OUR STORY

History

Samvedna was founded in late 2010 in response to the social, practical and health challenges that people with disability faced in Uttarakhand. They had nowhere to go for help.

We responded by bringing in therapists, doctors and volunteers, who gave freely of their time and we were able to bring about significant changes with minimal resources. Over the years, others have seen this good work and we have been able to add education, livelihood, social inclusion and empowerment activities to Samvedna’s work.

Mission

To work with people with disability and their families to meet their practical, educational, social and health needs and promote their inclusion in the community.

Goals

Guiding the work of Samvedna, is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) matrix, with the domains of Health, Education, Livelihood, Social development and Empowerment.

This framework is used internationally in disability-inclusive programming, to improve access to rehabilitation services for people with disabilities in low and middle income countries.

HEALTH: Minimise the risk and impact of disability

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  • Conduct health promotion and prevention campaigns and disability awareness and advocacy programs


  • Ensure early identification and intervention for children, through assessments, on-site therapy and home visits (OT, PT) and care plans

  • Run medical camps and disability clinics – offer referrals for other medical services

  • Offer surgical interventions and assistive devices (where possible)


  • Promote safe births

EDUCATION: Enhance educational opportunities for children and adults with disability

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  • Maintain 7 early learning centres and satellite learning centres in remote villages


  • Conduct Vacation School for children and adults with disability


  • Advocate in mainstream schools for inclusion of students with disability

  • Utilise volunteer teacher assistants to help children with disability in mainstream schools

LIVELIHOOD: Empower people with disability to engage in productive and gainful employment

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  • Maintain one vocational training centre to train people with disability in artisanry, carpentry, gardening and livestock management


  • Run a sheltered workshop (tailoring)


  • Foster linkages with government livelihood schemes


  • Train and assist families with disability for gainful employment or livelihood (Disability Inclusive Livelihoods Program)

SOCIAL: Foster a responsive and inclusive community

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  • Raise awareness in schools (teach children about disability & inclusion, train teachers), and support self- help groups

  • Host celebrations with PWD, including church events, World Disability Day

  • Foster spiritual engagement (religious activity, retreats)

  • Train and support parents and caregivers, to respond to the needs of those in their care as well as their own

EMPOWERMENT: Help people engage and advocate for their rights

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  • Support disabled people groups (DPGs) to mobilise people with disability, including special events like World Environment Day (tree planting)

  • Support formation and governance of disabled people's organisations (DPOs)

  • Inform people with disability and their families of their rights and entitlements, with promotion of PWD participation in community forums

  • Assist people to obtain government disability pensions

  • Assist women to enhance their literacy skills