VISHWAS - Vision For Health Welfare and Special Needs

Gurugram

VISHWAS is a Nonprofit organisation working in the field of Disability and Inclusive Development. Their Mission is to promote the rights and interests of the disadvantaged, particularly those with disabilities, in partnership with all stakeholders - children, their families, community and the government, by building knowledge and capacities on inclusive practices and policies; and creating opportunities for meaningful participation.

In 2005, Neelam Jolly, the founder of VISHWAS started working in Sanp ki Nagli, a small village in Sohna block of Gurugram district of Haryana with a vision of an inclusive society where persons with disabilities are ensured equal rights and opportunities in a dignified manner. Today after so many years of persistent work and resilience, VISHWAS is a proud team of 44+ people working for the four programmes that complement each other.

1. VISHWAS Vidyalaya provides an equitable and inclusive school system for children with or without disabilities.

2. VISHWAS Research and Training programme is for enhancing operational learning by bridging the gap between intent and practice for the inclusion of PWDs.

3. VISHWAS Skill Development and Training programme supports young adults and adults with disabilities with skill development and life skills opportunities.

4. VISHWAS Community Based programme facilitates community participation to provide a barrier free and inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities.

So far VISHWAS has reached out to 2824 beneficiaries, out of which 662 persons with disabilities have been impacted.

VISHWAS has collaborated with the Department of education, Haryana in developing different tools to promote inclusion of PWDs in mainstream society. They have distributed “Inclusion Kit - Bridging barriers” in 119 blocks of 22 districts of Haryana for meaningful participation and quality learning of children with special needs in regular classrooms.

They have launched “Disability Resource Helpline- Guiding Voice” in all the 22 districts of Haryana to cater to the information, educational and communication needs of parents and caregivers of Children With Special Needs (CWSNs) on inclusive education and other welfare schemes.

They have developed “Disability Resource Manual” that can be used as training material for ASHA and Anganwadi workers, regular teachers and parents for spreading awareness and for the right information related to all 21 disabilities and associated challenges.