Every relationship starts with that single moment when two people somehow connect. The relationship between the School of Physical & Occupational Therapy (SPOT) and Amar Seva Sangam Ayikudy (ASSA) began in the Fall of 2012 when a McGill University Biology student and ASSA volunteer emailed Professor Caroline Storr, Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education of the Occupational Therapy program at SPOT, with an interesting fieldwork learning opportunity for students in the professional rehabilitation program. Professor Storr met with the student who shared a captivating video, Amar Seva Sangam- A Valley for the Disabled, portraying a unique community located in the state of Tamil Nadu, South India, where people with different physical and cognitive abilities aimed to live, function and learn harmoniously. As part of this vision, the community wanted to add more rehabilitation professionals to continue thriving.
The Valley for the Differently Abled – ASSA, or the community of hope, as it is referred to today, was first created in 1981 by Shri S. Ramakrishnan, then a mechanical engineering student who became quadriplegic at the age of 20 years as a result of a terrible naval training accident. In 1992, the honorable secretary, Sri S. Sankara Raman, a chartered accountant and also a wheelchair user due to muscular dystrophy joined the organization and together they pursued their dream of building a barrier-free community to help all people with physical and cognitive impairments.
Today, the grass roots non-governmental organization has become a peaceful village nestled at the base of a mountain range in rural South India. The dream has been made possible with many years of hard work, dedication, donations, and an important partnership with the charitable organization Handi-Care International Canada. The large community of accessible buildings consists of a specialized spinal cord treatment unit, a vocational training center, a sewing unit, a calliper unit, integrated elementary schools, and specialized university level education units, all of which are seamlessly connected by accessible walkways and bridges.
