National level

1. Engagement with the National Trust

  1. State Nodal Agency Centre (SNAC): From 2011 to 2017, SOPAN was appointed as the State Nodal Agency Centre (SNAC) of Maharashtra by the National Trust which is an autonomous organization of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. As SNAC Maharashtra, SOPAN had networked with many NGOs which were registered organisations (RO) of the National Trust in Maharashtra. The work
    undertaken as SNAC is as follows:
  • State level meeting with Local Level Committees
  • State level meetings with ROs
  • Disability Equity Zonal Resource Trainers (ZTRT) Program
  • Workshops to explain the provisions of the United Nations Convention
    for the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD)
  • Self-Advocacy training for persons with disability
  • Training for Gram Panchayat Officials in collaboration with State
    Institute for Rural Development (SIRD), Maharashtra
  • Badhte Kadam, a community awareness program in most of the districts
    of Maharashtra
  • Orientation programs on inclusive education for teachers in collaboration
    with the State Institute for Rural Development (SIRD), Maharashtra
  • Early Intervention Program under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram
    (RBSK) scheme of the Government of India
  • Enrollment for Niramaya Insurance Scheme for persons with disabilities

2. Local Level Committee (LLC) for Guardianship: In 2017, SOPAN was appointed as the Local Level Committee of the Mumbai Suburban by the National Trust. As Local Level Committee, SOPAN is responsible for participating in the process of providing Legal Guardianship to persons above 18 years who have any of the 4 disabilities covered under the National Trust Act. In 2021, SOPAN was reappointed as the LLC for another 3 years. The LLC work entails

  • Providing support and guidance to parents/caregivers in making online
    application for guardianship
  • Screening the applications from the National Trust
  • Make home visits wherever required
  • Prepare and submit the relevant documents/files to the National Trust
  • Attend the meetings of the LLC at the District Commissioner’s office
    Up till now, guardianship for 137 persons with disabilities (covered under the
    National Trust Act) have been given

2. Engagement with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)

Prof. Rubina Shanker Lal, Founder Trustee of SOPAN served as the member RCI Expert Committee for Autism and Multiple Disabilities from 2005 to 2018, during this period she was also appointed the Chairperson of the Expert Committee from 2014 to 2018. She was responsible for developing several course papers for the 2-year B.Ed. and M.Ed. Special Education Course in 2015. She also chaired the sub-committee for development of curriculum of the 2- year B.Ed (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and M.Ed. (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Courses in 2015

Ms. Shoba Srivastava has served on the western zonal committee of RCI.

The RCI consulted Prof. R. Lal in several matters such as CRE programs, Refresher programs, development of Status of Disability Handbook etc.

3. Engagement with National Institutes: Dr. Rubina Lal

  • Has served as member of the Academic Council of the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disability
  • Was invited by the National Institute of Empowerment for Persons with visual impairment
  • Was invited as resource person by National Institute for empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities.