To build a truly inclusive society, churches must make an institutional commitment by establishing formal ministries for Persons with Disabilities.
‘Anitet’ means To Nurture — and it is working
Tianaro Aier
Dimapur | July 23
Churches should establish formal ministries dedicated to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), a women pastor said this week, pointing to a three-year partnership between a local church and an early intervention center as a model for how faith institutions can drive disability inclusion.
Yashimongla, Associate Pastor Women at Aoyimti Baptist Church (ABC), Dimapur said that the church has come to see disability support as central to its mission after collaborating with the Anitet Early Intervention Centre (EIC).
With more than three decades in church ministries, she stated that such institutional commitment is vital to building an inclusive society. “There should be a ministry for Persons with Disabilities in every church,” she emphasised.
She noted that the ABC has long recognised the need to embrace the disabled community. Formalising disability support as an “official ministry,” she added, would not only deepen the church’s mission but also strengthen partnerships with civil society organisations working in this field. “Every church should establish a ministry for them,” she reiterated.
Her remarks come as Anitet EIC, launched in October 2023, expands its work through church-backed and civil society partnerships. The first center opened in Aoyimti village, Dimapur, through collaboration among Keystone Education Society, Charis Educational Society and ABC. A second center opened in Duncan Bosti in February 2026 in partnership with an independent partner.
The ABC mission board oversees the Aoyimti center, which according to “MITANGRU” the church annual magazine, is “an integral part of the church’s mission to serve Persons with Disabilities.” The church has sponsored the center’s participation in the 7th State Games for the Disabled in 2025, organised get-together events, donated equipment and provided financial assistance to teachers and caregivers during the Christmas season.
“Anitet” means “to nurture,” said the Anitet EIC Coordinator, who outlined current enrollment. Currently there are seven students with two educators and one shadow staff at Aoyimti, and 13 students with three educators at Duncan Bosti. All teachers undergo trainings and attend workshops on a monthly basis.
According to the centre, they provide Special Educational Needs (SEN) services for children between 18 months and eight years of age with developmental and learning disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Intellectual Disability. Besides specialised education, the centre offers occupational therapy and speech therapy techniques.
Classes run Tuesday through Saturday with three two-hour sessions daily. Each classroom holds three to four children to ensure individual attention. Daily activities include assembly, exercise, one-on-one Circle Time, free play and Zumba.
After a month of observation, an Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP) is developed for every child as part of the intervention programme. During this time, educators assess key developmental domains including cognitive skills, communication, self-care and daily living activities, gross and fine motor skills, and social-emotional development, to identify strengths and areas needing intervention.
The centre works closely with parents and guardians and ensures that their consent is obtained before making decisions regarding their children. It also hosts awareness programmes like World Disability Day to promote greater understanding and acceptance of PWDs.
Acknowledging challenges, the coordinator said initial challenges in providing effective one-on-one sessions as enrollment grew were addressed by hiring additional educators. Future plans include a unified center, more sessions, and the introduction of professional speech, occupational and physiotherapy services, along with Indian and American Sign Language support.
The center also aims to introduce professional speech, occupational and physiotherapy services, along with Indian Sign Language (ISL) and American Sign Language (ASL) support. Another objective is to prepare children for admission into mainstream schools alongside their peers, noting that several children have successfully transitioned over the past three years. Free subsidies and other financial support arrangements also provided to children from financially disadvantaged families.
The writer is currently a B.A fifth-semester student in the Department of Mass Communication at Tetso College, Chümoukedima. This report is part of her one-month internship at The Morung Express.
