Maitra Foundation

Maitra Foundation is a support group for mentally challenged persons who registered in march 2016. Our aim is to help ourselves and the people around Read more us in stepping forward towards making an inclusive society where every person can leave happily and give their best for society. Even within the limitations in intellectual abilities each one can learn and serve society if early intervention and the right training are provided. Sujata and Arun Lohakare, the chief founders of the Maitra foundation began their journey as the parents of a daughter with Downs-syndrome in 1993. Being a teacher mother and journalist father we studied and experimented a lot to make her learn to read, to write and live on her own. Throughout this 28 years journey, we learnt that acceptance of limitations and realization of abilities is the basic need for the growth of special children. And there is a need for deliberate efforts for the attitudinal change of the parents and society in this concern. These learnings along with 20 years experience of working in the Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training led us to work full time for parent sensitization, early intervention, and rehabilitation of intellectually challenged persons. Our Initiatives : Disha : A model of a small-scale industrial unit for intellectually challenged adults in Karkamb, Dist. Solapur. (Presently we are working with 8 such persons from the last 3 years.) Classroom Library set up and teacher orientation program for gov. primary schools. Reading Competency Development Program for Educationally Backward Students in 5th to 8th class: Growing with Limitations: Sensitization program to strengthen the capacity of parents to grow up with their special child.