Started in 1955 in Mumbai , the India programme is the largest in South Asia.

24 partners offer a range of services such as residential care and support, outreach, livelihood and education and cover 11,487 people with disabilities.

Education:
Cheshire Services in Coorg, Mumbai, Chennai, Bhopal and Serampore provide inclusive education that enable children with disabilities to complete their education in mainstream schools. During 2007-2008 these services supported 724 children with disabilities. Teacher training, environmental and infrastructure reform, capacity building and sensitization of local government and NGOs comprise other areas of work.

Livelihood:
Income generating activities for people with disabilities are a key feature of Cheshire Services. Through initiatives in career counseling, vocational training, business development support, placement services and loans towards self employment Cheshire Services strives to enable people with disabilities and their families to find work opportunities and lead a life of dignity.

The IT Centre for People with Disabilities in Bangalore is an appropriate example. At the centre, information technology specific job training is provided for people with locomotor disabilities. The initiative has already reaped productive dividends. Many participants have been employed by data entry/business process outsourcing companies. Cheshire Services in Jamshedpur is another example where vocational training and employment was provided to 140 persons with disabilities.

Health and Rehabilitation/ Support to Everyday Living:
Disability Resource Centres (DRCs) in Prakasam, Nagapattinam, Bhopal and Mumbai comprise recent Cheshire Services initiatives that provide a vast array of services in this regard. These include early identification and stimulation, nutrition camps, assessment, referral, aids/appliances, therapeutic intervention, caregivers and health workers training, surgical and medical support, psycho-social care, support for everyday living and environmental adaptations.

DRCs also offer social rehabilitation services such as formation of self help groups, community capacity building and companionship creation. A unique feature is its ability to provide both in-house and outreach services to the community.

Policy and Campaigns:
Community based advocacy initiatives are at the heart of Cheshire Services’ advocacy efforts. More than 200 people with disability and their family based self help groups advocate on disability rights and issues pertinent to the Equal Opportunities Act of 1995. Current campaigns focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and awareness of the Right to Information (RTI).