Ability Development Society of Nepal (ADSoN)

The primary mission of the Ability Development Society of Nepal (ADSoN) is to develop, rehabilitate, and enhance the overall well being of children and persons with disabilities.

The Need:

In Nepal, Blind & Visually-Impaired (BVI) students suffer from a societal stigma that sees their disability as a past-life sin or curse. Nepali Blind/Visually-Impaired (BVI) students are currently mainstreamed into the public educational system at 92 schools across the country. These students are placed into a sub-standard hostel/dormitory environment within a traditional public school where they live and study alongside sighted students. All elements of their personal and educational lives are deficient. There is little chance for these students to become independent, successful adults within the current system.

The Project:

Develop and deliver innovative, holistic programs like our Independent Living Skills Training program. These programs look at and address all aspects of personal and educational development for students with blindness/visual-impairment. ADSoN is currently implementing the program at one specific school: The Sanjiwani School in Dhulikhel, Nepal.

The Program:

While not a sponsorship organization per se, ADSoN is helping 80 students with disabilities who were in urgent need of educational funding support. Please contact us if you are interested in sponsoring a student with disabilities.

The Projects:

Disabled Newlife Centre (DNC) and Disabled Help Centre (DHC) are residential centers that provide children with disabilities and marginalized children with a safe and health some environment within which to grow, learn and develop life-skills.

At DHC, ADSoN provides all of the educational funding costs for the 11 students that live at the center. All 11 students attend East Pole School in Kathmandu, Nepal. We also provide funds for medicines, school snacks and other needs.

ADSoN also provides educational and facilities support for children with deafness/hearing-impairment at the Purwanchal School for the Deaf in Dharan, Nepal. This school has approximately 60 students and hostel accomodations for those who require it.

Through our generous sponsors, ADSoN provides school/dorm sponsorships for 24 students. We have also provided many school improvements such as a small library, computers, kitchen equipment, sporting goods, field trips, solar lighting, earthquake repairs and more. We have funded special art and reading programs for the students.

In addition, ADSoN provides some limited funding for three smaller, rural schools for the deaf/hearing-impaired in this area with similar programs as Purwanchal.

The Need:

Most existing programs for the Blind & Visually-Impaired (BVI) remain perpetually behind in all levels of student support, lacking the critical resources needed for the student’s basic health and educational needs. These are fundamental rights! There are approximately 1,500 BVI students who critically need of these educational tools!

The Project:

Provide all of the necessary educational tools for BVI students to be successful in school. Included in the backpack are: Braille Slate/Stylus, Braille Watch, Braille Ruler, Abacus, Folding White Cane, Braille Geometry Kit. To date, we have funded and distributed approximately 250 BVI backpacks. Some of these backpacks have been provided in partnership with Rotary Clubs who have sponsored backpacks.

ADSoN provides funding for surgeries, prosthetics, physiotherapy, food/nutrition and tutoring at Disabled Newlife Centre (DNC), which is home to 35 children with disabilities. Over 50 surgeries have been accomplished through ADSoN and it’s partner organization in the USA – TRIFC.org

Being deaf/hearing-impaired as an adult woman in Nepali society is terribly isolating. To address this issue, ADSoN formed the ‘Deaf Women’s Empowerment Group’ (DWEG) to create community, make new friends, learn new skills and do meaningful work.

The women participating in our 'Deaf Women's Empowerment Group' (DWEG) are doing meaningful work... creating community, friendships and impact for girls with disabilities. We’re also keeping girls with disabilities in school with our sanitary protection kits and helping victims of the earthquake by providing these kits to those in need in partnership with Nepal Rotary District 3292.

The women participating in our 'Deaf Women's Empowerment Group' (DWEG) are doing meaningful work... creating community, friendships, and impact for girls with disabilities and for women affected by the earthquake in Nepal. We’re keeping girls with disabilities in school with our sanitary protection kits and helping victims of the earthquake by providing these kits to those in need in partnership with Nepal Rotary District 3292.

In addition to our existing projects and programs we are partnering with the Days for Girls* organization (www.daysforgirls.org) to provide customized support for school girls with disabilities in Nepal through access to sanitary protection and health education in both Braille and Nepali sign-language.

ADSoN’s Deaf Women’s Empowerment Group (see ‘Empowerment’) will sew and manufacture the reusable sanitary protection kits which will last for up to 3 years!

Our Deaf Women’s Group has been certified to sew the kids and members of the ADSoN staff and program volunteers have received training from Days for Girls to provide the hygiene training along with the sanitary pad kits, a critical element of the program.

*Days for Girls is an international non-profit dedicated to creating a more free, dignified, and educated world, through providing lasting access to feminine hygiene solutions and health education.