Dr Uma Tuli, Founder, Amar Jyoti School
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Dr. Uma Tuli was born in New Delhi in 1943 and was educated in Gwalior where she flourished both in academic and in co-curricular activities. Dr. Uma Tuli has a multifaceted personality of an educationist, a social worker, a rehabilitation professional and a sports woman. She was the first non-bureaucrat appointed by the Government of India as Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities from April 2001 to April 2005.
Dr. Tuli has a Doctorate in English Literature from the University of Delhi. The University of Manchester also awarded her the M.Ed in Special Education for her dissertation on “Efficacy of Integrated Education”.
She is the founder of Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust rendering rehabilitative services at Delhi and Gwalior with the holistic approach of providing integrated education, vocational training, medical care and self-employment in one premises. With this pioneering concept of integrated education, the schools run by Amar Jyoti in Delhi and Gwalior have an equal number of children with and without disability studying together. The intellectually challenged are socially integrated in the same premises as per their special needs.
Amar Jyoti’s affiliation to the University of Delhi and Indira Gandhi National Open University have not only sensitised these august institutions in the country to the needs of the persons with disability but have also helped such persons get their rightful place in society. In September 2008, Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust has started a Professional Practice Certificate course in “Aspects of Learning Difficulties for children and young people with disability” in collaboration with Roehampton University, UK and accredited by Rehabilitation Council of India. The Trust is preparing to start yet another one year course in Post Graduate and three months Certificate course in Working with Pupils with Learning Difficulties in Physical Education and Sport with Roehampton University.
With special understanding and a practical approach, Dr. Tuli has introduced this concept even in sports and cultural activities. She has organized five National Integrated Sports meets involving persons with disability as well as the non-disabled in equal number in different parts of the country.
Amar Jyoti Charitable Trustis recipient of two National Awards - for the best institution in 1991, and for creation of barrier free environment in 2005 from the Hon’ble President of India, also has been accorded the status of National Member Organisation by Rehabilitation International. Dr. Tuli is a National Secretary of RI in India
