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The Institute For Helping The Disabled

Empowering Persons with Disabilities Since 1995

Present Activities & Current Programmes

How we serve persons with disabilities every day.

Six programmes run side by side at the Institute. Some serve a small group of children intensively; others reach hundreds of families through community outreach. Together they form the spine of what we do every week.

Programme 01

ASWASANA — School for the Multiple Handicapped

Established 6 August 1998 — first facility in Odisha for children with multiple disabilities.

  • Currently serves 35 day scholars including children with cerebral palsy combined with intellectual disability and autism.
  • Staffed by 12 specially trained educators and support personnel.
  • Goal: expand to 100 residential students within five years.
  • Eleven special children have been integrated into mainstream schools.
Programme 02

Home Training through Centre-based Instruction

Periodic orientation training delivered to children, parents, and caregivers at the centre.

Programme 03

Home-Based Training Programme

An itinerant model in which our professionals visit the homes of children unable to reach the school.

Programme 04

Assessment & Therapeutic Centre

Established 31 January 2021. A dedicated facility for assessment and therapy.

  • Physiotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy services.
  • Staff includes an orthopaedic surgeon, ENT specialist, and paramedical professionals.
Programme 05

Awareness Programme for Public Education

Awareness drives, publications, and community education.

  • Published guides — including "Disability is not Inability".
  • Collaborations with IGNOU and the Rehabilitation Council of India.
Programme 06

International Day for the Disabled

Annual celebration on 3 December with competitions, aid distribution, and community training.

Programme 01

ASWASANA — School for the Multiple Handicapped

ASWASANA — Sanskrit for "comfort" or "consolation" — was the first school of its kind in Odisha when it opened in August 1998. It was built around a single insight: children with multiple disabilities cannot wait for a generic curriculum to be retrofitted to them. They need a school designed from the ground up around how they learn.

Today the school serves 35 day scholars between the ages of 4 and 18. Class sizes are small — typically 4 to 6 children per teacher — and every child has an individualised education plan reviewed twice a year. We follow a four-domain curriculum: communication, daily-living skills, functional academics, and social participation.

Eleven of our students have transitioned to mainstream schools. That number is small by national standards and proud by ours; each transition takes 3-6 years of preparation, and the family is part of every step.

Programme 04

Assessment & Therapeutic Centre

The Assessment & Therapeutic Centre opened on 31 January 2021 — the first dedicated facility of its kind serving free-of-cost therapy to children with multiple disabilities in our part of Odisha. Until then, families travelled to Cuttack or out of state for the same care.

The ATC delivers three core therapies under one roof: physiotherapy for postural and motor development, speech therapy for communication and feeding, and occupational therapy for sensory processing and daily-living skills. All three are integrated into the child's education plan, not treated as add-ons.

A consulting orthopaedic surgeon, ENT specialist, and paramedical professionals support the team. Roughly 60-70 therapy sessions are delivered each week.

Programme 05

Awareness Programme for Public Education

Awareness work is the part of our mandate that reaches the most people, even though it shows up least in numbers. We run door-to-door surveys in identified panchayats, parent orientation camps, and an annual Disability Day event each December that has grown into a community fixture.

We have published practical guides, including the booklet "Disability is not Inability", and collaborate with IGNOU and the Rehabilitation Council of India on training curricula for educators across the state.

In action

Annual Events Calendar

A handful of dates anchor our year and bring families, donors, and the wider community together.

15 August

Independence Day

Flag-hoisting and student performances. Parents and supporters are warmly invited.

5 September

Teachers' Day

A day organised by the children — performances, gifts handmade in classrooms, and a shared lunch.

3 December

International Day for the Disabled

Our flagship event of the year. Competitions, aid distribution, and recognition of community partners.

Annual Day

School Annual Day

Year-end performances by every class. Awards, group photos, and family reunions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions.

Reach out by phone, email, or the contact form. We will schedule an initial assessment within 7-10 days. The assessment is free and there is no commitment to enrol after it.

ASWASANA classroom education is free for all enrolled students. Therapy at the ATC carries a nominal fee that is waived entirely for families unable to afford it. No child is ever turned away for lack of payment.

Bring whatever you have — disability certificate (if issued), medical reports, school records. We will help you obtain anything you are missing. Documentation is never a barrier to assessment.

Shared transport is available within Bhubaneswar city limits at a subsidised rate. For families living further out, we run home-based programmes so the child does not have to travel daily.

Two years ago he could not sit still for five minutes. Now he holds a pencil, knows his colours, and has friends. He waits at the door for the school bus. That is everything to us.

A father ASWASANA — 2nd year
Activities Gallery Projects