Arushi Society

Arushi empowers individuals with disabilities through diverse initiatives. Its "Koshish" preschool prepares young children with disabilities for mainstream schools, offering essential skills and therapies. The organisation conducts extensive teacher training, sensitizing over 300,000 educators in inclusive education. "Mitti Ma," a gardening project, teaches gardening skills and offers livelihood opportunities to disabled children. It organises life skills sessions, excursions, and computer training for accessibility. Arushi's rehabilitation centre provides therapies, vocational training, and personalized care. It extends community-based support, offering skill training, education, and counselling to disabled individuals and families, currently aiding 200 economically disadvantaged children in Bhopal towards holistic inclusion.

Arushi passionately advocates for equitable access and integration of persons with disabilities into mainstream society. Through persistent efforts, it has forged partnerships, raised awareness, and lobbied for disability inclusion. Working extensively to create barrier-free environments, Arushi collaborates with various institutions like railways, museums, and historical sites to ensure accessibility. Its extensive audits and collaboration with the Government's Accessible India Campaign aim to make public spaces more disability-friendly. It has conducted census awareness campaigns, championing the accurate enumeration of disabilities. Arushi also pioneers electoral inclusivity, introducing Braille in electronic voting machines and facilitating independent voting for the visually impaired, reflecting their commitment to societal inclusion and equal rights.

Arushi actively conducts workshops to sensitize officials, educators, community workers, and the public about disability issues, legal provisions, and entitlements. Its helpline offers guidance and intervenes with relevant agencies to address disability-related challenges. It has pioneered a film of the national anthem in sign language and produced awareness posters on disability. Aadhar, its compendium, compiles rights and facilities for disabled children. Arushi's impactful efforts include sensitizing through textbooks, producing documentaries, training teachers, and creating resources like an audio library, Braille transcription, and classes. Moreover, it is involved in identifying children with disabilities in Bhopal's urban slums and villages for necessary interventions.

Arushi's 'Project Umeed' tackles employment, green alternatives, and menstrual hygiene by producing biodegradable sanitary napkins, offering opportunities for women with disabilities and the underprivileged. It has set up two production centres, manufactured chemical-free pads, and installed vending machines at railway stations. Arushi conducts awareness sessions and distributes napkins in villages, addressing workforce inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Its 'Taleem Democratic School' goes beyond traditional education, emphasizing practical skills for livelihoods. It integrates open schooling for academic qualifications, focusing on diverse subjects like organic farming, fisheries, and computer skills, alongside co-curricular activities. The school aims to foster an experiential, experimental community, researching the impact of migration on the education and livelihoods of their students' communities.

Arushi's Navnidh Hassomal Lakhani Ability Development Centre caters to the differently-abled and caters to differently-abled and disadvantaged. This pioneering three-story building is entirely disabled-friendly and operates on solar power. The site houses a cutting-edge recording studio, an extensive audio library through the DAISY forum, and a print and Braille library. Its computer centre assists the visually impaired in accessing electronic text with specialized software and free internet access. The centre's 10 classrooms facilitate special education and life skills training for disabled children, while the therapy unit offers comprehensive services like physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Additionally, vocational training and recreational facilities are available, promoting skill development and community engagement. Arushi also provides Braille transcription services in both Hindi and English, catering to institutions and visually impaired individuals upon request.