In rural India, a person with disability (PWD) is at a big disadvantage. He/she is discriminated against in the job market, in school and even at home. PWDs are often seen only as a burden to their families, without the ability to contribute a thing toward meeting the family's day-to-day needs. SPREAD works to show PWDs and their families to help them to live a more normal life and to access government benefits.
A case-based approach is combined with meetings with various group to raise awareness regarding rights of the disabled. Activities to improve the lives of PWDs include the following:
- Advocating for inclusion of PWDs in schools and work.
- Securing certification of PWDs to enable them to receive bus passes and other benefits.
- Supporting vocational training.
- Providing in-home visits of physical disabled clients and caregiver training to improve the PWD's ability to lead a normal life.
- Raising the issue of PWD rights in general body meetings, from the village level to the district level and even above, to increase public acceptance and knowledge of PWDs.
- Referring PWDs to appropriate medical care.
- Promoting inclusion of disabled children by forming child support groups consisting of the child's peers in his/her village.
