NIEPID, Jai Vakeel Foundation Sign MoU to Roll Out Structured Education for Children with Intellectual Disabilities Nationwide
Mumbai, July 19: In a major step toward standardizing and strengthening educational access for children with intellectual disabilities (CwIDs), the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID) and the Jai Vakeel Foundation (JVF) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to scale the NIEPID DISHA Curriculum across India.
The agreement was signed in Mumbai on Friday in the presence of Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The initiative aims to create a structured, uniform, and scalable curriculum to meet the diverse needs of CwIDs nationwide.
National Rollout of NIEPID DISHA Curriculum
Through this collaboration, a comprehensive set of tools developed under Disha Abhiyan will now be made available across the country. These include:
- NIEPID DISHA Assessment Checklist for Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
- A multisensory curriculum based on VAKT (Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic-Tactile) and ‘Interest–Teach–Apply’ strategies
- A digital portal for tracking student progress and delivering content
- A training ecosystem for educators and school leaders
These resources will be rolled out across schools, community centers, and institutions supporting CwIDs, including under government schemes such as CDEIC and DDRS.
“This initiative strengthens India’s commitment to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). We are not just aspiring for inclusion; we are enabling it at scale,” said Archana Chandra, CEO, Jai Vakeel Foundation.
Government Backing and Scale-Up Plans
Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal described neurodiversity as one of the most emotionally and technically complex sectors, requiring innovative partnerships to deliver lasting impact.
“We are excited to scale the IEP model built through Disha Abhiyan. The DISHA curriculum will be implemented immediately in central and state programs, and schools adopting it voluntarily will receive free materials and training,” he announced.
Aggarwal also confirmed the inclusion of intellectual disabilities under the Development Accessible Learning Materials (DALM) scheme, which until now focused only on Braille books. As part of the scale-up:
- Workbooks and learning materials will be printed in English, Hindi, Marathi, and other regional languages
- CRE-accredited teacher training programs will be launched for rapid, nationwide implementation
- Parents and teachers will be given institutional support to provide education both at school and home
“The government stands with parents in this journey,” he added.
A Proven, Scalable Model
Disha Abhiyan, launched by Jai Vakeel Foundation and certified by NIEPID in 2019, has already been implemented across 453 schools in Maharashtra, reaching over 18,000 students and training more than 2,600 educators.
The curriculum and assessment tools are designed to be individualized, research-backed, and inclusive, ensuring that each child’s unique abilities and learning styles are respected and supported.
Voices from the Partnership
Dr. B.V. Ram Kumar, Director, NIEPID, said:
“The accreditation of Disha content is a testament to its quality and potential for national transformation. We are committed to making quality education accessible to all persons with intellectual disabilities.”
Archana Chandra, CEO, JVF, added:
“This collaboration ensures that education for children with intellectual disabilities is no longer aspirational—it is now a reality.”
The MoU marks a significant step toward inclusive and quality education for all, forming part of India’s broader mission to build a Viksit Bharat—a developed, equitable, and empowered nation by 2047.
