/Our Journey

1995 – Initially it was started as a personal initiative in the name of “Prerana Special School” in the 3rd floor flat of Vikaspuri, NewDelhi.

first-day
certificate

1996- 22nd  June-It was registered as an organization under the Societies Registration Act.

Within a span of 2-3 years there were already 12 students and a huge waiting list so in 1997, we approached Delhi Government for space-which was allotted by the then Special Secretary to the LG – Dr. Kiran Bedi.

students

1998 – October – The school which was running in the Vikaspuri flat – shifted to the Community Facility Complex of Slum & J.J Department of Municipal Corporation Delhi, in 12th Block Tilaknagar for a nominal amount of Rs 100/month. Till date it is still running in the same premises for the same amount.

Survey Team of Inspiration in the Slums of West Delhi
Special Children
Special Children in Slum of West Delhi

Meeting the Head of the Harijan Basti & till date we have a tie – up with Lady Irwin College Students for identification of special children in the slums of West Delhi.

First funding was received from The National Trust for Day Care Centre in which we were able to reach out to many more cases from the slums, who have been receiving free services till date.

Major thrust area of the organization has been the Early Identification & Detection of children & persons with Intellectual Disability. Advocacy & awareness generation has been our forte, along with the free training of the mother. Inspiration has been holding an annual Program “INSPIRATION FUNGAMA” every year which has become highly popular. This showcases the talent of the students & is also used as a forum for advocacy & awareness generation.

At India International Centre During Fungama
Inspiration FUNGAMA 2016
Inspiration FUNGAMA 2015
Inspiration FUNGAMA 2014

We were lucky to have Dr. Reeta Peshawaria who was a well known Clinical Psychologist & one of the founders of NIMH (National Institute of Mentally Handicapped – Secunderabad, as one of the Advisors for our organization, besides other eminent persons in the field.

Dr Reeta Peshawaria

October 2001- She was selected to visit Japan by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, by the then Minister – Mrs Maneka Gandhi

Visit to Japan by the President on being selected by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

ACTIVITIES OF PARIVAAR

The director was elected as the Joint secretary & later the general secretary of PARIVAAR – National Federation of Parent Organizations in India. The director has been a part of many National & International Research Projects of PARIVAAR- which is also a member of the International Parent Body – INCLUSION INTERNATIONAL. She was the coordinator of the Delhi Round Table Conference in 2005.

Inaugural Function Delhi Round Table Conference
Round Table Conference Feb 2005
President and General Secretary of Parivaar Ms Saswati Singh
Round Table Conference in Progress

She was also the Coordinator of The Supported Decision Making Project of the United Nations – through Parivaar which was the first Pilot Project in India, for a year in Dehradun.

She was also the Advisor for the Supported Decision Making Project of Delhi.

In the capacity of Joint Secretary & subsequently the General Secretary, she has traveled the length & breadth of the country meeting members of various Parent Organizations. She has been invited to do Awareness Program from various States by various Parent Groups.

autism-it-workshop
Issues related to adults with autism

ACTIVITIES WITH NATIONAL TRUST

  1. She was subsequently elected as a Board member of the National Trust – a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
  2. She was elected as the Local Level Committee member of all blocks of West District of Delhi from Sep-2003 to Sep-2006. She has been a member of several Sub-Committees of the National Trust.
  3. She has been been the Resource Person for several workshops of the National Trust. Inspiration is the only organization who had conducted Level I,II, & III of Caregivers’ Course between 2001-2002.
  4. The director has conducted the 3 day training program for sensitization & orientation of Principals & School teachers in Delhi year 2007, also the sensitization of District Magistrates & District Collectors.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

The Director was one of the trained coaches for Special Olympics from 2001. In this capacity she was selected to represent 13 countries of Asia Pacific in 2003 March as a Global Family Leadership & Support Resource Team Member to Washington DC. USA. Subsequently she had represented Special Olympics programs in the state.

In 2003 the Director went to do the course for the Son-Rise Program of the Option Institute Massachusetts, USA. She was given an offer to join a government school in New Jersey, USA in the Autism section, but declined in favour of working in the hill state of Uttarakhand.

Director Smt Saswati Singh Who Went to USA for Short Course in Autism

In 2005 Inspiration got a major support from the Africa Diplomatic Group II leaders in Delhi, representing more than 20 countries of Africa Region. Inspiration subsequently has been supported by this group as one of our major funders.

In 2005 September, Inspiration started India’s first Group Home for Autism in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.  This was inaugurated by the legendary general RANBIR BAKSHI of Raphael – a well known leader in the Disability Sector. After running for 5 years under the aegis of Inspiration , a new trust was constituted to take over the Dehradun chapter.

Inspiration was lucky to have Ms. Isabella Anna – the renowned Kathak dancer, as a dance therapist for students. This lead to collaboration with the French School, where our students got the opportunity to do an inclusive program.

Inspiration has been supported by the Glen View School in Chicago, USA – which has the Desi Club. The members of this club has made learning material for our children and has visited several times to support our cause.

PNB Women Of Excellence Award 8th March 2016

Inspiration today is being supported by many benevolent donors in the country & abroad who have been supporting the students from the low income groups and have been sponsoring many of our therapists. PNB is one of the major donors who have supported many of our initiative. The director has been awarded with PNB Women of Excellence award in 2016 Feb.