Ever since it came into being in 1998, the Coimbatore Spastic Trust (CST), founded by Prema Joseph and her husband Vijayakumar Joseph, continues to offer early intervention services, home-management services, community-based rehabilitation, vocational training, family counselling, medical intervention, and residential skill training to those who are specially blessed. The seniormost beneficiary of this trust is 40 years old now. Currently, the husband-wife duo serves as founder trustees of CST.

A journey by train to Chennai changed Prema Joseph’s perception about children with disabilities. On the train, she had the opportunity to interact with a child who was accompanied by his family. The child had cerebral palsy. The family was making its routine trip to visit a school in Chennai for the specially blessed. The year was 1996, and back then, Coimbatore did not have schools for children with cerebral palsy. This was why the family was travelling all the way to Chennai. Prema’s heart went out to the children with disability from middle class and lower-middle class families who wouldn’t be able to afford sending their children to Chennai for education. Thus was born the CST through which she continues to support the various needs of the children with disabilities, and their families.

“In 1998, CST was registered as a charitable trust with seven likeminded people who believed in supporting the founders’ vision of supporting people with special needs,” N. Kuuarathi, Administrative officer, Coimbatore Spastic Trust, says.

In order to cater to a wider section of people through this trust, its founders have incepted a school that accepts children with disabilities, called the Ashirwad, the special school. Arpritha, which was also established under the CST, is a vocational training centre that caters to the needs of older children (with disabilities) who would otherwise not attend school. Alpha is also an offering of this trust. This is an outreach programme that trains medical and paramedical professionals such as nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and special educators, among others who are involved in interacting with children with disability. Aahana, which when translated means the first rays of the sun, is CST’s unique assessment programme. The programme offers free, comprehensive, high quality assessment of newborns at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).

The CST has also set up a unit called Blue Rock. This is a conference and retreat centre which is rented out to host meetings, workshops, and seminar activities. Funds that are generated in this manner are used to support the activities of the trust.