With the financial and technical assistance from “Sense International India”, Ahmedabad, the Deaf Blind and Multiple Disability project was launched at NAB, Unit Maharashtra in Nashik in 1999. Other than Mumbai, NAB, Unit Maharashtra, Nashik is the only place in the state where this project has been started successfully. Initially started with just one child, today there are 85 children who are deaf, blind and / or with multiple disabilities. They are looked after by trained professionals and individually treated by doctors. They are taught and groomed in accordance with their individual abilities and physical capacity. Our persevering staff and their incredible patience in handling these children have achieved remarkable results. Sense International, India, displaying great confidence in our organization, allowed us to start similar projects in our Nagpur, Sholapur, Shrirampr (Ahmednagar), Dhule district branches.
Our success in this work prompted “Rangoonwala Foundation India Trust (RFIT)”, a major funding agency for such philanthropic work, to come forward to extend financial assistance to run these projects effectively at the various locations. We execute this project entirely on our own, unaided, without any grant or assistance from the Central or State Governments. Needless to say, RFIT has been a great help in this effort.
STATE LEARNING CENTRE:
Sense International India chose NAB, Unit Maharashtra to take up additional responsibility to work as the “State Learning Centre” funded by “UKaid” for early intervention and vocational training for visually impaired and multiple disability children.
AUDIOMETRIC CENTRE:
In working with deaf blind people it is necessary to know the percentage of hearing impairment of the person so that the right hearing aid can be selected.
Audiometric Centre is made up of two rooms equipped with all necessary equipment such as a dark room with different colour lights, different textures, vibration boards, various sound kits etc. All is of this is funded by Sense International India and local donors Mrs. and Mr. Jayant Joglekar. The centre was inaugurated by Ms. Gillian Morbey, CEO, Sense UK and Mr. Akhil Paul, Director, Sense International India on September 19, 2014. Since then, about 100 deaf blind persons have undergone the audiometric tests successfully.
SENSORY GARDEN:
First of its kind in Maharashtra and second in India, a uniquely designed “Sensory Garden,” with financial assistance from “National Trust, New Delhi” has been created in NAB Sankul, Nashik in the year 2009 for the visually impaired, deaf blind and children with multiple disabilities who are able to touch, feel, sense, smell and analyze while moving in this intricately designed garden. Equipped with a mini amphitheater and play equipment, it has also become a place of recreation for them. It is a model garden which will shortly be replicated in all other districts of the state.
COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION PROJECT (CBR):
Sponsored by Christoffel Blind Mission (CBM) Germany and Andheri Hilfe Bonn E.V. Germany, 17 CBR programmes were implemented by NAB, unit Maharashtra during 1992 to 1998 in the state. Villagers were trained to improve their existing small businesses. Gradually getting convinced about the importance and the overall benefits of this project, they willingly started participating in giving social, medical and educational support to visually impaired persons living in their village. About 5400 persons have benefited through this project in various districts of Maharashtra.
CHARITY CENTRE:
These days it has become a problem to discard the used, old household things. People do not wish to continue holding them and are usually at a loss to find a way to get rid of them. NAB, Unit Maharashtra has come to their rescue. We invite them to offload any hand-me-down items in our charity centre. It’s a win-win situation for both parties. They are free of the clutter and also look virtuous for donating it to NAB for charitable purpose! We, in turn sell those items at very low prices to the poor in the surrounding area. Proceeds thus collected are used for the welfare of the visually impaired. The scheme is very successful and it has become one of the ways to raise funds for our welfare activities.
ADIP SCHEME:
NAB, Unit Maharashtra is a nodal agency appointed by the Central Government since 1992 for distribution of aids and appliances to visually impaired, mentally retarded, hearing impaired and persons with other disabilities. The cost of the aids and appliances is funded by the Central Government as well as by public contributions.
SPORTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:
Sports provide a great social exposure and liberate people from loneliness, as well as other personality issues that may have been built over the years. With this belief, NAB, Unit Maharashtra started organizing state-level sports for visually impaired people. The first sports meet was organized in Sholapur in 1994. Encouraged by the response and success of that meet, we have made it a regular biennial activity. It has become a much-awaited mega event. Subsequent sports meets were held in Aurangabad in 1997, Nashik in 1999, Jalgaon in 2008 and in Kolhapur in 2017. A cricket tournament was held in Nashik in 2013. States of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan participated in the event with Gujarat taking away the winner trophy.
COUNSELLING:
NAB, Unit Maharashtra also takes care of the legal, personal and family problems of all visually impaired persons. NAB gives patient hearing to their grievances and goes an extra mile to resolve the issues at its level. Problems involve family disputes, property disputes, marriage or separation issues, school admissions of their children, non cooperation or nonchalant attitude by local or state government authorities, hospitalisation and many more.
RESPITE CARE:
Holiday…..? It was a clear “No-No” in the life of a disabled child’s parent. It was unthinkable to leave a disabled child alone at home and go for a holiday or for any pressing work. NAB realized this predicament of parents and started a ‘Respite Care Centre” for them. Now they can leave their disabled child under the tender care of our staff and take a short break and do their necessary errands.
