More about SSDRC Kathamandu & Founder Sabita Upreti

By Special School For Disabled and Rehabilitation Center(SSDRC)- Kathamandu

Special School and Rehabilitation Center for Children with Autism

(SSDRC)

Central Office:
Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward No. 32, Narephant

Service Center:
Kageshwori-Manohara Municipality, Ward No. 8, Gothatar, Kathmandu

Branch Office / Service Center:
Changunarayan Municipality, Ward No. 9, Tathali, Bhaktapur

Phone:
01–5253302 | 9851007112 | 9841471515

About SSDRC

Special School and Rehabilitation Center (SSDRC) is an organization dedicated to the education, therapy, rehabilitation, and life skills development of children with autism.

SSDRC was founded in 2068 B.S.(AD2010) by Sabita Upreti. Since then, the organization has been working to protect the rights of children with autism and help them live dignified and meaningful lives.

The central office is located in Narephant, Kathmandu, Nepal. Service centers operate in Gothatar, Kathmandu, and Tathali, Bhaktapur. A permanent building is currently under construction at the Tathali Center in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

More than 1000 children and individuals have benefited from SSDRC programs. At present, 62 children are receiving regular services.

The Social Services and Development Resource Center (SSDRC) is a leading organization dedicated to providing comprehensive services for children with disabilities. Its programs encompass specialized and inclusive education, therapeutic and rehabilitation services, life skills development, and public awareness initiatives. In addition, SSDRC actively contributes to knowledge dissemination by publishing booklets and learning materials focused on autism, supporting both families and educators in fostering inclusive learning environments.

SSDRC was founded by Sabita Upreti, whose commitment to disability advocacy emerged from firsthand experiences while working at the Physical Rehabilitation Center under the National Fund for the Disabled. Confronted with the inhumane conditions faced by children with disabilities, Upreti pursued professional training in India and conducted studies of special schools in multiple countries to understand best practices in disability education and rehabilitation. Drawing on this extensive training and global exposure, she established SSDRC to provide holistic support, promote dignity, and create opportunities for children with disabilities to thrive.

President/Founder

Name: Sabita Upreti

Position: Founder/President

Sabita Upreti is a well-known educationist and social activist from Nepal. She is the Founder and President of the Special Schools and Rehabilitation Center (SSDRC).

In 2023 AD, she received the International Women of Courage Award from the Human Rights Council of India.

She has worked for nearly 20 years in the areas of education for people with disabilities, rehabilitation of children with autism, mindfulness, and life-skills development.

Sabita Upreti was born into an ordinary family and grew up with financial difficulties. These experiences motivated her to work for education, health, and social justice, especially for disadvantaged and backward communities.

She passed her SLC with first-class results from Baiteshwor Secondary School and then moved to Kathmandu, where she began her career as a teacher. Along with teaching, she worked in journalism for about seven years, raising awareness about social issues.

Later, she worked as a Center Management Officer at the Physical Rehabilitation Center under the National Disability Fund. There, she saw the difficult and inhumane conditions faced by children with disabilities. This experience inspired her to leave her secure job and establish SSDRC to support children with autism.

She gained technical knowledge through training programs in India and other countries. SSDRC was established with NPR 500,000, collected from her wedding expenses and support from her family & relatives.

Educational Qualification:

In sociology Postgraduate
In management Graduate
Specific Education And Inclusive In education International Training

Experience:

Disability In the area Service Experience – 18 Year
Center Management Authorized (National Disabled Fund) – 2 Year
Mainstream School Education – 7 Year
Journalism – 7 Year
Specific School Principal – 15 Year
Guest Lecturer – 14 Year
Specific And Inclusive Education Instructor – 15 Year
Behavior Therapy Practitioner – 16 Year
Various Social In the institution Executive Member/Advisor – 20 Year

Publication:

Autism Those who Children’s For Therapy booklet (joint) writing)
Autism Related Public awareness booklet (single writing)
Autism Those who Students For Education (joint) writing)
Initial Hair From development Class 5 Up to For Specific And Inclusive Syllabus writing
Autism Those who Students For Teaching and learning (single writing)
Various Newspapers, Magazine, Media And In souvenir Article, Structure And Interview.

International Experience:
18 Country tours – America, Canada, Australia, Korea, Israel, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Denmark, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong

Special Achievements:
SSDRC and its founder, Sabita Upreti, have been recognized for their outstanding contributions in the fields of autism, children’s rights, education, rehabilitation, and public awareness. For their work in improving the lives of children with disabilities, they have received more than 50 national and international honors and awards.

Founder and History of the Organization

Sabita Upreti was born in Namdu, Baiteshwor Rural Municipality Ward No. 6, Dolakha District, in the month of Shrawan, 2042 BS (AD….) . She is an educationist and social activist. She grew up in a lowest family and spent her childhood attending village fairs, collecting grass and firewood, and doing household work. Despite financial difficulties, she passed her SLC in first division from the nearby government school, Baiteshwor Secondary School.

In 2057 BS, she moved to Kathmandu for higher education. She started her teaching career at Saraswati Higher Secondary School in Jorpati. Along with teaching, she worked in journalism for about seven years.

Based on her education and work experience, she later worked as a Center Management Officer at the Physical Rehabilitation Center under the National Disability Fund of the Social Council. During field visits, she saw the very poor and inhumane conditions in which children with disabilities were living, especially children with autism. Many children were locked in rooms, tied with ropes or chains, left in urine and feces while their parents went to work, and some even ate their own waste due to hunger and lack of care. These experiences deeply affected her.

During another field visit to a squatter settlement, she saw an autistic child reading a piece of discarded paper. This moment strongly moved her. Believing that education and health are basic rights of every child, she decided to leave her secure job and dedicate her life to children with autism.

To gain technical knowledge, she went to India for six months of training, where she studied and observed different special schools and rehabilitation centers. She chose not to marry. Instead, with the support of her parents, the money that had been saved for her wedding and dowry was used to establish an organization. With help from family and relatives, around NPR 500,000 was collected.

With this amount, the Special School and Rehabilitation Center (SSDRC) was established in 2068 BS. The organization started with only two children with autism. Despite social mistrust, financial difficulties, and limited infrastructure, the organization continued to provide selfless service.

So far, more than 1000 children and individuals have benefited from the organization. Currently, 62 children are receiving regular services. The organization has three service centers located in Kathmandu (Narephant and Gothatar) and Bhaktapur (Tathali). Construction of the organization’s own building is ongoing in Tathali, Bhaktapur. At present, the organization employs around 1,000 staff members.

2. Institutional Objectives and Introduction of the Organization

The Special School and Rehabilitation Center for Autistic Children (SSDRC) is a non-governmental, non-profit social organization established with the objective of empowering children and youth with autism to become self-reliant members of society. The organization achieves this through practical education, diversified therapeutic services, skill-based training, and comprehensive social rehabilitation programs.

Establishment Date: BS 2068, Chaitra
Registration Authority: District Administration Office, Kathmandu
Registration Number: 850/068
Social Welfare Council Affiliation Number: 34534
PAN Number: 600514992

Organizational Structure:

Number of Executive Officers: 7
Number of Employees: 40

Current Service Coverage:

Total Service Users: 62
- Children: 46
- Youth: 16

Main Sources of Income:

Donations
Endowments
Grants

Vision

“To provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive educational environment for children with autism, enabling them to develop their personal potential, self-reliance, and social skills, and to lead a dignified life.”

Mission

To provide quality education based on individual needs for children with autism.
To promote cognitive, social, and emotional development through therapeutic services and life-skills training.
To contribute to the development of an inclusive society by working collaboratively with families and communities.

Objectives of SSDRC

The objectives of the Special School and Rehabilitation Center for Autistic Children (SSDRC) are as follows:

To provide quality special education to children with autism based on their individual needs, abilities, and learning capacities.
To develop and implement Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to support children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.
To promote linguistic, practical, and holistic development through appropriate therapy services.
To enhance life skills and daily living skills, fostering greater self-reliance and independence among children and youth with autism.
To create a safe, child-friendly, and autism-friendly educational environment that supports learning and well-being.
To strengthen social interaction, communication skills, and self-confidence among children with autism.
To empower parents and caregivers through consultation, training, and active participation in their children’s development.
To raise public awareness on autism, inclusive education, and disability rights.
To ensure the continuous professional development and capacity-building of teachers and staff.
To expand sustainable educational and rehabilitation services through collaboration with communities, institutions, and relevant stakeholders.

3. Background: Condition of Autism

Autism is a natural developmental condition of the brain and nervous system. In Nepali, it is often described as “self-centered behavior.” Autism is not a disease, nor is it an intellectual disability; rather, it is a specific neurological condition that can affect communication, social interaction, and behavior in varying degrees.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), autism affects approximately 1% of children worldwide. While precise data for Nepal is unavailable, it is estimated that more than 300,000 children may have autism. Due to low public awareness, limited special education programs, and insufficient access to therapy services and inclusive education, many children with autism in Nepal are deprived of essential educational and health services.

4. Key Symptoms of Autism

Children with autism may exhibit a wide range of behaviors and developmental differences, including:

Difficulty in socialization, often preferring to be alone or showing limited interest in peers.
Limited or no response when called by name.
Repetitive words or phrases.
Resistance to changes in routine or environment.
Challenges in eye contact or interpreting social cues.
Inappropriate or irrelevant laughter or crying.
Preference for specific activities or objects and difficulty sharing attention.
Sensitivity to pain, sounds, or sensory input, often resulting in unusual reactions.
Difficulty in one-on-one interactions and forming emotional connections.

5. Services Provided by the Organization

The organization provides comprehensive support for children with autism, including education, rehabilitation, health, therapy, and other supportive services.

5.1 Education and Rehabilitation Services

Individualized Education Programs (IEP) tailored to each child’s needs.
Daily life skills training to promote independence.
Audio-visual, picture-based, and computer-assisted learning.
Skill development and rehabilitation through structured training programs.

5.2 Health and Therapy Services

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech therapy
Sensory integration therapy
Physiotherapy
Music and dance movement therapy
Art therapy
Sports therapy
Yoga and meditation

5.3 Other Services

Consultation services for families and caregivers.
Training programs for parents and teachers.
Nutritional guidance and provision of healthy diets.
Advocacy and lobbying for autism-friendly policies.
Mindfulness programs tailored for children with autism.

6. Major achievements

S.No.	Function/Area	Description	Achievement/Number
1	Service get Beneficiary	Autism Those who Children And People	852 Than More
2	Mainstream Education Adjustment	Education, Health And Through therapy School Adjustment	151 People
3	International Conference	Developmental Disability Related Conference, Australia	2 People Participant
4	International Sports	Special Olympics World Sports, Abu Dhabi 2019 AD	Silver 1, Bronze 1
5	Autism mindfulness Program	Nationwide mindfulness Campaign	298 Program
6	Seminar/Training	Seminar, Training, Experience Exchange	18 Country
7	Therapy Service	Physio, Speech, Including ABA	3635+ Beneficiary
8	Skill-based Training	Jewelry, fabric Painting, Dhaka	290 People
9	Employment	Skill After development Employment	2 People
10	International Training	In Bhutan Teacher Training	7People
11	Teacher/Parent Training	Capacity Growth Program	390 People
12	Orientation	At college/school Autism Orientation	85 Programs
13	Publication	Therapy booklet	1Title
14	Consultation Service	Parents Consultation	5850 People
15	Syllabus Development	Government Syllabus Under construction Contribution	National level
16	Teacher Source Book	Source Book Construction Contribution	National level
17	Health camp	Health Test Program	745 Beneficary
18	Photo Competition	Inclusive Education (First place)	National
19	Policy lobbying	Policy/Law Construction Collaboration	Continuous
20	Land Purchase	Organization Own Land	8.5…….
21	Building Construction	Autism Research And Training Center	Under construction
22	Source Book	Autism Related Source Material	1000 Per
23	Volunteer (Nepali)	Volunteer Operational	2275
24	Volunteer (Foreigner)	International Volunteer	631
25	Excessive Training	Psycho social And Other Training	80 People
26	Refreshment Program	Employee/Parent	15 Programs
27	World Autism Day	Formal Program	10 Programs
28	Motivation Program	Children/Parents/Teacher	150 People
29	Photo Exhibition	Specific In women Choice	National
30	Movie Participation	Nepali Movie ‘Gazlu’	Acting/Shooting
31	Book Included	‘Deed’, ‘Given Enough’	2Book
32	Music Video	Social Message	1Than More

7. Honors, Awards, and Achievements

So far, this organization has successfully received the following national and international honors and awards, which have contributed significantly to achieving the organization’s objectives through financial and social support.

Ram Babu–Gyanu Social Service Honor (Cash NPR 100,000) – 2075 B.S. (2018/2019 A.D.)
Woman Awakening Campaign Honor – 2075 B.S. (2018/2019 A.D.)
Venus Social Service Honor – 2075 B.S. (2018/2019 A.D.)
Our Radio “Person of the Year” Honor – 2075 B.S. (2018/2019 A.D.)
Shrilabh Savings and Loan Cooperative Honor – 2075 B.S. (2018/2019 A.D.)
Women’s Day Honor awarded by the Central Nepal Civil Servants Employees Organization – 2075 B.S. (2018/2019 A.D.)
National Youth Talent Award (Social Service and Education) by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, including Cash NPR 100,000 – 2074 B.S. (2017/2018 A.D.)
Resolution Gurkha Honor – 2074 B.S. (2017/2018 A.D.)
Timilsina Society of Nepal Honor – 2073 B.S. (2016/2017 A.D.)
ONF Australia Honor – 2073 B.S. (2016/2017 A.D.)
Media and Entertainment Professionals Ltd. Honor – 2073 B.S. (2016/2017 A.D.)
Milkyway Social Service Honor – 2073 B.S. (2016/2017 A.D.)
Excellent Social Worker Honor by Lions Club International, District 325 – 2073 B.S. (2016/2017 A.D.)
Autism Children Collaboration Campaign Honor, South Korea – 2072 B.S. (2015/2016 A.D.)
Nepal Student Society Honor, South Korea – 2072 B.S. (2015/2016 A.D.)
NRNA South Korea Honor – 2072 B.S. (2015/2016 A.D.)
Oman for Oman Honor, South Korea – 2072 B.S. (2015/2016 A.D.)
Domestic and Small Industry Development Committee Honor, Government of Nepal – 2071 B.S. (2014/2015 A.D.)
Agriculture Department Honor, Nepal Civil Servants Employees Organization – 2071 B.S. (2014/2015 A.D.)
Nepal Police Wives Association Honor – 2070 B.S. (2013/2014 A.D.)
Upreti Society Service Committee Honor – 2070 B.S. (2013/2014 A.D.)
Nepali Patriot Youth Society Honor – 2070 B.S. (2013/2014 A.D.)
Social Service Honor, Lions Club of Kathmandu, Electricity Market, District 325 – 2076 B.S. (2019/2020 A.D.)
Successful Woman Honor, Attempt Multimedia – 2076 B.S. (2019/2020 A.D.)
Himalayan College, Koteshwor Honor – 2073 B.S. (2016/2017 A.D.)
Newton International College Honor – 2073 B.S. (2016/2017 A.D.)
President Public Service Medal Decoration – 2076 B.S. (2019/2020 A.D.)
Upreti Society Service Committee Honor – 2080 B.S. (2023/2024 A.D.)
Soulmate Savings and Loan Cooperative Honor – 2080 B.S. (2023/2024 A.D.)
Dr. Laxmi Narayan Commemoration Award (Cash NPR 100,000) – 2080 B.S. (2023/2024 A.D.)
Kalpapunj Award – 2078 B.S. (2021/2022 A.D.)
International Daring Woman Award, Indian Human Rights Council – 2023 A.D.
Laxman Royal Award (Cash NPR 25,000) – 2080 B.S. (2023/2024 A.D.)
Khilmi Laxmi Social Service Award, Mainali Society (Cash NPR 51,000) – 2080 B.S. (2023/2024 A.D.)
Senior Social Worker National Honor, Light Future Dolakha – 2080 B.S. (2023/2024 A.D.)
Special Greetings Honor, Help Nepal Network – 2081 B.S. (2024/2025 A.D.)
International Women’s Day Honor, Non-Resident Nepali Union, Hong Kong – 2024 A.D.
Photo Exhibition of Founder & President Savita Upreti, Art Council, Babar Mahal – 2074 B.S. (2017/2018 A.D.)
Selected among “Nepal’s 50 Impressive Women 2024”, Online News Portal – 2024 A.D.
Profile Broadcast: “Nepal’s 75 Women Leaders”, Nepal Television – 2070 B.S. (2013/2014 A.D.)
Photo Exhibition of Founder & President Savita Upreti, Art Council, Babar Mahal – 2082 B.S. (2025/2026 A.D.)
Mother Campaign Honor, Nepal – 2082 B.S. (2025/2026 A.D.)
Honor from Mr. Boon Soldier Specific Lamp School Camp – 2082 B.S. (2025/2026 A.D.)
Honor by Nepal Civil Servants Organization (Supreme Court) – 2082 B.S. (2025/2026 A.D.)
National Social Welfare Award, Season Media – 2024 A.D.
Educationist Women Network Honor – 2020 A.D.
ICPMCSQC Honor, Mauritius – 2015 A.D.
ICT Awards – 2016 A.D.

B) Institutional Achievements and Recognitions

The organization’s work is included under “Patience” and “Autism” in the book Karma by Damodar Neupane, journalist, Kantipur Daily.
The book Diye Nyangha by journalist Rohit Bhandari documents the organization’s and chairman’s contributions under the title “Autism Chariots.”
Children from the organization won international medals at the Special Olympics World Games, Abu Dhabi – 2019 A.D.
Representation of Asia at the International Conference on Developmental Disabilities, Australia.
First Prize, Inclusive Education Photo Competition, Government of Nepal & UNESCO – 2076 B.S. (2019/2020 A.D.)
Contribution to autism awareness through cinematography and acting in the Nepali film “Gajalu.”
Participation of children from the organization in a social-message music video production.

8. Conclusion

Special School and Rehabilitation Center (SSDRC) is an exemplary organization that empowers children and youth with autism to lead dignified and independent lives. The organization has been making significant contributions to building an inclusive society through education, therapy, skills training, and continuous policy advocacy.

More about SSDRC Kathamandu & Founder Sabita Upreti

Special School and Rehabilitation Center for Children with Autism