The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Serving the differently abled

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Monday, Jun 30, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Serving the differently abled

Staff Reporter

APD is setting up rehabilitation centres in five districts

The organisation has introduced horticulture as therapy
It is starting pre-vocational training centres

BANGALORE: “Disability is nothing. It is in the mind” says N. S. Hema, founder, Association of People with Disability (APD). APD is one of the many organisations that have changed the definition of disability. By creating more opportunities for the differently abled, APD has helped them achieve their dreams of earning a livelihood.

This year, APD, as part of their golden jubilee celebrations, is organising a range of activities. Realising the need for immediate services in rural areas, APD has planned to establish therapeutic and rehabilitation centres in five districts. Announcing the early opening of therapeutic centres in Bangalore Rural, Kolar, Chennapattana, Anekal, Chamrajapet, D.J. Halli and Gowripalya, V.S. Basavaraju, director, APD said that the centres would operate out of Government hospitals. These centres would cater to all age groups and support as many as 1,300 people with disabilities, he added.

The organisation will also start pre-vocational training centres to impart living skills such as, activities to improve concentration, co-ordination and cognitive skills. Mr.Basavaraju says,

“This will boost the confidence of people with disabilities and will help them work in groups.”

APD has been a pioneer in India to introduce horticulture as therapy as well as career to various categories of persons with disabilities. The new horticulture training centre in Koppal District focusses on training people who have no skill to earn a livelihood.

Apart from this, the organisation is providing scholarships to students persuing higher education and training and Rs. 10 lakh has been arranged for this purpose.

Over 200 students are likely to benefit. APD also wishes to help other NGOs by providing technical and financial assistance.APD hopes to encourage other organisations as catalysts

. “Many organisations come here, learn from our methods and later implement them in their camps,” says Thomas Varghese, member.

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