CONTACT PERSON: Dr. Shayama Chona
COUNTRY : India
CONTACT : info@tamana.org
WEBSITE : www.lhasocialwork.org
Founded in 1984, Tamana is a nonprofit engaged in ensuring inclusion of mentally and physically disabled people. The organisation has had a digital presence since the last 15 years and was one of the first organisations in the field of disability to have a website and Facebook page in India. It also provides ICT training to 60 percent of its students.
The organisation uses its website and Internet tools to provide information about the range of rehabilitative services that it offers – special education, therapeutic interventions, life skills training, vocational training, diagnostics and counselling – and also for outreach. The objective is to ensure that its services are availed by the maximum possible number of persons with disabilities.
Through various social media (such as the Facebook and Twitter) and digital marketing tools (such as Google Adword grant), the organisation has been able to draw more attention to its crusade of improving the lives of special needs. These tools have also helped Tamana to showcase its programmes, services and product(s) made by the students to national and international organizations and to target corporate CSR funds for its various projects.
It uploads awareness videos through YouTube and shares success stories through Facebook and also information on new pedagogical, assistive technologies and intervention techniques. Through its website, Tamana mobilises volunteers to work at its centres with its students to help create awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities.
Tamana has also pioneered in introducing various special educational therapies in India. In collaboration with University of Washington, Deakin University Australia, IBM Research and various research organizations, Tamana, over the last decade has also been targeting various technology based interventions for special educational research. Tamana was awarded the NASSCOM Catalytic Grant for its ICT led Social Innovation for developing Kinect based applications for children with special needs earlier this year.
