Thousands of vulnerable youngsters today are struggling to rebuild their lives after leaving an orphanage because the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) stipulates that they must, when they reach the age of 18. We know that normal children living with their families still find it extremely challenging to start sustaining themselves by this age. They require a few additional years before they become financially independent based on the job market and other socio-economic factors.

Can you, then, imagine the fate of youngsters with intellectual disabilities (ID)? For them, turning 18 is literally a nightmare! Their late start in life makes it impossible for them to become independent by 18.

What you should know

It is crucial to determine the accurate mental age of a child especially when there is a gap between the biological and mental age. Intellectually disabled persons are children locked in an adult body. The Law was drafted for the normal orphan and does not cover the requirements of an orphan with ID. Orphans with ID are extremely vulnerable, likely to be coerced into malpractice once outside safe walls, unprotected and unsupervised.

Sri Arunodayam believes in the constitutional obligation to defenseless children. Our 20-year experience in this field gives us perfect standing as their guardian and defender. Having received due recognition to run aftercare facilities for abandoned youngsters with ID, we are preparing for…

A New Venture on the Horizon – Our Aftercare Home!

This is an important year for us as we commence constructing our new Aftercare Home for Young Adults with ID, at Tiruttani. We chose this location as there are no rehabilitation homes for children and youngsters with ID within a 100 kilometer radius!

The home will sit on 15 acres of farmland and include a fully equipped medical center, rehabilitation therapy rooms, a vocational training center, dormitories, restrooms, a centralized kitchen, dining room, pantry and more! In addition to over 50 of our own youngsters occupying the home, we will open it up to youngsters with ID from the surrounding communities. Trained youngsters will run dairy farming and agri-related projects from this location.

It is our dream to build and sustain an "aftercare ecosystem" where youngsters with ID can be equipped for survival within their local communities. In addition to receiving food, clothing and shelter, they will be taught skills to sustain a trade and lead a self-reliant life with dignity. They will also receive mentoring and mental health support that is crucial for their survival out in the world.

This is a massive project and we need your help!
There is much to do commencing with building the home, equipping it, and onboarding skilled human resources such as caregivers, nurses, mental health experts, vocational trainers, and other professionals to get this project up and running!

Will you help us build this ecosystem? Click here for more information.

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Sri Arunodayam is a secular organization with zero tolerance for discrimination against children regardless of religion, caste, race, ethnicity, disability or gender.