After the grand success of Lodge Fellowship No. 140, Computerized Braille Language Laboratory at Ahmedabad, setting up a Center for Spinal Injuries at Bhuj in Gujarat after the devastating earthquake & The Lodge Fellowship Computerized Lab for The Hearing & Speech Impaired at Ahmedabad, it was the desire of the W.M. W.Bro. Ratan Vadvan & the brethren of Lodge Fellowship to undertake a new project, which would serve the Multiple Disabled Children.

Along with The Blind People's Association (BPA) which is one of the largest organizations working for all categories of disabilities all over India it was decided to set up this unique project which would be known as “Lodge Fellowship Early Development Centre for Multiple Disabled Children”.

This new campus called the “SAMARPAN SANKOOL” has faculties specially designed for very young infants and toddlers with multiple disabilities.  These children will be assessed and helped to develop their abilities and grow as normally as possible through a multiple disciplinary team consisting of a Councilor, Special Educator, Physiotherapist, and Mobility Instructor etc. 

The Center is equipped with modern developmental equipments, exercise equipments, electrical therapy equipments, parallel bars, exercise cycle and other equipments for the muscular development, positioning and motor development of the children with multiple disabilities.

Early years are extremely important for learning. Most of the learning takes place in first five years of life. The children born with visual or hearing or mental retardation do not acquire skills like other children. They have severe communication and learning problems. From our experience we realize that much of the disabling conditions could have been mitigated if appropriate services are provided at an early stage. If these children are identified at the earliest possible stage, their needs are appropriately assessed and need based intervention provided, will make them grow and learn skills like any other child.

Objectives of The Center :

1. To identify children at risk
2. To identify children with congenital disabilities
3. To provide early stimulation services to ensure age appropriate development
4. To train parents to rear children with special needs
5. To provide assistive devices to enhance the residual sensory abilities.
6. To create an awareness among professions about rehabilitation services

Services:
The project provides the following services.

1. Early identification
2. Clinical assessment
3. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
4. Sensory stimulation
5. Sensory integration
6. Early communication development
7. Alternative and Augmentative communication
8. Self care skills
9. Pre academic skills

Each and every child is assessed in detail.

The Early Intervention Centre is on the first floor of the Samarpan Sankool. The Assessment Room is equipped with the following:

1. Vision screening through vision drum, color wheel and toys
2. Auditory screening and perception through toys and equipments having different sounds
3. Parallel bar, mats, drum and staircase for assessing balance and walking ability
4. Awareness of different senses through sensory box and resonance board

All the children are assessed by doctors before they come to the center and hence the assessments described above are functional and commonsensical.  Based on the above assessment, individual training programs are developed. The progress of children is monitored from time to time and they are helped to acquire new set skills for independent living.

The cost of setting up this unit and preparing an ambience for children was Rs. 1.50 lakh.  We have taken the help of the Naional Institute of design in setting up of this assessment unit. 

Trained and committed staff are required to implement the programme. The multidisciplinary team is required for clinical as well as functional assessment.  Blind People’s Association has undertaken the responsibility for the running of the Centre.

The early identification and intervention programme will be able to identify young children with disabilities and provide early stimulation services to acquire age appropriate skills. Children of Ahmedabad will be greatly benefited for the first time due to the efforts of the Freemasons of Lodge Fellowship & Blind People’s Association.

The presentation of this project was shown to M.W. The Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, OSM, R.W. The Regional Grand Master of W.I., R.W. Bro. Vasudev Masurekar & other Officers of The G.L.I. & the Regional Grand Lodge of Western India during March 2006 on their visit to Ahmedabad. They were highly impressed by the idea of setting up such a project and assured the necessary assistance. The efforts of the Brethren of Lodge Fellowship were appreciated & R.W. Bro. Adi Vakil announced a personal contribution of Rs. 10,000/= to set the ball rolling for this unique project, which has cost us approx. Rs. 1.5 lacs, contributed by the generous brethren of our Lodge.

The formal Inauguration of “Lodge Fellowship Early Intervention Centre for Multiple Disabled Children” was done on 4th October 2006 by M.W.

The Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, OSM in the presence of R.W. The R.G.M., R.W. Bro. Vasudev Masurekar, who along with the dignitaries were officially received at the venue by Mrs. Nandini Raval, Project Director of B.P.A., & Dr. Bhushan Punani, Director, BPA.

After the traditional welcome, Mrs. Nandini Raval gave a brief about the Early Intervention Centre, the aims & objectives of the “Lodge Fellowship No. 140, Early Intervention & Assessment Centre for Multiple Disabled Children”. The dignitaries were then taken around and shown the various facilities etc. after which M.W. The Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, OSM., unveiled the plaque of “Lodge Fellowship No. 140, Early Intervention & Assessment Centre for Multiple Disabled Children” & cut the ribbon thus heralding the new project undertaken by the Brethren of Lodge Fellowship, Ahmedabad for the multiple disabled children.

The visitors were then shown the various equipments & facilities provided at the Centre & it was a touching moment to see a multiple disabled & visually impaired child aged only 1 yr. who was declared totally blind by the doctors, respond to the different colored ultra violet lights. The satisfaction & pleasure on the face of the Childs mother moved many hearts & instilled confidence in the Brethren that the project will go a long way in fulfilling the aspirations of parents of multiple disabled children.

Immediately after the inauguration everyone assembled at the conference hall of B.P.A., where Mrs. Nandini Raval formally welcomed M.W. The Grand Master, R.W. The Regional Grand Master & other dignatories & brethren of Lodge Fellowship. She thanked the brethren of Lodge Fellowship, The Regional Grand Lodge of W.I. & The Grand Lodge of India for the partnership which has continued over the years in setting up the various unique community aided projects with BPA. Thereafter, Dr. Bhushan Punani gave a talk on the various projects set up along with Lodge Fellowship and the progress of the same. R.W. The Regional Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Vasudev Masurekar was then requested to speak on Freemasonry, He expressed his satisfaction at the unique project undertaken by the brethren of Lodge Fellowship and the need for such projects across the country. R.W. The Regional Grand Master was then requested by W.M., W.Bro. Ratan Vadvan to present the cheque towards the expenses incurred in setting up the project to Mrs. Nandini Raval.

Need based individual gifts from the Brethren of Lodge Fellowship were then distributed to the multiple disabled children by M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, R.W. Bro. Vasudev Masurekar, R.W. Bro. Govind Lal Shahu, R.W. Bro. Adi Vakil, R.W. Bro. Meher Gimi, R.W. Bro. Zawareh Wadia, W.Bro. Tushar Zaveri, Mrs. Chintopanth & Mrs. Masurekar.

M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, M.W. The Grand Master of India then gave a wonderful talk in his impeccable style to the gathering & assured BPA that the partnership started by Lodge Fellowship in setting up such unique projects along with BPA would continue and The Grand Lodge of India would be ever willing to help in such projects. He mentioned that it was a wonderful moment when he saw the glow of satisfaction in the eyes of the visually impaired child when she responded to the ultra violet lights at the Centre. He expressed his satisfaction at the time & efforts devoted by the Brethren of Lodge Fellowship in such projects.