I was invited to work at Asha Bhavan, a day centre for women with disabilities run by the church of Southern India in Kerala Kottayam by Kate Toms of Mentor Fachwen, to train the workers in person centred practices, 8 years ago. We are passionate about improving the lives of people with disabilities and have returned several times to Asha Bhavan where we met social work lecturer Mathew Kanamala, who asked us to deliver workshops to his students and teachers and families of children in special schools.
During these visits we have mentored Mathew in Person Centred Thinking and he is now an accredited trainer. He has built a small inspirational team of workers who are continuing the work of changing views about people with disabilities from being objects of pity, to one where we recognise every ones value and individuality and right to contribute to society as equal citizens in their community.
Together, we have also developed the Institute of Person Centred Approaches India [IPCAI].
We have been invited to return to work with IPCAI in November, to continue training in person centred practice and also share our learning from New Paths to Inclusion [see www. personcentredplanning.eu]. the NPI network supports organisations providing services for people with intellectual disabilities in Europe to think deeply about how services are provided, to understand what they are doing which does not make sense, if they are to be person centred and enable people to live a lifestyle where they are included as valued members of their community. We work with organisations to change practices, let go of old ways of working, explore how to work collaboratively along side people with disabilities and really listen and understand what matters to them and how they want to live.
Your contribution will enable us to return to continue this work promoting values of contribution and inclusion for people with disabilities in throughout India. Thank you