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This page contains information about the organisation as read from the
their intial proposal and site visit report. Whenever possible a time line
has been attached. For the latest details and vision please refer to the
annual surveys filled out by the organisation every year.
Organization Profile:
ASTHA (Alternative Strategies for the Handicapped) is a
registered charitable trust providing services to children with
disabilities for the past three years. Registered in July 1992, the
trust is managed by a group of five trustees.
Astha's Aims:
Initiate an intensive outreach program to rehabilitate children with
different disabilities.
Work with children and people with disabilities (such as orthopedic
visual, speech and hearing disabilities as well as mental retardation)
Focus on areas of early detection and early intervention
Rehabilitate older children who have already become disabled
Integrate children in general schools and in society - Astha's team
will support the child and the school in terms of training the teachers to
work with the child, providing relevant information to the school as well
as sensitizing other students in the childs school and class.
Sensitize members of the community towards disabilities - they plan to
work with the Astha's communication division to provide the relevant info
and raise awareness.
Train parents and community workers in the area of disability
Build resources of the community to be utilized for the benefit of the
disabled members
Establish a network of referral services
Network with other NGOs and government bodies working this area
Work towards prevention of disabilities in the community
ASTHA's needs:
Transport facilities to enable children from all strata of society to
use their services
Salaries for their specialized staff and consultants (special
educators, physiotherapists, pediatricians, pediatric neurologists)
Permanent place to function effectively from.
ASTHA's plans for the next three
years:(1997-2000)
Provide a high level of professional regular services to at least a
100 children and their families from different strata of society
Provide at least another 50 children and their families,professional
counseling, information and referral services
Complete the preparatory phase of research and infrastructure
development for a sheltered vocational training workshop for people
with severe disabilities
Set up a research and communication center and be actively
involved in the production of training material, as well as research
and awareness raising material in the area of disability
Astha's experience with the alum areas:
Number of children with poliomyelitis and other orthopedic
disabilities. Children with hearing and speech disabilities, mental
retardation, visual disabilities etc.
A larger number of children at the risk of becoming disabled
Greatest single cause being malnutrition
Children who have not been properly or fully immunized and thus
at the risk of becoming disabled.
Astha has met with many families with disabled children in Govindpuri.
Most of the families tried to get the children treated (before) and
the children were given aids like hearing aids, braces etc but were
not trained on how to use them leaving the aids unused. They
included profiles of two of the children they helped. I can
post this if there someone is interested.
ASTHA's Special Child:
may have difficulty with movement
may not be able to speak
may have difficulty understanding basic concepts
may need special medical inputs
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