Help Satya Special School provide their special-needs students with crucial support

Satya Special School was started in 2003 by Ms. Chitra Shah. It began with only 20 children with special needs and now serves around 400-600 children across various centers.

“These are mostly children of single mothers who have no means to take care of their children. So we not only provide a safe space for the children but also ensure that the mothers and families are supported too.”

The organization offers therapeutic and rehabilitation services, as well as programs for education, inclusion, livelihoods, training, and advocacy.

“We want to reach as many children and their families as possible. But given the rising costs and our limited resources, it is not easy to provide each of them with the needed care and support.”

Life is challenging for individuals with special needs, and parenting them is even more difficult. The burden becomes heavier due to poverty, affecting the quality of life and development of these children. This is where Satya Special School steps in.

For over two decades, Ms. Chitra and her team have dedicated themselves to caring for the children at the school. However, they face significant challenges in meeting the children's needs, such as nutritional requirements, uniforms, and mobility.

“We constantly worry about how to continue providing them with healthy and adequate food, which is essential for their growth and development. The nutritional supplement should be enough for their disabilities, secondary medical conditions, and daily activities.”

Apart from nutritional support, these children receive uniforms and transportation support. However, most of their other clothes are hand-me-downs, often ill-fitting and worn.

“We often stretch our budget to provide uniforms because wearing the same clothes as other children gives them a sense of belonging and equality. For many, the uniform is the only piece of clothing they can truly call their own.”

Significant challenges still remain. Out of the 12 vehicles, only one is wheelchair accessible, located at the city center. The other vehicles require children to be manually lifted in and out, which is especially difficult for adolescent girls who often feel uncomfortable being lifted. “This task falls to men since women don’t have the necessary strength, leading many girls to drop out.” 

Additionally, rising fuel and maintenance costs make sustaining this essential service increasingly challenging.

Since its inception, Satya Special School has impacted the lives of 7,500 children with special needs and their families. Their award-winning mobile unit reaches 44 villages across Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu, sensitizing more than 15,000 stakeholders and 25,000 people on various socio-cultural issues related to disability and disability rights.

Children and adolescents with special needs form a highly diverse group with wide-ranging life experiences. They live in every community, born with or acquiring distinct impairments that lead to functional difficulties, such as seeing, walking, communicating, caring for oneself, or making friends. Their ability to function, participate in society, and lead fulfilling lives depends largely on the extent to which they are accommodated and included. Regardless of their story, every child has the right to thrive.

“A clear message from these parents is their concern about what will happen to their children as adults, especially when they can no longer provide the care and guidance needed. This is why we strive to ensure every child receives the support and encouragement necessary to reach their full potential.”

“One of our students has grown up and now runs a shop, while another participates in various sports competitions, including badminton, volleyball, and hockey! Many other students have also gone on to achieve great things, and we aim to reach as many individuals as possible. This can only happen with the support of well-wishers like you.”

Your help will enable Ms. Chitra and her team to provide the necessary support and care to more children and their families across the country. Please contribute to make this possible.

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