.png){kind=small}
.png)
.png)
.png){kind=small}
Support and Development for Differently Abled
Creating inclusive communities where every individual is valued and empowered.
Since 1998, VOICE Trust has worked to break the silence and stigma around disability in rural Tamil Nadu. At a time when disability was often hidden or misunderstood, we chose to stand with families, raise awareness, and offer practical support and resources to individuals with disabilities.
Our belief is simple: every person, regardless of ability, has the right to live with dignity, to be included, and to participate fully in community life.
.png)
What We Do
Changing Perceptions, Changing Lives
In the early days of our work, many families hesitated to speak openly about disabled members. Disabilities were often seen as a punishment or a curse. VOICE Trust challenged these harmful beliefs through grassroots awareness campaigns, explaining that many disabilities are caused by preventable factors such as poor nutrition, unsafe water and air, or genetic conditions from close-relative marriages.
Over the first decade of our program, we provided:
-
Therapy and support for 241 children with physical or developmental disabilities, helping many gain mobility, communication skills, and confidence.
-
Employability and life skills training for 324 disabled adults, equipping them for independence and income-generating activities.
-
Rehabilitation and reintegration support for 287 individuals experiencing mental health challenges, helping them return to a stable and supportive daily life.
Government Collaboration and Program Expansion
VOICE Trust has continuously expanded its reach through strategic partnerships with government programs:
-
In 2010, we were awarded the Guide Scheme for the Mannachanallur Block, enabling us to work more closely with families and children with disabilities.
-
In 2013, we were appointed as the official Block Disability Mitigation and Rehabilitation Facilitating Agency (BDMRFA) for Mannachanallur and Thottiam Blocks, strengthening our role in delivering government-supported disability services at the local level.
-
Since 2018, we have trained Community Development Facilitators (CDFs) under the Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission (TNSRLM) across five additional blocks, expanding our work to assist over 9,222 persons with disabilities.
​
Current Focus and New Milestones
Today, VOICE Trust is actively working towards the integrated empowerment of 47,434 persons with disabilities in Trichy District. Our support covers a wide range of services, including therapy, assistive devices, inclusive education, vocational training, rights advocacy, and linking with welfare schemes.
A significant new initiative is the Ezhumin (Rise Up) Special School, which opened on June 12, 2024, at the Voice Social Centre for Differently Abled Persons in Siruganur. This school provides specialized education and developmental support for children with disabilities, in coordination with the District Differently Abled Welfare Office of Trichy. The school is designed to offer a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.
​
Our Ongoing Commitment
Our vision is to build an inclusive society where no one is left behind. Every person with a disability should have access to education, healthcare, livelihood, and community life. We continue to listen to the voices of persons with disabilities, learn from their experiences, and evolve our programs based on their needs and aspirations.
We remain committed to the principle that support must lead to empowerment, not dependency. By centering inclusion in all our development efforts, we aim to create communities that are truly whole.