About Ashraya
Our mission, our people, and the community we serve.
Our mission
Our mission is to improve the overall quality of life for people with special needs by ensuring their full participation and acceptance in society. We work with marginalised communities towards their empowerment and help them to evolve a vision of an alternative society.
Our vision
To improve the overall quality of life of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and to ensure their full participation and acceptance in society.
What we believe
We believe in a world where every child is celebrated for their unique strengths and abilities. We provide education for children with disabilities, as well as grassroots support for underprivileged families navigating autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.
What pupils receive
Special education, physiotherapy, life-skills training, food, entertainment and medical facilities — alongside parent counselling and disability-awareness work in rural areas.
Our structure
Margadarshi Rural Development Association ® (registered 2006-07, Reg. No. TMK-S447-2006-07, under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1961) runs Ashraya Special School (established 2018) at B.H. Road, Nelamangala, Bangalore – 562 123.
All-round development
Children
Life skills training through specialised educational programmes.
Parents
Counselling on handling and nurturing children with special needs.
Teachers
'Disability Awareness' programmes for Anganwadi and school teachers.
Community
Medical camps to identify disabilities and guide families in rural areas.
The woman who started it
Ms. Kamalamma grew up in rural Karnataka. Her strong background in social service gave her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by rural communities.
She was elected to her Gram Panchayat and served five years as president, becoming a trusted point of contact for government rural-development initiatives and helping her community access essential resources.
As a mother, she recognised the absence of support for children with special needs in rural areas. Observing that Nelamangala — a locality of over 100,000 people — had no facilities at all, she established Ashraya Special School in 2018.
Ashraya was founded to support not only the children but their parents and caregivers, offering peace of mind and a reliable support system. Ms. Kamalamma continues to be an advocate for inclusivity, ensuring that every child receives the care they deserve.
Meet our team
Mr. Dhananjaya
- B.A. Special Education
- 20+ years experience
- Special Olympics Athletic Coach
- Government School Teacher Trainer
Mrs. Sheela H.N
- D.Ed Special Education
- 8+ years experience
- Early Intervention Specialist
- Life Skills Trainer
Ms. Kamalamma
- Former Gram Panchayat President (5 years)
- Established Ashraya in 2018