APD History
1958
On Oct 15th in response to the advertisement put in the local paper by them,asking persons interested in such an activity to meet at Woodlands Hotel, a few persons showed interest by attending.
1959
On May 14th after a few meetings, the 24 members present on this day adopted the name of “Association of the Physically Handicapped” (APH) and elected 10 committee members and office bearers with I.L. Thomas as President , N.S. Ayyangar as Vice President, Lakshmi Menon as Secretary and N.D. Diwan as Treasurer.
On May 20th ‘Association of the Physically Handicapped’ was formally registered under the Mysore society Act. Subsequently planned to start a Training and Rehabilitation Centre.
On Sept 14th inauguration of the training centre was done at Sir Puttanchetty Town Hall by Sri Rachiah state Minister for Social Welfare.A small place was taken on rent at Cambridge Road for Rs. 75/- per month, where training in tailoring was started. After a few months it was shifted to a house taken on rent (Rs. 40/- per month) at Malleswaram.
1960
The activity at Malleswaram was shifted to Hema’s Garage where four youths started training in tailoring and embroidery. All these places, the Programme did not take off as expected as there was not much to motivate the trainees, who found begging more lucrative.
Hema came up with the idea of doing subcontract work for big industries. Hema’s uncle, who was the M.D of Mysore Electrical Industries, was approached and small assembly works was started in the garage and subsequently became a busy operation.
On Nov 10th V.T. Padmanabhan, an industrialist gifts 2 acres of land at Lingarajpuram to the Association. Meanwhile the work in the garage was in full swing.
1961
On March 20th the foundation stone for the workshop was laid by Maharajah Shri. Jayachamarajendra Wodiyer, Governor of Mysore.
OXFAM, UK donated for the borewell, building etc an amount of Rs.2, 47,500/- and the State Government gave a grant of Rs. 34,000/-. Construction started.
1965
On Feb 27th the ‘Grihapravesam’ of the new building took place, informally. Hema lit the lamp. Whoever imagined at that time when the lamp was lit by Hema, that it would give light to the lives of many tens of thousands of disabled in the years to come. Perhaps, Hema’s determination, perseverance and dedication to the cause blessed by Divine Grace brought APH through thick and thin in the years to come by.
The operation was shifted from the garage to the new building. Indian Telephone Industries started giving work.
1969
No. of trainees increased to 125, other firms like BEL, ITC also started giving work. There were many wait listed, to join.
HEKS and OXFAM gave Rs. 2,78,000/- for the machine shop. A new building of 5700 Sqft was taken up for construction.
1970
HEKS and BREAD FOR THE WORLD of Germany donates Rs. 30 lakhs, a big gesture appreciating the progress and the conviction of the Organisation.
1972
On the 25th June the new building was declared open by Shri.V.V.Giri, President of India.
1973
Start of unrest in the training Centre where about 390 persons undergoing training and around 1000 in the waiting list started the strike which took an ugly turn.
On June 4th Shradhanjali Integrated School was started to provide education and all round development of children based on inclusive education. Out of 10 children who joined the school 8 were disabled.
1974
With regret the training centre had to be closed down, APH did soul searching and realized that no forethought was given in implementing prudently.
1975
As a part of reorganization. The Home Based Programme (HBP) started to help the displaced persons with disability to make a living. The jobs were brought from big factories, taken to the homes of the disabled persons, taught how to assemble them and after completion it was returned to the factories. The scheme was very successful and many persons were benefited.
Management decides to split the training activities into two: One formal Industrial Training Course based on NCVT syllabus (NTC) and bound by the duration of the trade selected, and the other an Advanced Training Course (ATC) where trainees would be given on the job Training in various machine operations. This is to be for a period of two years only.
1981
Initial work on Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) started by conducting a survey in Kolar Gold Fields area during International Year of Disability.
1982
Problems in ATC where about 78 persons taking training, started with strikes, unrest, and formed into a union, raising unreasonable demands, including the demand that the workshop (training Centre) be handed over to the Government. APH wrote a letter to Government to take over the workshop, but there was no response. APH had decided that if the Government does not take over, then the workshop would be closed, as it was a huge financial drain, with excess of expenditure mounting every year, and the production was poor due to low productivity. APH had to borrow heavily every month to pay the salaries, and other fixed expenses.
The very premise of APH to reach out more and more people with disability every year was not served, while the liability was increasing alarmingly.
1983
Orthotic Appliances and Training Centre was started to manufacture mobility aids to every disabled person within reach. The children of the school benefited a lot. Also involved was training in orthotic appliances for trainees both from India and abroad.
1987
Horticulture Training Centre started in Jeevan Bhimanagar land of nearly one acre given by BDA on lease.
1988
The CBR which started earlier and preliminary work undertaken was expanded this year with aim of organizing and empowering communities by developing skills in community members, so as to sustain ongoing development on health, education, prevention and livelihood.
About one area of land was given as gift at Chintamani, by Santu Ramaswamy Swamiji,“Ananda Ashram” as the place was called with basic infrastructure became the hub of CBR activity, in rural area particularly in Kolar Dist.
Urban Slum Outreach Programme (USOP) the effort taken by Hema in slums of Neelasandra and other nine slums years back, is the biggest and must ambitious programme undertaken by APH employing over one third of the staff and catering to about 1000 People with Disability. Started about 18years ago, with a small beginning became a huge project funded by ACTION AID and SCIAF.
1992
The problems at the ATC increased with the strike, and financial losses increased Borrowings from Banks became difficult as huge liabilities had been built up. The demand of the Union to hand over to the workshop to the Government did not materialise, as the Government did not respond to the written offer of APH
Finally, in June Reghuraj the President of APH, addressed all the trainees in the workshop premises, and made an offer to hand over the workshop to the trainees if they are willing to run it themselves. But the offer was refused.
Ultimately a VRS was announced and by July all the trainees had accepted the offer, and the workshop was closed down.
This was a sad time for APH as the programme started with such hope had to whittle down in this way. But the brighter side was the arrest of drain on our financial resources and more importantly there was renewed hope that we could concentrate on the real rehabilitation process and reach out to many people with disability who needed urgent help. Another satisfactory result was that most of the trainees got jobs in the main stream industries.
1994
More importance was given to CBR through networking and education ZFS plays an important role as a Capacity builder by developing the first strategic plan. The mission statement adopted was “To meet individual needs, to create awareness; to promote acceptance and integration; to instill self confidence, and to encourage self reliance, for the benefit of People with Disability”
1997
Management decided to remove the “handicapped” from its name and decides to rename APH as ‘Association of People with Disability’ (APD)
2001
5 acre land at Kyalasanahalli, Hennur Road was given on lease by Government for starting Horticulture Training Programme for the people with disability of various categories, on the line of the one at Jeevan Bhimanagar, which was running successfully.
2002
Release of ‘Challenging Disability” a book on journey of APD written by Ms. Jean Satterthwaite and ‘Urban Slums reach out” compiled by Ms. Shebha Raja.
Launched Programme to support persons with Spinal chord injury (SCI)
2003
APD launches its website. www.apd-india.org.
A committee was formed to prepare a strategic plan for the future. The committee’s recommendation of “3 year Vision of APD” was accepted by the Managing Committee on the 4th of Dec, and decided to implement the same from 2004.
In these three years it was planned to reach out to about 10,000 disabled persons, by various programmes suggested.
2004
Laying of foundation for construction of Horticultural Training Centre at Kyalasanahalli.
Collaborated with BASIC NEEDS-India to expand support to persons with mentally ill.
2005
APD partnered with IDCS- India to expand its reach and quality of services for Deaf persons in both Rural and Urban areas.
APD partnered with MOTIVATION -UK to launch quality wheelchair services provision for both urban and rural areas. First World Made Wheelchair fabricated in APD.
2007
The three year strategic plan 2004-07 was reviewed and the Managing Committee felt satisfied by the efforts put in by staff in reaching 8200 persons with disability in the 1st strategic plan
It was resolved that the 2nd strategic plan for the next 3 years be adopted.
APD took a decision to support other organization to give effect to the resolution in reaching an additional 10,000 persons with disability in the next 3 years.
The Prestigious Kempegowda Award was given to APD. In a gala function held at Kanteerva Indoor Stadium, by BBMP, Shri M.N.V. URs President of APD was felicitated and the award was presented.
2008
APD enters its 50th year on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary on 19th May a nice music party was arranged. All connected with the working of APD attended and enjoyed the melodious Veena Recital by Smt.Geeta Gopal and Friends. Shri D.M. Naidu our Trustee and Hon. Associate Secretary in his speech rededicated to take APD to greater heights in serving the disabled.
A decision was taken to celebrate 2008-09 as our Golden Jubilee year. Various events to be conducted during the year were finalized and sub committees were formed to conduct the events.
Our website www.apd-india.org won the "Website of the Year Award” in the Non-profit Organizations category, given by Metrix Lab which is a global Online Market Research company.
APD was awarded ‘The highest fundraising NGO’ in the Sunfeast World 10K marathon.
2009
APD celebrated its Golden Jubilee Year with several events including a 2 day Regional Seminar for 350 participants to discuss issues like inclusion, mobility, accessibility and livelihood. The event was sponsored by VST Tractors and Tillers Ltd. The other main events were the Road Art Show by the children with disability sponsored by The Bank of Baroda, An Art Exhibition and a Thanksgiving Function for Donors, Well-wishers and Staff at the Kyalasanahalli HT centre.
At the concluding function at APD Campus, Lingarajapuram, the Golden Jubilee Souvenir was released by the Past President Mr. M.N.V.Urs. A Scholarship Scheme was launched with a corpus fund of Rs. 10,00,000 donated by BRR Foundation, to support technical/ higher education of persons with disability.
To commemorate the Golden Jubilee year a 4000 sq.ft Community Center at Anand Ashram, Chintamani and a 3500 sq.ft Dormitory with kitchen at the Horticulture Training Centre at Jeevan Bheema Nagar were taken up for construction, as additions to the infrastructural facilities.
“Navachetana,” our first District Orthotic Centre was inaugurated in Kolar.
“Shishumangala”, a Community Learning Centre was launched to serve children with severe and multiple disabilities, as a unique replicable model.
The Spinal Cord Injury Association was formed with 40 active members, an impetus to the Spinal Cord Injury programme.
APD took a policy decision to shift from ‘Do it ourselves” to “Get it done” to promote our “Resource Support to Organisations” Programme..
APD was once again awarded ‘The highest fundraising NGO’ in the Sunfeast World 10K Marathon event.
2010
32 students and staff from 6 Scottish schools visited APD as part of our ongoing ‘Global Citizenship Partnership Program’ aimed at mutual understanding of disability work.
APD organized for the first time in Karnataka, a four-day state level residential programme “INCHARA” for persons with speech and hearing impairment together with their parents and caregivers. The event was organized at Christ Kannada Primary School for 418 participants from 19 districts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu.
A unique campaign called “Badthe Kadam” was organized in Davangere & Chikkaballapur districts as part of the National Level Awareness campaign of National trust to create awareness about various national trust schemes for children with CP, MR & Multiple Disabilities. 3300 persons including parents, college students, children with disabilities and local NGOs participated in the event.
A book on Horticulture, in Kannada “Dakshina Bharathadalli Hudota Krishi”, translated from “Flower Gardening in South India” by Dr. B.S.Nirody was released by Dr.K.Narayana Gowda, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.
For the third time APD was awarded ‘The highest fundraising NGO’ at the Sunfeast World 10K event in Bangalore.
2011
APD received the Shree Basaveshwara Award from Shree Ambayya Swamy Prathibha Prathisthana, Lakshmeshwar, Gadag.
APD received the Indian NGO Award for medium category in South India Region. This annual selection and award process was supported by Rockfeller Foundation and organised by The Resource Alliance
For the fourth time APD was awarded ‘The highest fundraising NGO’ at the TCS World 10K event in Bangalore.
The construction of buildings at Anand Ashram and at JBN were completed and put into use.