In the fall of 1991, Angshu – the first born of Madhumita and Shambhu Nath Jajodia was detected severe to profoundly deaf. Even as the world of the Jajodias crumbled around them, they decided to fight to the finish to save their child from impending dumbness. In their search for a valid intervention programme which would help achieve their goal, the Jajodias sought professional guidance and consultations at several levels and underwent a rigorous training programme at the John Tracy Clinic, Los Angeles, USA. Within a year the child attained enough language to be admitted to a mainstream school. Having achieved success with their own child the Jajodias began sharing their knowledge and experience with other parents of similar children, emphasizing the methodology of the rehabilitation programme. The method achieved its success and thereby came into being a Body of Parents working for the Oral Rehabilitation of their children. This body, in 1998, wished to spread its message and share the sweet taste of success with more and more people affected by similar circumstances. To increase and expand its scope, therefore, this self-help group pioneered by Shambhu Nath Jajodia and Madhumita Jajodia deemed it necessary to create a formalised Association. Thus was born SAHAS.

The mission of SAHAS is to work for the overall empowerment of language impaired children so that they can learn to communicate through oral means and thereby access all opportunities that are available in the society for the wholesome development of their human personality in total.

Objectives

• Early detection of Hearing Handicap, ideally within 0 to 5 years of age.

• Immediate Intervention through proper amplification and training.

. Preliminary screening for Autism and other developmental delays.

• Equipping parents of orally and aurally handicapped children with techniques to integrate them into the mainstream of Society.

• Socio-physical support to the elderly hearing impaired.

We envision a society where there will be less discrimination and marginalization and more equality for people with disabilities. For that we believe that it is imperative to first empower children and people with disabilities to take control of their lives and then focus on sensitization of the society around to promote inclusiveness of people with disabilities. Inclusiveness cannot happen unless children with disabilities are on an equal footing with their non-disabled peers, and that can be done only if they overcome the barriers to economic and thereby social empowerment and integrate themselves into the mainstream society. Inclusiveness has two aspects: economic and social empowerment of the marginalized, and the sensitivity of the society around them. We at SAHAS work on the primary goal of empowerment for the language impaired child so that he/she can function effectively and integrate into the mainstream of the society on an equal footing with other people. SAHAS envisions that no language impaired child will be deprived of a regular life in the mainstream on account of the lack of the ability to communicate in oral language.