SAMADHAN is affiliated to Inclusion International a world body for persons with mental handicap but advocating for other disabilities through interaction with other world bodies representing these groups and is the national representative of THE ASIAN FEDERATION FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED (AFMR). As such SAMADHAN has access to multilevel information sources and contacts.

SAMADHAN has already built up the nucleus of an information dissemination and Documentation Service. Its membership in world and Asian bodies enables considerable interaction and access to individuals and organizations, internationally. We have a reference library of approximately 800-900 books and journals, videocassettes and slides. SAMADHAN has had considerable experience in advocacy for the disabled through seminars, publications and audiovisual means.

The COMMUNICATION NETWORK will function initially from rented accommodation until our own building at Dwarka, in the North West of Delhi, which is presently under construction, is completed. We envisage a comprehensive infrastructure for documentation, information dissemination, and research, training, national and international liaison and library facilities in Dwarka. Therefore, a resource pool is urgently required to act as amias curae to the courts. Lobbyists, State and Central Government, who are either unaware or uninformed about disability issues and world trends in this field.

Presently we do not have a centralized source of information and documentation in India. With information technology growing at a rapid pace we need to enrich ourselves both with information from other parts of the world as well as share our indigenous expertise with others in the field of disability, which is considerable. Nationally, it will make networking and linkages possible between disability activities and organizations thus providing advocacy for and on behalf of the disabled, particularly the mentally handicapped.

SAMADHAN receives many requests from national and international sources for information on disability by research students, universities, NGO’s aboard, Indian families and individuals requiring information on facilities in India.

This program will function initially from rented premises for one year and shift to Dwarka in West Delhi after this period.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMUNICATION NETWORK

1. Significantly, there is no data bank, which draws upon the diverse cultures and traditional conceptual knowledge found in rural areas. This lack of knowledge and effective communication design suited to South Asian characteristics impacts negatively on the improvement of services for people with disability. The Network will endeavour to fill this need.

2. The Network will compile information globally and nationally. Studies, programs, services and research which are either in progress or already available with Government and other NGO’s which are relevant to disability awareness and infrastructure will be given top priority.

3. Much good work and successful practices in South Asia and within the country go unreported and do not reach others who might have benefited from these reports. The SAMADHAN COMMUNICATION NETWORK will apply a multilevel approach through personal interviews, correspondence and printed matter to fill this lacuna.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. THROUGH MULTIMEDIA

Dissemination of information about disability in general and mental handicap in particular is envisaged through audio visual programs, publications, seminars and workshops. To publish or cause to be published relevant materials for strategic target audiences such as opinion makers, decision makers, parents and guardians, siblings, media workers, police, nurses, medical students, legislators, teachers in mainstream schools, the legal profession and other NGO’s.

2. THROUGH TRAINING

To provide audio visual and printed training materials for relevant audiences in the South Asian countries. To run training courses or seminars tailor made to suit the target groups from semiliterate community workers, to parliamentarians and justices.

To advocate for disability messages based on research and experience, to be included in the existing national program on health, education and the law.

Training will be conducted from the new construction in West Delhi , Dwarka , will be comfortable accommodated in this building which will also house facilities for inclusive education , a Rehabilitation Clinic and an Information and Dissemination Unit with a library Trainees will have the opportunity to gain hands on experience , working along with our community workers and in the Clinic as well as use library facilities .

3. THROUGH ADVOCACY

To be a watchdog for the interests of the disabled and in particular people with mental handicap and to raise disability issues in parliament for the disabled and on their behalf.

To organise Seminars and Workshops to achieve a paradigm shift in approaches and attitudes towards the disabled and the intellectually disabled in particular from the Human Rights perspective.

4. THROUGH LINKAGES

To provide documentation on innovative procedures, national or international, which can be easily adopted to local needs anywhere in the sub continent.

To provide linkage with all disability NGO’s, State and Central Government Agencies, Parents and Activists and supportive public and through such links build an infrastructure, which will enable the attainment of our envisaged goals.

To document relevant information about facilities for the disabled within the country , provide research data for students and Universities ,about government policies and activities and information for Indians living abroad needing specific information .

5. INCOME GENERATION PLAN

While the centre may require funding for the first three years, there will be no dearth of effort to make it self supporting.

Subscribers to the Network in General and Departments in particular according to need.

Research papers and publications will be priced.

Training is a very reliable means of income generation. If reasonably priced at slightly less than commercial rates and if properly organized at regular intervals, this would prove a good means of earning. Furthermore, repeat requests are generally expected if the sponsor is pleased.

Documentation A regular list of subscribes and members will be established. Most of these members can be persuaded to subscribe to the Documentation Unit’s Data Bank of categorized information. Although the profit margin on such subscriptions is not normally large, in this country, it can gradually be built up as more organizations gain information about and, hopefully, become dependent on the Center’s Data Bank.

Publications two or three publications such as newsletters, summaries of legal cases and Government policy statements will draw subscriptions. Other sponsored publications or directories can also be planned and sold.

The CND or the Communication Network on Disability aims at providing factual and up to date information and news on disability in India primarily. A small library of some 1000 books, journals and conference materials of both International, Asian and National conferences and seminars are available. Comprehensive data on the disability scenario in India, specifically on intellectual disability but also on other disabilities is being collated. We have a few Video cassettes and hope to produce more as training and information / awareness material.

The CND or the Communication Network on Disability aims at providing factual and up to date information and news on disability in India primarily. A small library of some 1000 books, journals and conference materials of both International, Asian and National conferences and seminars are available. Comprehensive data on the disability scenario in India, specifically on intellectual disability but also on other disabilities is being collated. Some of the information readily accessible on our website www.samadhanindia.org are

• lists of services for the disabled /professional support available in the different States of India,
• Links to international organizations in the field of disability
• Links to information of availability of services internationally and nationally
• Information on Government of India policies regarding disability

Communication Network - In the process of being established this will be an on-line facility for dissemination of information on disability issues. Since we are members of International organizations a wealth oinformation is available. Issues pertaining to India is our special focus.