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Jubilee
Celebrating 50 years of services
SCHOOL CONTACT PROGRAM
28th September 2022
We are into our 50th year!
And we will celebrate our Golden Jubilee on the 2nd of October 2022. We are preparing for the grand event and are very excited about it. We have been busy with many activities in the Golden Jubilee year.
What a phenomenal journey it has been, moving from 3 students in 1972 to impacting 300 million! We are going all out to spread awareness and sensitise schools, colleges and corporates.
A brief on the ongoing School Contact program where the tool of storytelling is being used very successfully.
Spearheaded by our Founder Chairperson, Dr Mithu Alur, we at ADAPT (formerly known as the Spastics Society of India), have been actively involved with the process of inclusion of the differently abled and marginalized groups in society.
As part of our Golden Jubilee year celebrations, we have facilitated partnerships with schools. The partnership involves participation and involvement in events and activities, designed to create a better understanding of the inclusive space for all and working together towards enabling a more equal society.
Our first event under this initiative is a “Storytelling for Change” event in schools. These specially designed sessions for secondary school students (Stds 5- 7), involves an activity in the schools with an expert storyteller cum facilitator conducting a 1 hour interactive storytelling session.
The customized stories and content created by Ms Sudipta Dhruva of ‘Storytelling Works’ is based on the theme of inclusion and has picture panels as visuals and an interactive segment and worksheet, to allow for greater engagement and involvement. Ms Namaha Mazoomdar, a storyteller with dance and theatre training conducts the sessions.
The participants of these sessions are then, as “Inclusion Ambassadors,” required to spread further awareness within the school through conducting activities and engagements designed by them.
A culmination event conducted during the International Inclusion Week (End September 2022) will have representatives from the school come and share their work.
The ongoing activity has had partnership of 15 mainstream schools of Mumbai with over 3000 participants at the sessions. A further outreach to Asha schools (Army schools) in other states, using a digital format of the activity is in the process.
Activity Feedback
- Billabong High School, Santacruz
It was a wonderful session conducted by Ms Namaha. All the students loved it. It was definitely an add on to their knowledge.
Thank you so much
Ms. Akansha (Admin Head)
- Beacon High School
Principal Mrs Jamali mentioned that the attending teachers were very happy with the activity. She was keen that more such inclusive activities be done and said she would ensure that the follow up activities in school to spread inclusive behavior would be conducted. Having partnered with Adapt through the past many years, she was also very happy that this time around Adapt had come to their school for this interaction rather than the other way around.
Founder’s Day Celebrations
2nd October, 2022
The 50th year in the life of an organization mines a wealth of the experiences, the refining and filtering that happens thereby, and carries an optimism for the years to come. Just as the color gold symbolizes triumph, compassion and quiet strength, the Golden Jubilee celebrations of ADAPT (formerly The Spastics Society of India) were much the same.
The simple, yet sparkling function, was held at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, on 2nd October,2022.
Dr. Mithu Alur’s Keynote Address was poignant as it traced the growth and evolution of the Society, from a centre that housed 3 students and 8 adults- therapists and parents, to an organization that has touched millions of people with disability and inspired several models globally. The references to her book, “The Birth That Changed A Nation” gave insights into the trajectory of the organization. Dr. Alur then felicitated the Presidents- Dr. Nundy and Dr. Udwadia, who shared interesting anecdotes of their personal association with the Society. Other Trustees and Patrons were honored for their support and contribution to the growth of ADAPT. Alumni also shared their experiences with successful education, and were candid about the challenges that continue in employment for persons with disability.
Malini Chibb, the raison d’etre for the organization, shared a humorous account of being used as a “guinea pig” for all the experiments in education for persons with disability, and sent across a strong reiteration of a rights based approach to replace the charity model often associated with disability.
Congratulatory messages from friends and well wishers were shared too.
The students and trainees from the centres at Colaba, Bandra and Chembur showcased their talent through beautifully choreographed dances. The performances were a fitting finale to the glittering function. The joy that emanated from every child on stage was a validation of the care, treatment, education and socio-emotional development that the organization aims for, in addressing the issues of people with disability.
