History

An individual finds himself disoriented and feels helpless when he suddenly loses his sight at a later age. At other times, an individual may have been blind since birth but never had exposure to any kind of service that would lead to his rehabilitation. To bridge this gap, NAB (India) started the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) in 1^st April 1978.

Training Courses

To begin with, DOR conducted Basic Rehabilitation Course for the visually challenged covering life skills and mobility and also initiated courses for employment officers and orientation & mobility instructors, which in due course were withdrawn. Soon after however, appreciating the wide range of training requirements of its clients DOR initiated a number of need-based courses as well as vocational training courses in physiotherapy and acupressure & massage.

Basic Rehabilitation Course

The course makes a blind person realize the Three A’s – Accept blindness, Adjust to blindness and Achieve despite being blind. This cost-free training course is conducted twice a year. Each batch is of 3½-month duration. The 30 trainees admitted per batch are given intensive training to develop skills in Activities of Daily Living which covers: Self-care (brushing, bathing, grooming, eating, etc.); Orientation & Mobility (safe indoor and outdoor travel techniques using the White Cane); Home Management (sweeping, making bed, simple mending, cooking, ironing, sewing, identifying currency and so on); Communication (Braille reading and writing; social etiquette etc.

Confidence-building to lead a normal and productive life takes place through activities like physical training, participation in sporting and cultural activities, visits to public spaces, familiarization with public transport etc. Trainees are also provided vocational guidance, exposure to work avenues open to them and assistance in identifying occupation that suits them most. They are given a small monthly stipend.

DOR has the capacity to provide lodge and board facility to around 22 trainees.

Short-term Need-based Courses

Course for Adolescent: This preparatory course gears up for adult life, youth in transition age – primarily those who appear for secondary/higher secondary exams. Trainees are introduced to community-based experiences; given career guidance through lectures; and trained in disability-specific skills, physical fitness and basics of day-to-day chores. The program helps them recognize and manage the physical, psychological and emotional changes they go through during this transitional phase, and gives them the confidence to pursue further education.

Vocational Training Course: Covers trades like making candle/incense sticks (agarbattis), liquid soap/phenyl, garlands/torans (door-hangings), envelopes, popcorn, chocolates and ubtans (face and body packs) etc., besides training in sewing, basic electric work, Perfume making and other manual jobs as well. Students undergo intensive training in at least three trades. These trades when pursued as a vocation can provide a livelihood. Demonstrations on marketing skills are also organized.

Women’s Special Course: This full-time course of 1½ month duration has been exclusively designed for all-round development of visually challenged women who are 18 and older. The Course covers orientation & mobility; Braille and communication skills; Yoga and recreation; domestic science with special emphasis on food preparation, nutrition, child care; grooming and personality development – including social etiquette; self-defense etc. Trainees are also counseled and taught vocational trades. Those from out of Mumbai are provided residential facility. The training renders these women confident enough to lead near-normal life.