About NGO:

The Indian Council for Mental Health (ICMH) is an ISO 9001:2008 Certified, non-for-profit, organization based in Mumbai striving to achieve professional excellence in all its activities. Its focus for the past twenty year is towards providing education to children with developmental disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome, Autism, Mental Challenges and Hearing Impairment. Over 250 children are currently availing of various therapy services offered by ICMH through its Skills and Ability Schools located at Nerul (Navi Mumbai) and Mulund (North Eastern Suburb of Mumbai). The Special Educators and Educational Therapists attached to these schools possess specialized skills in dealing with these children and are considered to be the backbone of this organization.

Fund Usage:

Our Mulund School is expanding at an exponential rate. As per the survey conducted by parents it has been observed there are more than a hundred children who have still to attend their first day of school. Currently we are operating from six large sized classrooms divided into 2 each that we have acquired from the Bruhan Mumbai Municipal Corporation. We have been struggling hard to gain additional rooms in the same premises which are lying vacant. It is very disheartening to say no to these children.

AS WE RIGHTLY BELIEVE, IF WE TOO SAY NO THEN WHERE WILL THEY GO?

As of now, we have no other option but to start the School in two shifts to accommodate the students. Hence, in the current scenario, it becomes imperative for us to replicate our Nerul School model at Mulund.

We require time to be able to devote all our combined energies on all these upcoming projects, from fund-raising to implementation. Our efforts to source funds to maintain our existing work hamper our efforts for expansion, for which there is a desperate need.

Impact:

Adhiraj Sarode (10 years), a student at Mulund School, was reportedly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hypertensive Disorder (ADHD), with moderate mental retardation and a 35 to 49 Intelligence Quotient. People with ADHD lack an attention span and cannot concentrate on an activity for a long time. Adhiraj, who had never attended school, was enrolled in the Mulund School in October 2010. Initial findings were that he spoke irrelevantly, almost all the time, could not concentrate, used offensive language and had poor visual motor coordination. He was referred to Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). A trained Labrador was involved in the therapy sessions to provide therapeutic benefits. He was nervous at first but as he attended each of the twelve sessions, he realized that the dog was friendly. Gradually, he calmed down especially when he was stroking and petting the dog. He moved on to grooming, feeding and playing ball with the dog, thus improving his motor skills and attention span.

Page Url :
http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/ngo4_icmh.htm

Founded Year: 1953

Cause category: Education

Our Supporters

• Jasneet Bachal