MI : Mobility India

Divyashree (12) is a bright and gifted young girl. She loves dancing, sports and has many trophies to her credit. At school, she teaches her classmates to dance. Her parents are very proud of their daughter's achievements.

A few years ago though Divyashree's family was in despair. Born with a disability that affected both her legs, Divyashree spent her early childhood years either crawling or waiting for her parents carry her to school. The ELO programme fitted her with assistive devices and encouraged her parents to be members in the Local Self Help Group. According to Divyashree's family, these interventions have brought about significant changes in their lives � an independence in Divya that help her talents blossom and allow total participation with her peers and economic stability for her parents through the Self Help Group initiated by Mobility India.

Dodamma's afternoons are very busy. Planning learn & play Dodamma activities for a group of enthusiastic children at a Community Education Centre (CEC) take up her time. Dodamma is a CEC tutor. She was trained in teaching methodologies for slow learning children and teaches a mixed group of disabled, non- disabled and slow learning children.

Dodamma attributes this recent life changing experience to the ELO programme. Having developed a disability that restricted her movements, she spent many years in bed depending on her mother to help her each day.

Now, Dodamma and her siblings who also have disabilities are members of the Self Help Group. Dodamma is independent after regular physiotherapy and goes about her tutoring and Self Help Group activities with equal gusto.

Having one's own toilet is a comfort few people can claim if you reside in a rural area. Ramaswamy will have the use of a toilet designed for his special needs. He has a disability and uses a tricycle to move around.

Ramaswamy weaves coconut leaves to make roof thatches. Earlier he would do the same work for daily wages, but now he works independently.

Taking the initiative to build a toilet and the capacity to work by himself has come about through the joint efforts of the Self help Group.

Learning the alphabet and going to regular school are Bhuvana

Bhuvana's biggest achievements according to her parents. Bhuvana has Cerebral Palsy that has restricted her mobility. She uses a walker around the house and a wheelchair to go to school. Bhuvana's parents are happy with the progress she is making �at school as well as at home in her activities of daily living.
Guided by the ELO team to enroll in the Local Self Help Group, Bhuvana's family has a better economic status today through regular savings and an income generation programme.