Arushi

Arushi is a Bhopal-based voluntary organization, established in 1992. Our vision is develop capacities in people with disabilities, working children and other disadvantaged groups so as to empower them to make their own life choices and lead a better life. Arushi also seeks to create within the community awareness about disabilities.

Some initiatives:

Koshish: A pre-school at Arushi where children with disabilities who are below the age of five and not enrolled in schools are equipped with basic school readiness skills so they can be admitted into regular schools at the earliest. The school provides physiotherapy, early language training/audio verbal therapy, Braille, orientation and mobility training and all required forms of physical and learning assistance to children with disabilities.

Panaah: This shelter cum training centre is for adults with intellectual disability. Panaah has separate units for men and women; each unit accommodates fifty persons. The accommodation is free. Medical care, counselling, vocational training and help with social and functional skills are provided so that they may live a life of dignity.

Computer Training: All children at Arushi are provided basic computer literacy. Need-based training programs are organized. 200 trainers and persons with visual impairment from 8 states have received computer training. All computers are fitted with necessary software required by persons with disabilities.

Talking Books Library: We have 25,000 hours of audio study material on CDs for the visually impaired. The study material is recorded for school and college students across various disciplines; and for those preparing for various competitive exams. Recording is done in all languages for all subjects as per requirement. The Audio material is distributed in 11 states.
Disability Awareness through School textbooks: One-page information on different aspects and types of disabilities has been included in 80 million textbooks in Madhya Pradesh and 30 million textbooks in Chhattisgarh.

Disability Awareness through Posters: Posters on disability with evocative captions Gulzar, renowned poet and filmmaker are used to facilitate Inclusion. These posters are being used in many countries to spread the message of equal opportunity and access for people with disabilities.

Accessible Public Spaces: Arushi has successfully converted the Gudbela Government School (district Sehore, Madhya Pradesh) into a completely inclusive school. Working closely with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Arushi has made the world-famous Sanchi stupas completely accessible to persons with disabilities. Many landmarks in Bhopal city; historical sites in M.P and other states; the Marine Drive in Mumbai are now barrier-free. All information signs in the museum and gardens at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, have also been transcribed into Braille by Arushi.