Where is Handimachal?
Handimachal is a non-profit organization working towards building a moreinclusive and equitable community for people and children with disabilities. Handimachal has been serving the Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh, India, since 2009. Over the years, Handimachal has contributed to the rehabilitation and treatment of more than 650 children.
The state of Himachal Pradesh presents its own set of unique challenges with the mountain terrain, inaccessible transportation, and extreme weather patterns. The team at Handimachal is dedicated to overcoming these barriers to reach children and their families. No village is too far.
OUR VISION
To inform, treat, train, empower and create opportunities towards maximizing the quality of the persons with different needs
OUR MISSION
Providing specific guidance and treatment to the differently-abled and to train and empower the community towards a more
equitable and inclusive society
Change of the managing Board
Friends of Handimachal in its pilot stages.
COVID-19 lockdown led to the team adapting to the Telehealth model.
Full multidisciplinary team including occupational therapist, physical therapist, special educator and speech and language pathologist joined the team.
OUR
STORY
DISABILITY STATISTICS
One in every 10 children is born with or acquires a
physical, mental or sensory disability.
(Janardhana et al.,2015)
Disability is more prevalent in rural Himachal Pradesh at 2.7%
More than 155,000 people with disabilities in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
Only 35.29% of all people living with disabilities have
access to schools in India.
OUR FOUNDER
Ms. Dominique Dufau, Former Vice President of the small French NGO « La Maison des Himalayas » , while visiting local schools in Kullu valley to identify needy children for their sponsorship program, came across a number of children with special needs and realized how isolated their parents were and how little they knew about the medical status of their children. In January and February 2007, a socio-medical survey was organized with a NGO in Shimla in the whole Kullu block.
After a thorough analysis and publishing of a disability report and meetings with various NGOS and medical professionals in Kullu, Ms. Dominique and La Maison des Himalayas decided to design a suitable program and the doors of the Handimachal Therapy Centre were opened in March 2009.
