ABSTRACT OF THE PAPER PRESENTED ON 12TH DECEMBER 2014 AT THE WORKSHOP OF TECH FOR SEVA

Dear All

In continuation to the earlier posts made on the above cited subject, the Abstract submitted by us has been accepted to present the same on 12th December 2014. 

The same has been pasted below for information as: 

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                             LIVELIHOODS FOR EMPOWERMENT OF

PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

N Lakshmi Narayana^, Advisor

A.   Tagoor, Secretary

Chetana Foundation, Hyderabad.

Email: chetana.ngohyderabad2004@gmail.com /

^ grcnln@gmail.com Cell: 9392445973

ABSTRACT

Statement of the Study: The poor access for training, rehabilitation and skill development have forced Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (PWIDDs) as marginalized and out of the inclusive development.   

Objectives: The study aims to: understand the causes and consequences of disabilities; early interventions, education; skill development; employment; and creation of livelihoods as an empowerment.  

Background: It is the fact that poverty, disability and development are the cause and consequence of each other and further deepens the poverty. In spite of the Acts and Policies, the barrier limit the access for PWIDDs and thus to be part of the inclusive community. The disability rehabilitation has transformed from charity to welfare to development to rights based model. Accordingly, disability is the responsibility rather than burden and should be part of the community development itself. Under these circumstances, the need of the hour is to develop need based service delivery system with innovation and creativity. Chetana Foundation is the registered voluntary service organization which works for the empowerment of PWIDDs and just completed its First Decade (2004-2014) of Service journey with better participation and acceptance of the stakeholders.

Methodology: Chetana has developed the institutional based training and rehabilitation of PWIDDs living in parts of the Ranga Reddy District. The methodologies adopted are need based matching to the skills, needs and vulnerabilities of PWIDDs. The multidisciplinary approaches are effective in enhancing their skills which further improved their opportunities for employment and livelihoods. Some of the trades include: Paper Plates, Gel Candles, Phenyl, Ornamental Items and several other need based.

Results:  The process has created significant impact in the lives of PWIDDs along with their parents. The open employment created has resulted for inclusion in the community as an empowerment both socially and economically. In addition, it has created livelihoods both on individual and group as SHG basis with better sustainability and quality. The models are participative, flexible, replicable, scalable and sustainable with innovation. The paper presents the process of training, rehabilitation, skill development, employment, income generation and success stories with an aim to answer the concern of the PWIDDs and parents that “nothing about us without us?” and “what will happen to the child after us?” respectively.   

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More will be posted on this event. 

Looking forward for better sharing and networking...

All the best.