Growth of an NGO: The Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy from 1974 to 2006

Abstract

Abstract The Indian Institute for Cerebral Palsy (IICP) has been providing education and other services in Kolkata, Eastern India, for children and young adults with cerebral palsy and related disabilities for over 30 years. IICP started by providing education for just two children, and was highly dependent on western expertise. Described is the history of the IICP and the strategy this organization used to develop itself into a primary service provider in Eastern India. Developments in recent years have demonstrated that IICP has moved from a small regional service, focusing on education of children with multiple disabilities to a large and complex organization. This has been possible because of the long‐standing commitment of its founding members, a close working relationship with partner organizations, mobilization of governmental support, and accessing financial aid from Indian and international donors. Throughout, the organization has set its own goals based on careful needs assessments and has used culturally appropriate methods in attaining them. It has established model projects and placed particular emphasis on education and provision, from parent education to degree level programs. It has fostered research and international dissemination, been in the forefront in informing and influencing government policy, and has supported self‐advocacy for people with disabilities to represent themselves. This case study approach is reflective of the manner that nongovernmental organizations—with local or regional responsibility to develop model services—can organize services and provides a “lesson's learned” model for organizations to undertake similar development.