1)Anugraha special school for the mentally challenged Khed , Sangli mission

2)Jeevdan special school for the mentally challenged, Zarap, Sangli Mission

3)Prathiksha special school for the mentally challenged Vilavade, Sangli Mission

4)Ashadeep special school for the mentally challenged sangli

5)Asha sadan special school for the mentally challenged, Mandya

6)Preethi nilaya special school for the mentally challenged  Koppa, Mandya

7)Nirmal jyothi special school for the mentally challenged, Mandsaur St Paul region

Rehabilitation centres

1)Deepti Nivas Rehabilitation centre for the disabled people  Kalehanahally , Mandya

2)Cherish rehabilitation centre for the mentally challenged Amberi , sangli

3)Shanti Nivas care Home for children with profound multiple disabilities  Khutalwadi, Sangli

Samanvaya is the programme for the empowerment of the disabled in Sangli Mission, Maharashtra. Sangli mission has got programmes for the disabled mainly in 4 districts namely Sangli, Kohapur ,Ratnagiri and SindhudurgAs per the statistics there are 116804 disabled in these 4 districts. We work not even 5 % of the disabled have access to the services. In order to empower the disabled and integrate them into the mainstream of society we have this programme.We believe that integration of persons with disabilities is possible only by providing equal opportunities for which families, communities and the society as a whole is responsible.Our mission is to identify and train all persons with disabilities especially from rural areas of Maharashtra to make them economically independent and socially productive citizens and thus integrate them to the main stream of society.
Following are the Activities :
Early Identification and Intervention
Special Education and Training
Integrated and Inclusive Education
CBR and HBR Programs
Awareness Programs and Disability Prevention campaigns
Creation of Public Opinion in favor of the Disabled
Guidance, Counseling and Emotional support to the Parents
Vocational Training and Rehabilitation
Respite homes and Care centers for persons with severe and profound disabilities
Training programs for the special educators
Empowering the disabled persons to fight for their rights
Linkages with governmental and non governmental organizations
Formation of parents’ associations

Special education

In order to meet the special needs of mentally challenged children from rural areas SMS runs three special schools. Anugrah in Khed village in Ratnagiri district, Jeevdan in Zarap village in Sindhudurg district and Prathiksaha at vilavade village in Ratnagiri district.
Prathiksha and Jeevdan provide boarding facilities for children from remote villages and where parents are not able to cater to their needs Autism center attached to Alphonsa school, Miraj provide integrated education to autistic children from the Sangli Miraj and Kupwad towns.
Though recognized by social welfare department of Maharashtra none of these schools receive an grant from the government.

CBR & HBR

We provide medical and social rehabilitation to the disabled in their communities Providing appliances for improved mobility, orthotic and prosthetic appliances, educational support, Therapies etc though CBR workers.
With partnership with SLF we could reach out to more than 250 disabled children.

Astha Project 

AASTHA: Rehabilitation of the Disabled and the Prevention of Disability Project was started in January 2010 in 10 villages of Sangli district,Maharashtra,Indiaby Sangli Mission of MST and supported by Kinder Not Hilfe (KNH) and Holistic Child Development India (HCDI).

Under this project help was extended to those families with differently abled children and they experienced happiness when they found that their children who required assistance for everything could freely walk around on their own and some even started going to school.

The Following are the Major objectives of the Project:

• To rehabilitate the differently abled children and youth
• To prevent occurrence of disability
• To improve the economic status of the families with differently abled persons
• To alleviate poverty in the identified villages
• To build the capacity to respond to the needs of the differently abled persons in the communities
• To promote rights of the differently abled  and the poor
• To help people to develop positive attitudes towards disability

A base line survey was conducted in 10 villages to identify the real living situation of the people. One thousand and seventy differently abled persons were identified in these villages.  Early marriage, consanguinity, lack of nutritious food during pregnancy, excessive use of chemicals, attempted abortion etc are a few reasons of disability in these villages.

Total Number of differently abled persons in 10 villages

The staff of Aastha made a good rapport with individuals and communities in these villages and Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Centres were established as the first phase of the Project. The differently abled children came together for training in these CBR Centres. Many activities such as special training, providing nutritious food, awareness programs, medical treatments, corrective surgery, providing orthopedic aids and appliances, formation and strengthening of community based organizations; income generating activities etc. were conducted for the rehabilitation of the disabled and the prevention of disabilities.

Mobility Mission through Corrective Surgery and Providing Orthopedic Aids and Appliances

In the initial survey done in the target area many children were identified with disability. Many of them could not sit, stand, walk and were unable to do their basic needs on their own; some even to the extent of not able to perform their toilet needs on their own. Many children who are severely disabled soil and wet their sleeping mat as the disability impairs their consciousness and awareness. Sometimes they are unattended and this results in unhygienic environment in the living area of the house.  These children depend on others for every need. All of them are confined to their houses. Parents of the grown-up children find it difficult to lift their children and attend to their basic needs. As one of the parents (mostly mothers) of these children has to attend to them always they are not able to go out for any job.  This affects the life of the whole family. Most families find in difficult to survive on the income generated by one parent. As a result the other children too live in poverty and malnutrition. These differently abled children are prone to various sicknesses as they live in unhygienic conditions.

Along with their physical impairment they lack intellectual, emotional and psychological developments as they have no opportunity to go out of their homes. But if they are given corrective surgery and supporting aids and appliances these would in turn improve the mobility and the life situation of these children.

So with the generous support of Kinder Not Hilfe and Holistic Child Development India Sangli Mission Society took up the project.  ‘Unit of Hope’ ofSt. John’sMedicalCollege,Bangaloreextended their whole hearted support for the corrective surgery of these children. The doctors fromSt John’sMedicalCollegevisited these children and their family members for the initial screening and medical checkup in a camp organized by Aastha in Sangli Mission. Those children who were identified for surgery were taken toBangalorein 4 batches and others were advised for physiotherapy, aids and appliance like wheel chair, CP chair, belt, walker etc.  For post operative care regular physiotherapy is given and doctors make their visits often.

Details of the medical camp and corrective surgery are given below:

*** 60 more children are identified for corrective surgery during the medical Camp held on 25^th to 27^th November 2011

   The Success Story- Achievements of Corrective Surgery:

The corrective surgery brought about a drastic change in the lives of these children. Some of them are:

1. Increased mobility of children: Children started to walk, eat and do the activities of daily living independently
2. Improved living condition with the help of aids and appliance: As they were able to move around and fulfill their needs their living conditions too changed for better. They now live in better hygienic conditions.
3. Further developments: Those children who were confined to their homes earlier now became more self-reliant after the surgery and some even started going to school, visit public places and places of worship. This boosted their confidence and the will to face the challenges of life.
4. Parental Freedom:   Earlier mostly mothers used to set apart all their time in the care of these children and were not able to go to work. Now that these children can look after themselves, they are able to go for work and thus enhance the income of their families.
5. Attitudinal change in the society: “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” The society considers disability as a punishment given by God for man’s sins. Hence people with disability are often looked down upon. But with the disability corrected fully or partially the society too began to change its attitude towards these children. People started to accept the disabled persons and started helping them.
6. Seeing the World Beyond: Most of these families in the rural areas have never travelled beyond the boundaries of their villages. But the corrective surgery offered a chance to them to travel long distances and see and experience life beyond their native villages. The trip toBangalorewas thus a learning experience for the children as well as their parents. Most importantly they got an opportunity to interact with people in a distant city.

Case 1: Priyanka Blaso Pawar (Age: 16 yrs.)

Priyanka, a young beautiful girl affected by polio, was unable to walk and stand on her own.  When she lost her dear mother she was totally depressed and her plight was very miserable. She could not cope with God who took the life of her mother whom she considered as her own legs. Priyanka had her schooling up to class IX when she lost her mother. The first fall out of the death of her mother was that she could not continue her education. Left alone at home she had nobody to support her and bring her out to enjoy the wonderful world. She was very much depressed constantly and was confined to the four walls of her house. During this traumatic time she lived with the fond memories of her mother.

But her life changed again for better when she was given a wheel chair and she cherishes the day when she got it and she values it very much. Now sitting on the wheel chair she moves around by her own. She also enjoys the wonders of the world and meeting people outside her house. She smiles when she sits on the wheel chair and the joy could be seen on her face and in her eyes.

Priyanka’s confidence level increased and she likes to undergo a tailoring course so that she can earn some money for herself and can be independent.  All the best dear Pryanka! We are with you!

Case 2: Vikram Vital Bodker (Age: 4 yrs.)

The family of Vikram Vital Bodker did not favor corrective surgery for his legs because they believed that he had been specially chosen by God like this. They used to apply holy ashes on his feet. AASTHA staff counseled and convinced the parents for corrective surgery. Today this 4 year old boy is walking normal and has started going to Nursery School!

Case 3: Prajyot Pramod Badekar (Age:  5 yrs.)

The mother of Prajyot Pramod Badekar from Kavlapur village thought she was dreaming when the doctors fromSt. John’sMedicalCollegetold her that her 5 year old son could walk by himself if corrective surgery could be performed on him. Her husband had deserted her with two children, blaming her for giving birth to a disabled child.  Thus the entire family relied on her daily wage for survival. With a physically challenged son to be looked after, she found life very hard.

With the support of AASTHA she brought the child for the Medical Camp held on 8^th January 2011. Doctors advised the mother to bring Prajyot toSt. John’sMedicalCollege inBangalore. After the corrective surgery Prajyot started to walk and play with his brother and friends. Today his mother much relaxed and there is a ray hope for a better future for the family.

Case 4: Sujal Hambire (Age: 7 yrs.)

When Sujal asked his mother “Mom, when would I walk like my Dada (elder brother) his mother could only hug him in embarrassment. The corrective surgery is very expensive and the family was unable to get it done. AASTHA extended its support to Sujal and today he walks like his brother.

Case 5: Suhel Sunil Kamble (Age: 9 yrs.)

Suhel, now nine years old was born with disability.  He could only crawl using his hands and legs. His grant mother used to carry him to school but he was not accepted by his friends in the school. Suhel was crying for a pair of shoes when his father bought one for his brother and Suhel started using it wearing it on his hand to crawl. The staff of AASTHA found him lying on the floor and was selected for corrective surgery on his leg. After that regular physiotherapy was given. Now he can stand, walk and run like his friends with the help of a walker. His life has been totally changed and he is very active than before. He goes to school without being assisted and nobody teases him for being disabled. He feels proud and like his brother he also wears shoes on his feet.

Case 6: Tejashree Hanmant Jadhav (Age: 14 yrs.)

“Now I can dance like my friends and nobody teases me when I dance.” Tejashree a 14 year girl from Manjarde village studying in 8^th standard, was feeling lonely  due to the deformity and painful thumb of her leg due to which she was unable to dance, play and not able to wear shoes like her friends.  With AASTHA’s support today she feels proud and is very active.

Case 7: Aditya Raosaheb Shinde (Age: 3 yrs.)

For the parents of Aditya, a 3 year boy born with clubfoot it was impossible to get corrective surgery done on his leg because it was very expensive and they were struggling a lot to meet their basic needs.  Now after AASTHA’s help he moves around freely as normal child. There is a smile on his as well as his parents’ faces. It is dream come true for them.

Case 8: Anil Khot (Age: 28 yrs.)

Anil’s father had only one prayer when he enteredSt. John’sMedicalCollegeHospitalcarrying his 28 year old son on his back that his son should walk by himself. Literally the prayer was heard when Anil came out ofSt. John’sMedicalCollegewalking alone with help of a walker.

Anil, a driver by profession was the sole bread winner for his family. Four years ago he had the attack of paralysis due to which there was a deformity on his both the legs and could not stand and walk. He and his family were totally depressed because after spending lot of money there was no improvement in his condition. Doctors did corrective surgery on his both legs on 18^th November 2011 and now he walks with the help of a walker. Regular physiotherapy is given and he is really improving. One day he will be able to gain normalcy and look after his family.

Vocational Training

Other than the vocational training in special schools for making chalks, envelops etc those who are above 18 are rehabilitated at the agro based rehabilitation center called Cherish at Amberi village In Sindhudurg district.

Care Home For The Severely Disabled

Shanti Niwas care home at Khutalwadi village in Kolhapur district for the severely disabled children (specially paraplegic) from poor families whose parents are unable to give them proper care.

Awareness Programmes

Awareness programes on prevention of disabilities Rights of the disabled barrier free environment, inclusive education are conducted on regular basis in schools and other institutions and for parents. Public rally onworld disabled day is also used for raising the issues concerning the disabled.
Thaluka level and district level Special Olympics are organized for the disabled.

Capacity Building

Samanvaya organizes training programmes for special educators CBR workers caregivers , parents and other personnel involved in the rehabilitation process of the disabled . Recently a state level training programme was organized for parents of the disabled. Sixty parents from different parts of Maharashtra attended the training.