As per the 2011 census, roughly 26.8 million Indians are stricken with some type of disability. While several government policies have emphasised the enormous need to protect rights of these individuals and ensure their complete participation in society, it cannot be denied that the opportunities offered to them are limited both in scope and volume. It is this lacuna that the Mann Centre for Individuals With Special Needs seeks to address, says co-founder Beverly Louis. "Our organisation works towards training disabled adults from underprivileged backgrounds in employable skills. Our goal is to help them build their livelihoods and achieve their dreams," she says. Having worked in this sphere for 16 years, Louis has observed that adults with disabilities are often excluded from the narrative when it comes to skill and income generation, largely because of popular perception of their abilities and aspirations. "Many of them are capable and eager to pursue their wants and needs. Individuals from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, already have a strong financial burden. The disability adds to that. They find it difficult to access training and provide a future for their children. Our organisation offers such adults an intensive three-year training and counselling programme," Louis adds.

A performance at Mannifest 2018