Able Disabled All People Together

The Spastics Society of India, now called ADAPT (Able Disabled All People Together) is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) that was set up in 1972 by Padmashri Dr. Mithu Alur, a parent of a daughter who was born with cerebral palsy to address the lack of services and knowledge that existed at that time. The main aim was to alert the nation to their needs and show how the government and community could help them to be included into existing services.

Since no educational services existed, The Spastics Society of India began a unique model combining education and health care treatment under one roof. It moved children away from a medical hospital setting to a special school setting to demonstrate that children with multiple disabilities could be educated and get treatment through a holistic approach. Today many of the students with a little modification are pursuing careers in accounting, journalism, library sciences, finance, computing and some have set up their own successful businesses. Others have pursued academics at the Masters and Ph.D. level. Pedagogy, manpower training was interwoven into the first innovative model. The organization was unique in showing how professionalism could be delivered withcare.

Dr. Alur’s Ph.D research entitled “Invisible Children - A Study of Policy Exclusion “examined the evolution of social and educational policy for disabled children in India and was the foundation for reorienting the organization’s ideology from special education to inclusive education. The organization has successfully demonstrated how children with disability could be educated in regular schools in the community and the country. A ‘continuum of support’ is provided by the team to all children included in mainstream schools at the child, family and school levels, in order to ensure that the child with disability remains in the general education system.

Today ADAPT is one of the largest NGO’s in India. From a special school started with three students it has grown to provide services that include assessment, treatment, education, support services for inclusion, counselling vocational guidance, advocacy, awareness, women’s empowerment programmes and employment training. The current direct services are provided in Mumbai at Colaba which serves the vicinity slums of Cuffe Parade and Colaba, Bandra, Chembur and Dharavi - Asia’s largest slum.

Skills Development was introduced for young adults with disability in 1989 through the setting up of the Skills Development Centre at Chembur in collaboration with the Spastics Society UK, The National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), USA, Government of India Ministry of Social Justice and the European Union. It was geared to give complete training facilities to each individual according to his or her ability to create job opportunities, placement and follow up services for all disabled clients. It was recognized by the Disability Welfare Commissioners Office in the Social Justice Department (Government of Maharashtra). Today, our alumni are working in both private and public sector as programmers, account executives, and administrative executives, and web designers, trainers in computer applications, senior secretarial assistants, and graphic designers.

In the area of advocacy, the One Little Finger Department was set up as the ADAPT Rights Group by disabled activist Ms. Malini Chib, a Double Masters’ from the University of London in Women’s Studies and Information Management and Technology, and author of the book ‘One Little Finger’ that raised awareness about disability. She was honored with the National Award by the Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment (MOSJE) Government of India, for being a role model in spreading awareness for persons with disability. The Department advocates and lobbies for the rights and issues of people with disabilities by breaking down the physical, social and attitudinal barriers that prevent them from fully participating in the social structure.

Training and Pedagogy is an important component of our work and the Mithu Alur Centre for Inclusive Studies undertakes Capacity Building and Training Programmes through the year. National level Training Courses have ensured the spread of services and this unique model of education and therapy under one roof has been replicated in 24 out of 29 states. These services are independent administrative institutions. All of this has been achieved through rigorous demonstration at the grass roots level across the country on how meaningful, sustainable services can be delivered to the poorest and weakest of our disabled people.

Over 3,000 children and 10,000 families in Mumbai and over 100,000 around the country have benefited from the services. In appreciation of the service rendered and taking into consideration the importance, need, growth and value addition of the services the State Government allotted land to the organization in Bandra, Chembur and Colaba.

On the national macro level, Dr. Alur has worked towards influencing policy change. In recognition of her contribution in the area of disability and inclusion, Dr. Alur has been nominated to major national level committees including the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), which is the highest advisory board on education in India. Her inputs to the government advocating inclusive public policies has led to the evolution of social policy and legislation through acts of Parliament such as the Right to Education Act.

ADAPT has a unique Result Based Management (RBM) system which documents all activities within a time frame and an accountability framework. Performance indicators hold key personnel accountable for all activities within their specific service unit. Quarterly reports are sent as per the donor requirements.

It networks with other organizations and institutions within the government and civil society to further promote inclusive practices through workshops, seminars, national and International conferences.

The organization has received the National Award for the Best Voluntary Agency from the Government of India and Dr. Alur was awarded the Padmashri from the President of India for her work in India. ADAPT is among the 47 NGOs that have been declared to be among the ‘sanitized’ NGOs that can be supported by Companies under their Corporate Social Responsibility after being cleared by seven Ministries.

Seeing the work, Mother Teresa, when she visited, said: “A work of love is a work of peace. Yours is a work of peace”.