1. SUSTAINABILITY- A MYTH OR A REALITY? Dipti Karnad Sumitra Mishra Sampada Shevde

2. Starting a new project – How? Target group Target group Purpose Purpose Design Design Funds Funds Team Team Time Time Future Planning Future Planning

3. Staff development Aids and appliances Meals c Transport Diagnostic facilities c classroom

4. Staff development Aids and appliances Meals c Transport Diagnostic facilities c classroom

5. What went wrong? No money? No money? Staff left? Staff left? Parents lost interest? Parents lost interest? New project to manage? New project to manage? Equipment broke down? Equipment broke down? Government changed? Government changed?

6. SUSTAINABILITY

7. Sustainability – An interpretation The dictionary meaning of sustainability says: ‘Capable of being sustained or maintained’ The dictionary meaning of sustainability says: ‘Capable of being sustained or maintained’

8. What do we really want to sustain? Deafblind children Accept them Accept them Individualized Education Individualized Education program program Communication partners Communication partners Participation in community activities Participation in community activities Let them have a say in what they learn Let them have a say in what they learn Appropriate educational placement Appropriate educational placement

9. What do we really want to sustain? Human Resource Qualified staff Qualified staff In-service training In-service training Training in relevant skills Training in relevant skills Support staff Support staff Opportunities for staff development Opportunities for staff development Maintaining staff motivation Maintaining staff motivation Networks Networks

10. What do we really want to sustain? Programme Future planning Future planning Resources Resources Leadership Leadership Management systems Management systems Staff retention Staff retention Documentation Documentation Funds Funds

11. What do we really want to sustain? Community Trained local expertise Trained local expertise Local resources Local resources Involvement of community based organizations Involvement of community based organizations

12. What do we really want to sustain? State Sensitized government officials Sensitized government officials Deafblind people participating in the decision making process Deafblind people participating in the decision making process Advocacy Advocacy Government funds Government funds

13. Challenges Unique target group Unique target group Time Time Imported expertise Imported expertise Understanding the concept Understanding the concept

14. Sustaining the program Target group Target group Purpose Purpose Design Design Funds Funds Team Team Time Time Future Planning Future Planning