Karnataka Parents’ Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens [KPAMRC], is an Association of parents working for the rehabilitation of the mentally retarded and other developmentally disabled wards.  In the year 1978, a few parents of persons with mental retardation in Bangalore came together and took the initiative to form an association to actively work for providing the basic needs for their young adults and advocate their cause with the authorities to provide educational and training facilities for them. They established the Karnataka Parents’ Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens [KPAMRC], which was registered on May 26, 1979.

To develop trained manpower, the Association started three Teachers Training Programs. Maximum intake for each program is 25. Over 1000 special educators have been trained so far and are working in various special schools and institutions in Karnataka and throughout India.  Another initiative taken by KPAMRC was to insure its parent members, as early as 1985 under a Group Insurance Scheme, to provide financial support to those children when the parents are no more.

The Association has also initiated number of activities to sensitize the parents and the community at large, by organizing conferences, seminars, workshops and lectures. KPAMRC took the initiative in the formation of an umbrella organization called PARIVAAR – the National Federation of Parents’ Association for Persons with Mental Retardation, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Disabilities.

To answer the vital question of parents as to ‘What after us?’ KPAMRC, decided to develop a Group Home Rehabilitation Complex, to provide a home away from home for young adults. Support for this project has come from parents, organizations and individuals both in India and abroad. Among outside organizations, Jeena in San Francisco and Heart and Hand for the Handicapped, New York are collaborators with KPAMRC.

This Group Home Rehabilitation Complex has been planned in four phases to accommodate over 60 persons from all sections of the community with the best of rehabilitation facilities including vocational training, sheltered workshop and day care center.  It will also have facilities for eight parent couples to stay on long-term basis. Construction activities of the Complex are in full swing and the entire Complex is expected to be completed by 2008. The Association has plans to develop a campus close to the Group Home Complex Ground Bangalore city to house the office of KPAMRC, Class rooms, Library, Laboratory, auditorium and respite care facilities.

HEART AND HANDS is a non-profit organization based in New York dedicated to helping children with developmental disabilities and their families. Heart and Hands has partnered with KPAMRC to develop the Group Home Rehabilitation Complex and replicate these efforts in other places to improve rehabilitation activities.

The main aim of KPAMRC is to act as a catalyst and promoter in ensuring the growth of an expanding infrastructure for the welfare of persons with Mental Retardation and other Developmental Disabilities.  The organization aims to achieve this while keeping in view the concept of Community Based Resource Development.

Some of the notable programs and undertakings for the organization are:
•    Setting up Group Homes by group of parents in a single large area with certain common facilities/services for their children under the supervision of caregivers and parents/foster-parents.
•     Respite care services for children/adults with mental retardation.
•     Providing gainful occupation/employment for adults with mental retardation.
•     Assisting in setting up small units of training and production, run by parent self-help groups.
•     Finding suitable markets for products from the vocational centers.
•    Certification and training for educators and refresher programs for trained teachers in different aspects of special education (Mental retardation, Autism, Specific learning disabilities and Integrated Education).
•     Workshops for parents on subjects of specific needs.
•    Training of parent/teacher aides.
•     Research and publications in the area of Developmental Disabilities.
•     Awareness Programs.

Services for Parents include referral and guidance in the areas of:
• Assessment
• Diagnosis
• Relevant intervention and programming
• Genetic and general counselling
• Financial planning for their young adults, forming of trusts, etc.

Currently, the association is accepting donations which can be made to the KPAMRC through HEART AND HAND FOR THEHANDICAPPED, a registered non-profit organization, based in New York.   These donations are tax deductible and the checks can be made in favor of ‘HEART AND HAND FOR THE HANDICAPPED’ specifically mentioning for KPAMRC in the check and sent to the following address :
P.O. Box 520230, Flushing, New York 11352

K.R. Venkatesha, President of KPAMRC will be in the Tufts Area on Saturday evening (May 5th, 7:00 pm) and people interested in attending a movie and discussion on KPAMRC should contact: venkatesh.rakesh@gmail.com.

A Google video showing the activities of KPAMRC can be viewed at:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1171062638888648865&hl=en

Contacts

KARNATAKA PARENTS' ASSOCIATION
FOR MENTALLY RETARDED CITIZENS
Regd. Office: AMC Compound, Off Hosur Road,
Near Kidwai Memorial Hospital, Bangalore - 560 029. INDIA
Ph.: 26563267, Telefax: 26564608.
Email: jpkpamrc@vsnl.net.

HEART AND HAND FOR
THE HANDICAPPED
P. O. Box 520230
Flushing, NY 11352

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