The coordination of mind and hands to dig soil and tend saplings are activities very much within the physical and mental faculties of people with disability. The simple manual activities are also therapeutic. One can literally see the fruits of the therapy invoking a sense of achievement. And when therapy is also an income generating activity, then it’s a win-win situation for all. 

Training and employment opportunity

APD has successful trained people with orthopedic disability, impairment in speech, vision or hearing, and mild mental retardation. The courses includes a ten month free course with a hands-on internship period. This is followed by a stipend attached work experience for a few more months. The residential training helps trainees to come out of their familial cocoon and learn to manage being on their own. The demand for trained personnel in Horticulture creates employment opportunities of people with disabilities.

Income generating activity

The potted plants and saplings cultivated by the trainees are sold as indoor and outdoor plants, rental at functions and for landscaping. People with disabilities are growing flowering plants and vegetables suited to kitchen gardens in residential spaces of all kinds. 

The locations for its horticultural activities are conducive for pursuing training and sale related activities. The facilities in its land in Jeevan Bhima Nagar and Kyalasanahalli are also well appointed making it an ideal therapy and training ground. Plans are nearing completion for a residential training campus that has budgeted for large scale expansion in activities.   In tune with its mandate to network with institutions to increase the bandwidth of service, APD has linked with Koppal based NGO called Samuha for expertise sharing initiatives.