“EXCLUSION OF the marginalized and the disabled has been institutionalized in the poorer countries,” said Mithu Alur, the founder of ADAPT (Able Disabled All people Together, formerly called the Spastics society of India), before inaugurating a grand meet on Education for the Disabled.

 

In her inaugural speech Alur, also the chairperson of the conference, being held in Goa invited the participants of 22 developed and the developing countries to rethink about the inclusion of the marginalized and the disabled. In the poorer countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Cambodia the disabled children suffer more poignantly. In India there are some 40 to 80 million people with disabilities. In years to come the number of the disabled in India and other countries is feared to rise sharply as age-related disabilities grow and traffic accidents increase. India and 21 other countries which are attended the North South Dialogue IV shared their views on growing disabilities globally. The Meet focuses on the Implementing Tools of Change for Inclusion of the marginalized and the disabled.  

 

The first such North South Dialogue was held in 2001 in Mumbai, the second one in 2003 in Kerala, the third one in 2005 in Delhi and the ongoing fourth one is being held in Goa. ‘Disabilities’ according to the World Health Organisation is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. ADAPT has a greater vision and more inclusive concern for the education of the disabled. Millions of the disabled are now marginalized and the disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives. The mental disability occurs after physical disability. What is more concerning is that the persons with disabilities are not made active participants in the development process.

 

The Conference focuses on problems of the developing countries (the South countries) facing huge systemic barriers in including Children with Disabilities. Other marginalised groups out of school will also be addressed such as the girl child and children from socially disadvantaged groups (like Dalits). There is a huge gap between policy formulated and policy enacted at the ground level. This and other issues will be addressed. Experiences from both the developed and developing countries will be shared.

 

Different models of intervention as ‘Tools of Change’ will also be showcased. Participants include professionals, parents, community workers, policy makers, opinion makers, trainers and administrators from different countries. People working in India, UK, Canada, Europe, Russia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Papua New Guinea have attended the Conference. Massive lack of understanding, social justice, how to help these countries, millions of children suffering were discussed and the delegates interacted on issues related to the ways in which they can help millions of such children. The dialogue focuses on the difficulties of developing countries facing huge systematic barriers in including children with disabilities, leaving millions of children out of schools.

 

ADAPT has a number of publications CAPP I, CAPP II, Inclusive Education: The Proceedings of North and South Dialogue I, Inclusive Education: From Rhetoric to Reality. In all these books the problems of exclusion of the disabled are thoroughly discussed.  For the last four decades since 1972, from a special school started with three children, the organization has grown to become one of the foremost non - profit organizations in the country, providing services to more than 3000 children and 10,000 families. Their services include assessment, infant stimulation, therapy, counselling, inclusive education, skills training and job placement, continuum of support services and home management programmes for children and young adults with disability. To address the developmental needs of the rural population in India, the organization is now moving towards creating an inclusive village model through – The Mithu Alur Foundation, a new project under the aegis of ADAPT. With an aim of help the differently-abled, ADAPT is hoping to start a branch in Goa soon.