Region: India, Asia

Main Areas Of Interest: child rights, disability

Fellowship Period: May - July 2007

Keywords: special needs education

Biographical Profile:
Whilst working as a reporter and sub-editor at the "Times of India", a national daily, Jatinder Arora was assigned to write a report on the homes for mentally challenged children in Jaipur. She was horrified to see the desperate situation they lived in and the lack of adequate support. She continued to visit one of the places as a volunteer and soon realized the need to improve care, education, and support for children with mental disabilities.

Thus, in 1996 Jatinder started Prayas, an organization located in Jaipur that provides special education and vocational training to children ages 3-15 with mental disabilities and children from socially deprived backgrounds. Starting with six children, Prayas today has three centers that serve 350 children from families who live below the poverty line. Prayas also does advocacy work on behalf of children with special needs at the local and national levels. In May 2005, Prayas organized the first Disability Fair in the state of Rajasthan, during which the Cabinet minister Mrs. Meira Kumar addressed the people and issued 350 Disability passes. Prayas has also helped to activate schools, advocacy for birth certificates, disability certificates and water problems for the community & children. In 2002, the National Foundation for India awarded the "Acharya Vinobha Bhave National Volunteer Award" to Jatinder.

At the ICTE, Jatinder shared her experiences and learned from organizations and institutions working with disabled children in the US about educational approaches and methods, support, and administrative matters.