JAI VAKEEL FOUNDATION
JAI VAKEEL FOUNDATION
In India, 2% of the population has Intellectual Disability (ID), that is one in every 50, a staggering 28 million people. Within disabilities, ID is the most invisible, making them one of the most marginalized and excluded groups in Indian society. In India, despite laws that recognize and protect their rights, they are regularly mistreated and denied basic human dignity. In many parts, ID is still considered to be the result of divine justice or punishment for sins committed in past lives and they continue to be neglected and stigmatized. They are widely considered less deserving of opportunities for education and employment. As the largest and oldest non-profit working in this space, we are committed to looking at each child with a belief in their potential to lead fuller and more inclusive lives. Our approach is holistic. We aim to integrate our students into mainstream society by providing them with healthcare, education and skill development. No matter how economically weak or profoundly challenged we welcome all students to our foundation. Over 75 years through our various interactions we have impacted over 1 lac lives, most of whom belong to the lower strata.
MEET R
34-year-old R proudly pushes her sleeves and gets to work, head bent and eager to show off her work she concentrates on the task at hand. She initially started knitting, embroidery and made fair progress in the sheltered workshop. Today she deftly makes complicated flowers out of ribbons, and is confident of her skills.
At 2.5 years R had frequent convulsions. At age 3 she had surgery to repair her cleft lip & palate. She came to Jai Vakeel Foundation at age 9 as she was struggling to cope with academics. She was diagnosed with Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by mildly unusual facial features, short height, congenital heart disease, bleeding problems, and skeletal malformations. She also has moderate IDD.
She has had many challenges, compounded with financial struggles & unhealthy self harming behaviour like head banging & biting herself.
With both her parents deceased and R lives with her siblings & aunt. Years of counselling with has led to an improvement in her behaviour. R enjoys coming to the foundation, enjoys the interaction with her instructors and friends & takes pride in the products she makes and the stipend she earns.
MEET M
From his birth to his early years development, the way he moves, hears and communicates, M has always been different. Diagnosed with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, neural hearing sensory loss coupled with Intellectual Disability, M has a multitude of factors that set him apart, and for most ordinary people that would have defined them.
M is one of those extraordinary people who doesn’t let that happen. He shows great resilience and strength to overcome his challenges. Over the years with the help of therapy he has developed a method of communication to compensate for his lack of speech.
M joined the Jai Vakeel School at age five, in 1995. Making friends, socializing and communicating with his peers hasn’t come easily to M, but he has made some lasting connections at Jai Vakeel.
M’s once-in-a-lifetime change came with his interest in cooking & enrolling in a chef’s programme for adults with special needs. His love for the culinary arts has really broadened Mihir’s horizons. From cooking daily to devising recipes, Mihir’s happy space is the kitchen.
MEET S
At our Skill Development Center quality is key; and for this attention to detail and quality, we all turn to S.
Her keen eye for detail, ability to look at a design and execute it to perfection, is something that all her teachers applaud her for. Her work ethic and dedication to get the task done to the best of her ability is commendable.
S came to Jai Vakeel with Multiple Congenital Anomalies, Bilateral Hearing loss, High Myopia and Intellectual Disability. She was hyperactive owing to her inability to hear. Despite a lot of interventions, S has no speech, however this has not limited her from interacting with others. Therapy and behaviour modification helped her learn to communicate using hand gestures and today she is a far cry from her former self. She is calm, collected and centred and one of the most exemplary workers at Jai Vakeel.
S has represented Jai Vakeel in various sports competitions and dance performances over her years as she is a sports and dance enthusiast.
At home she is a responsible, helpful girl who loves to cook and help around. She shows us that no matter the circumstances, with effort and love it is possible for our children to lead lives of dignity and happiness.
OUR VISION
Inclusion of all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in India
