5.2 Profile of Non-governmental Organizations of/for Persons with Disabilities

This organization works for the advancement of the disabled and works in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Related Disorders Society and the Hemophilia Society. They serve PWDs that have the following types of disabilities; Cerebral palsy/spastic, hearing impaired, mentally handicapped, orthopedically impaired, slow learner and the visually impaired.

The BPA was formed by a group of blind people in 1954 as a recreation club. Today, it serves not only the blind but people with all categories of disability − hearing impaired, mentally challenged, locomotor disabled, multiply disabled including deaf-blind, and the elderly. The organization has received the National Award and FICCI Award. They are recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, CAPART, as a nodal agency.

The Foundation was established in 1991 and currently operates a school with over 220 students housed in buildings owned by the Foundation and provides CBR programs, parental and genetic counseling and operates Braille printing presses. The Foundation also manages the Ramananda Centre for Advance Learning and Research for the visually impaired vocational training.

The West Bengal Spastics Society was formed in May 1974 and became the Spastics Society of Eastern India in 1981 and is currently the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy. The Institute is a nationally recognized professional institute for training and research.

Jan Madhyam provides disability awareness and holistic development through creative work and training programs, while integrating the disabled into their existing programs.

The Association was formed in 1978 and began providing teacher training programs in the field of intellectual disabilities and specific learning disabilities and autism. Since its formation, the Association has trained over 1,000 special educators and provides three diploma courses. The Association also organizes workshops, seminars and awareness programs.

The Institute has been in operation for over 28 years providing special education and vocational training while conducting early intervention and parental counseling. The Institute also operates a research and diagnostic unit and conducts CBR and prevention and public awareness campaigns

Samarthya roughly translates as "Capability". Its prime goal is to encourage the innate potential of persons with disabilities, instill confidence and to sensitize and create awareness about disability related issues including accessibility. Its main motto is "Let's make the world accessible".

The NCPEDP is a non-profit organization working as an interface between government, industry, international agencies and the voluntary sectors towards increased employment opportunities for disabled people.

PARIVAAR was formed in 1995 and is recognized by the Government as an APEX organization representing over 100 parents' associations across India. The Federation is a member of Inclusion International, the world body of Parents' Associations of PWDs.

SSNI provides technical rehabilitation inputs, such as special education therapy, assessment, vocational training, rural and urban community based rehabilitation, awareness, advocacy. It receives some form of financial assistance or grants from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu was founded in 1981 as a welfare provision organization. The Society is dedicated to the empowerment of people with disabilities through human resource development, community inclusion and participation. They aim to provide people with disabilities the best possible opportunity to participate in community life through education, employment and rehabilitation services. They operate three special education centers, which provide education at all levels to meet the needs of children with disabilities and are recognized as a State-level Training Center on disability for governmental personnel, ECCD and educational sectors.

Sweekaar is a non-profit organization with over 26 years of service to the mentally handicapped, physically disabled, and others. The Institute services over 1,900 people per day in providing service delivery, training, awareness and community participation programs.

THPI was established in 1968 as a rehabilitation center for children. Today it is an institute employing more than 250 professional and paraprofessionals in paediatrics, clinical psychology, special education, speech pathology, psychiatry, occupational, hydro, art and music therapies. In 1992, the THPI Community-Based Rural Project was established and serves approximately 36 villages.

ActionAid India has been a development funding agency since 1972, and works with organizations to reach out to the marginalized and socially deprived sections in the country. ActionAid India works with a professional team located in 14 regional offices and the country head office in New Delhi. ActionAid supports approximately 300 voluntary organizations across India.

Disabled Peoples' International is a network of national organizations or assemblies of disabled people, established to promote human rights of disabled people through full participation, equalization of opportunity and development. The goals of DPI are to promote the human rights of disabled persons, promote economic and social integration of disabled persons and develop and support organizations of disabled persons worldwide.

The Helen Keller Service Society is a voluntary organization established in 1979. The organization implements service projects for the welfare of the disabled in Tamil Nadu, founded by Dr G Thiruvasagam for the service of people in the field of welfare of the disabled in rural areas.

Hope Worldwide began operations in India in 1991 and currently has over 80 programs across 17 cities that meet the needs of the urban poor including PWDs.

Rehabilitation International is a worldwide network of people with disabilities, service providers and government agencies working together to improve the quality of life for disabled people and their families. Founded in 1922, it now has more than 200 member organizations in 90 nations.