User:SANCHAR A.R.O.D.

In 1988, a group of disability workers in Kolkata, decided to step off from the beaten track and venture into Community Based Rehabilitation, because they felt this was the only way to reach the unreached – Persons with Disabilities and their families from economically marginalized sections of society, residing in rural areas. Two years later, the group led by Mr. Gautam Chaudhury registered themselves as SANCHAR AROD (A Society for Appropriate Rehabilitation of the Disabled). In 80’s rehabilitation services in India for Persons with Disabilities at village level were practically non-existent. The available services were institutional, mostly city based and geared towards urban middle and upper class population. Distance and poverty made it impossible for poor Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) residing in villages to avail city based services. The crying need of the hour was an appropriate community based rehabilitation programme / service for persons with disabilities based on their socio-economic realities and involving parents, family and community members, which would have an impact on social attitude and remove barriers at all levels for inclusion of persons with disabilities in the mainstream society. Initially SANCHAR started working in 20 villages of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal with few families. But Today SANCHAR’s Community Based Programme has touched the lives of thousands of persons with disabilities and their families in villages of South 24 Parganas and Howrah district. The major thrust areas of CBR work towards a sustainable disability inclusive development. SANCHAR’s Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programme through different activities in the areas of Health, education, livelihood, social and empowerment has covered around more than 1000 children and persons with disabilities, their family members and community people. CBR programme includes individual home based programme, which is designed on the basis of abilities of the person as well as the nature and severity of impairment. Weekly home based and group based support is provided to children and adults with disabilities for disability management, therapeutic intervention for physical development, customised modification of aids and appliances, development of skills to carry out daily living and household activities, auditory & speech training, mobility orientation, behaviour modification and training on Braille and Indian Sign Language and other communication skills. At the same time parents and family members receive regular training, so that they can carry on the disability management work with their children and their dependence on rehabilitation professionals is gradually reduced.

Besides the regular CBR Programme in the villages, every Thursday SANCHAR opens its premises for the children with disabilities and their parents who come from outside of SANCHAR’s field area and the day is called Open Day. Besides therapeutic intervention and functional education, which is based on the individual need of the children, parents also receive a practical exposure and training on disability management. However, if needed, this service is complemented by periodic home visits. SANCHAR’s Resource Support and Training Unit provides necessary support to organisation’s Community Based Inclusive Development Programme through capacity building of human resources, research work and advocacy. The unit looks after social networking and publication and works as an Information Resource Centre. At the national level, the unit provides training and other technical support on Disability and Development issues to the CBOs / NGOs / Govt. Institutions and to individuals.