Inclusion isn't as difficult as it looks—that's the message Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust has been sending out to parents, teachers and school administrators. Its model of inclusive education, which has been implemented in its schools in Delhi and Gwalior, ensures that students with and without disabilities study together and learn from each other.
With the donations it received, Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust has been able to complete the construction of a new building for its barrier-free school in Gwalior. "The school has shifted to the new building which is more spacious and has different wings for all activities," says Dr Uma Tuli, the NGO's founder. "The building is totally barrier-free and has all the necessary infrastructure for inclusive education, medical and rehabilitative care, and skill development."
"When the challenged are asked to face challenges, the indomitable spirit takes over. As a child, I was inspired by Florence Nightingale and wanted to be a doctor or an administrator; today, I am both. I dream of an India where people with disabilities will be on the same platform with the non-disabled."
- Uma Tuli, Founder and Managing Secretary, Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust