Café Arpan

Adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities are the most marginalised and most excluded group within the disability sector. Most of these individuals go through special schools and then either sit at home or are relegated to sheltered workshops. Most such workshops are exclusionary in nature and separate from the surrounding community. The reality is that with proper training and support, these adults are able to sustain jobs just like their non-disabled peers; but current opportunities are few and far between.

Yash Charitable Trust is working towards providing inclusive livelihood opportunities within the mainstream community. Our supported employment initiatives are grounded in the community and we work within a strength-based framework. When individuals join our team, the first few months are spent with getting to know them, their strengths and weaknesses as well as providing opportunities for them to develop decision-making skills, responsibility and accountability within the natural setting. As a side benefit, our beneficiaries build strong bonds with their peers and support staff creating a win-win situation all around. Another important aspect of our program is that we are educating the surrounding community as to how capable and reliant our beneficiaries are and that they do not need to be in exclusionary settings.

Our vision is that persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities live and work in the community of their choice with dignity and self respect/ This is the impact we wish to create for our team members. Giving them a sense of purpose, the opportunities to be social and creative, improving their quality of life and making them active citizens of this country.