Hyderabad Heroic in Helping Special Needs Children

The 31st Yudhvir Foundation Memorial Award will be given to Sridevi Prasad from the Shankar Foundation for her dedication to providing quality rehabilitation services and empowering individuals with special needs. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya will present the award at 4:30 pm on April 30 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, King Koti. The award includes a citation and a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh.

Sridevi Prasad first interacted with a special needs child when she was 20 years old while working as an assistant teacher. This encounter inspired her to pursue further education to help more children with special needs. She completed a post-graduate degree in psychology and interned at The Sweekaar Academy (formerly The Hyderabad Special School), where she worked as a teacher for over ten years, focusing on the rehabilitation of children with special needs.

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In 2000, Sridevi Prasad established the Shankar Foundation to provide support for individuals with special needs throughout their lives. With financial assistance from family and friends, she began by helping four children in 2000. Over the past 24 years, she has provided therapy, education, vocational training, and support for over 1,200 children and adults to help them transition into independent living.

Sridevi Prasad’s work has been recognized both locally and internationally. The late former President APJ Abdul Kalam commended the foundation, and in 2017, the government of Sri Lanka invited Sridevi and 65 students to participate in a cultural event in Colombo.

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