At Latika, we believe that inclusion of disabled children isn’t just about placing them in mainstream schools or social settings. It’s about creating environments where every child is genuinely accepted, valued, and supported, in the classroom and beyond. Our Wabi-Sabi project works to integrate disabled children from Latika into mainstream education, but we don’t stop there. We stay for as long as it takes to ensure our kids are actually learning, involved in activities, making friends, and firmly on the road to building a strong base for happy, healthy, fulfilling lives.
The process takes time because inclusion is a personal and intensive journey for each child and their family. That’s why, instead of chasing numbers for “scale,” we collaborate closely with parents, teachers, school management, and students so that everyone feels prepared and supported. It’s not about ticking boxes; it’s about helping each child grow and achieve their full potential.
The Importance of Friendship and Understanding
Research shows that children can start noticing disabilities as early as 3—5 years old, influenced by what they see and hear from their families, media, and schools. Giving them positive experiences with kids who might be different from them at a young age helps shape how they see and connect with others throughout their lives. When kids hang out together and become friends, they become able to look past differences and include everyone. As Audre Lorde, the poet who dedicated her life and creative talent to confronting and addressing social and racial injustice once said, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences”.
Dosti Visits: Connecting Through Fun and Play
Wabi-Sabi’s Dosti (Friendship) Visits are opportunities for abled children from mainstream schools and disabled children from Latika to meet, have fun, and get to know one another. “The visits work wonders for both sets of children, building bonds of friendship and affection between them,” explains Rupa Bishnoi, Director of Wabi-Sabi.
Last month, for example, 40 children from Class 5 at Doon Global School came to Latika for a Dosti Visit filled with games, art and crafts, and stories with our kids. Earlier this month, 20 students from Kasiga School joined us for a morning of indoor and outdoor games, music, dancing, and storytelling. The excitement was palpable. Last year, 19 of our students visited Kasiga after we held a workshop on disability and inclusion for 45 of their students in Classes 4—6. The workshop used role-playing, discussions, and stories to spark conversations about what it means to be disabled, and how we can all embrace and celebrate diversity.
A Friendship-First Approach to Inclusion
At Wabi-Sabi, we’re seeing inclusion happen one friendship at a time. Our Dosti visits show how magical it can be when kids of different abilities come together. They have fun and make friends who change how they see the world – and each other. Every visit is a step towards a future where differences are celebrated, and inclusion becomes the norm.
