The Blind People’s Association (India) is one of the largest NGOs in India working for the entire continuum of services for all categories of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
BPA is a multi-campus organization with 15 campuses all over Gujarat and one in Rajasthan. It also has 13 Vision Centres and 10 Day Care Centres for Persons with Multiple Disabilities and Deafblindness in addition to the above.
What We Do
EDUCATION
Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary Residential Schools- 250 adult blind students stay in the campus and participate up to 12th Std- all free of cost. The schools have been recognized and supported by the Government of Gujarat.
A School for Physiotherapy Assistant runs 3 years Diploma Course for the people with visual impairment. This 3 year Diploma program and recognized by the Ahmedabad University in the year 2013.
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
BPA has also succeeded integrating the mainstream schools with the special children (children with any disabilities).
2000 children with disabilities study in regular schools with non-disabled children. BPA provides itinerant and resource centre facilities.
Two such INCLUSIVE Schools of BPA are located in Naaz village near Bareja and in Bavla.
SPECIAL EDUCATION COURSES
BPA runs B.Ed (Special) courses
recognized by various Universities
in different disabilities
TRAINING
SKILLING AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Workshop offers a two years hands on training in Offset Printing, Carpentry, Iron and Steel fabrication, Tailoring, Electric and Motor Rewinding, Weaving to all categories of disability.
MUSIC SCHOOL
Music School for the Blind adult is affiliated to Gandharva School of Music, Miraj, and Maharashtra. The music school helps the students to blossom into professional musicians.
ITI FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
BPA’s (ITI) runs One-year seven job oriented courses duly approved and supported by the Government of Gujarat. Computer Courses, Hair and skin care (Beautician Course) Offset Printing, Cutting & Tailoring, Telephone Operator, Stenography and Desktop Publishing.
TECHNOLOGY TRAINING
- Recognized training Centre for various in-service programmes for visually challenged employees :
In collaboration with GCERT, we have designed and conducted 2 week’s training programme for visually challenged school teachers to use assistive technology in classroom conditions. More than 300 teachers have been trained under this project and many of them have been effectively using computer and assistive technology in classrooms. They can use computer as an alternative of blackboard, can set question papers, prepare mark sheets and can do many other tasks that they were unable to do earlier.
- We conduct need based training for late blind persons in computer and other tools of assistive technology :
This training helps them to be employable, self-dependent in their everyday life, and to live life with confidence, competence and self-respect. The impact of this training has been so powerful that, in many cases, they perform better than what they did when they were sighted.
- We encourage other institutes to set up computer training centers and train master trainers to teach VI students more scientifically and more effectively.
BPA organizes Training Courses of various durations for parents, special educators, other professionals and other stake holders.
SPECIAL NEEDS
There are sixteen special needs centers that cater to the requirements of people with multiple disabilities-children and adults.
They are given medical, psychiatric, speech therapy, hearing aid, and training on activity of daily livings (ADLs) and orientation and mobility supports.
One of the center caters to the toddlers called Early Intervention Center.
ASSISTIVE DEVICES
The BPA manufactures and distributes wheelchairs, tricycles, walkers, crutches, white canes, artificial limbs and many other devices.
COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION (CBR)
forms a major part of BPA activities wherein the community and the PwDs are enabled and empowered to access services of rehabilitation in their own communities.
There are large CBR programmes for persons with Mental Illness.
EYE HOSPITAL
BPA HOSPITAL COMPLEX AT BAREJA
Has eye hospital, ENT hospital, orthopaedic and general care..
The eye hospital performs 15000 surgeries every year and has 13 Vision Centres all over Gujarat.
VISION-IN-THE-DARK®
A journey into the world of blindness
Is a permanent exhibition, the only one of its kind, for helping people to understand blindness through 7000 sq.ft of total darkness with many experiences – a village, park, zoo, theatre and other experiences that sighted people have every day.
Come & Experience the World of People Who Cannot See