to know of this condition two days after his birth on 8th April 1976. It was extremely hard for me to come to terms with this reality of my life. However, being a very introspective and reflective person I realized that my grief and sadness was arising from my own faulty attitudes and intellectual arrogance. I started intense SELF ANALYSIS to identify the roots of my utter grief and it helped me in correcting my attitudes. Being a psychologist I could understand my child and his developmental needs. I used conscious strategies for strengthening his cognitive/intellectual functions, and addressing his emotional and other psychological needs. The result is that he has grown to be a fine young man, independent in daily life, good skills, responsible, affectionate and caring person. He works in Muskaan Work Centre along with other challenged adults.
I felt a sense of obligation towards sharing my positive experiences in stimulating growth and development of persons with intellectual disability and that made me start Muskaan where we could provide such facilities and services. I could also understand and empathize the struggles of the intellectually challenged persons and their parents which helped me in developing training programs to address such needs.
Muskaan experiences have established that sincere efforts, and community support can bring change in the society.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
Truly speaking whatever we have been able to achieve was the result of our own understanding and experimentations to address the needs of parents and their intellectually challenged children.
The answer to this question is already covered elsewhere.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Email from Changemakers
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Muskaan1.jpg | 80 KB |
| Muskaan2.jpg | 45.74 KB |
| Muskaan3.jpg | 42.32 KB |
| Muskaan4.jpg | 41.57 KB |
| Muskaan5.jpg | 46.97 KB |
| Muskaan6.jpg | 25.9 KB |
| Muskaan7.jpg | 72.31 KB |
 | Muskaan1.jpg | 80 KB |
 | Muskaan2.jpg | 46 KB |
 | Muskaan3.jpg | 42 KB |
 | Muskaan4.jpg | 42 KB |
 | Muskaan5.jpg | 47 KB |
 | Muskaan6.jpg | 26 KB |
 | Muskaan7.jpg | 72 KB |
