Milestones

July 11, 1977

The modest living room in the home of one of our teachers. Under the auspices of The Society for Special Education for the Deaf the 'Institute for Deaf and the Deaf-Blind' is initiated with just three children (1 deaf and 2 deaf-blind), two teachers and limited funds.

1980

The Institute shifts to new premises in Byculla (West). We celebrate our third anniversary by re-christening our school the 'Helen Keller Institute for the Deaf and Deaf-Blind,' in memory of the renowned lady who overcame her triple handicaps of being deaf, blind and mute.

December 1999
This is to introduce you to our new complex - Helen Keller Institute for Deaf & Deafblind, Aditya Birla Center. MIDC contributed 1 acre of land at a token sum of Rs. 4,000/-. The building is named Aditya Birla Center because Shrimati Rajashreeji Birla donated Rs. 1 Crore for the construction of the building in memory of her late husband Shri Aditya Birla. This magnificent donation donation gave us the thrust to start building construction.

The building was completed by December 1999 and in the year 2000 it started operating. We were able to operate because of the several donors who saw our vision & donated big sums of money towards different rooms.

Achievers

Pradip Sinha a Deafblind-Assistant in the Braille Workshop received the all India Cavin Kare Ability Award in Madras in the year March 2003 through the hands of Justice Anand (Ex-Chief Justice of India). This award is for being the first outstanding Deafblind person to master computer education.

Our Director Beroz Vacha is the recipient of the following National & International awards for pioneerig services for the Deafblind. She acknowledges here the immense involvement & contribution of the staff & the full support & faith which the Executive Committee has reposed in her and which has today put Helen Keller Institute for Deaf & Deafblind as one of the outstanding educational Institutions.

1. January 1990 - In recognition of the outstanding services to the cause of the Deafblind. The NAB India awarded the prestigious "Rustom Merwanji Alpaiwala Memorial Award"
2. December 3, 1997 - The National Presidential Award for the welfare of people with disabilities in Public Recognition for her outstanding performance in the field of Welfare of people with Disabilities.

3. August 1991 - At a ceremony in Sweden the International Award "The Ann Sullivan Medal" was presented for achievements, contribution and efforts in pioneering the work for the Deafblind in India.

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Products

All the above products have been created by students at the Helen Keller Institute and prove to be major source of income generation, helping the students achieve a sense of self - fulfillment and integrity.

They specialize in a variety of soft toys, painting pottery, creating candles from scratch, creating bags and pillow covers and delicious food items too.

They take orders from individuals as well as corporates for the above items and provide themselves with income to lead a life full of character and self - achievement.

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