About
Us

Vision: Children with MDVI participate and are recognised in their families and communities, and realise their own unique abilities in life.
Mission: Muskan maximises the potential of Children with MDVI, by providing customised, low cost therapies and special education under one roof; and by empowering parents with the knowledge, skills and confidence to support their child’s unique needs and development.
Muskan Philosophy

Early & Timely Intervention
- The human brain experiences almost 75% of its growth in early childhood: children typically develop motor, social and cognitive skills before they turn five. Early intervention can significantly improve the child’s developmental trajectory.
- Various therapies commence as early as when the child is only three months old.

A ‘One-Stop-Shop’ for MDVI Families
- Children with MDVI require a variety of therapies in combination along with special education services.
- Mobility is a major barrier for children with MDVI. Usually parents have to travel with their children to multiple locations to avail all necessary services.

Multidisciplinary Team Approach
- An education and rehabilitation programme plan for each child is developed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a mentor, special educator and various therapists assigned to each child.
- The team develops a common understanding on the child’s developmental difficulties and develops strategies in consultation with each other – keeping parents abreast of child’s progress.

Inclusion of Children with MDVI in Society
- Children with MDVI have to live in society and interact with their communities. Thus inclusion is necessary for these children to achieve their full potential.
- In India there is no awareness of MDVI as a unique type of disability, therefore increased awareness is needed.

Our History

Muskan Foundation was established in the year 2007 by Mrs. Dipti Gandhi, WHO trained, nationally renowned low vision Consultant. She founded Muskan with just two children in the small veranda in the Bandra center. In 2009, Muskan Foundation was registered as a public trust, providing specialised services to children with multiple disabilities.
Muskan’s centre at bandra began to grow positively. We realized there was a need to create a center in the western region as many children were traveling long distances to avail services. Therefore, in 2012, we established a center in Goregoan, starting with 10 children which in no time increased to 52 children with multiple disabilities.
Looking at the progress of Muskan Foundation, Mrs. Dipti Gandhi was invited by the Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital to work as a low vision consultant. Upon her visit, Mrs. Dipti Gandhi realized that Muskan’s MDVI services would complement the hospital’s existing services. Therefore, Muskan’s third center was established incorporating Special education and Therapy program in association with the Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children. The centre began with just 5 children which soon the number swelled up to 56 children.
With the hard work and commitment of our staff, Muskan Foundation flourished immensely providing special education and therapy program to 116 children with multiple disabilities. In 2018, Masina hospital happened to come across our centre at BJ Wadia hospital and invited us to start a centre at the well-known Masina hospital, for children with multiple disabilities. The centre was operational in 2019. The centre is operational currently with five children, due to the Pandemic things are at a standstill, otherwise the number there also would have increased in no time.
Our People
It takes a special kind of dedication and compassion to work with Children with MDVI and make a difference. At Muskan, we are fortunate to have the helping hands of a caring, passionate Board of Trustees and the commitment of incredible special educators, therapists and staff who bring that ‘Muskan’ to our children’s faces!

Our Founder
Dipti Gandhi
Mrs. Dipti Gandhi is the Founder & CEO of Muskan Foundation. A WHO trained nationally renowned low vision consultant, she developed a Unique Vision Rehabilitation program for children with low vision which has a 92 percent success rate. Working in the disability field for last 27 years, Mrs. Dipti Gandhi honed her expertise by working as low vision consultant with renowed organisation like National Association of Blind. Recognizing the glaring gaps in the existing health care and education sector for Multiple Disabilities with Vision Impairment (MDVI), Mrs. Dipti Gandhi, founded Muskan in 2007. Muskan began with just 2 children operating in a small veranda and has now blossomed into 5 centres with more than 116 children benefiting from the program. She is also a Master trainer and a Mentor in the disability sector.

Board of Trustees


Mrs. Dipti Gandhi,
Honorary Director & Managing Trustee
Mrs. Dipti Gandhi is the Founder & CEO of Muskan Foundation. A WHO trained nationally renowned low vision consultant, she developed a Unique Vision Rehabilitation program for children with low vision which has a 92 percent success rate. Working in the disability field for last 27 years, Mrs. Dipti Gandhi honed her expertise by working as low vision consultant with renowed organisation like National Association of Blind. Recognizing the glaring gaps in the existing health care and education sector for Multiple Disabilities with Vision Impairment (MDVI), Mrs. Dipti Gandhi, founded Muskan in 2007. Muskan began with just 2 children operating in a small veranda and has now blossomed into 5 centres with more than 116 children benefiting from the program. She is also a Master trainer and a Mentor in the disability sector.

Mr. Sanjay Gandhi,
Trustee
A civil engineer by profession, Mr. Sanjay Gandhi, has 40 years’ experience of working in the construction sector. He is the Partner in Ganesh Constructions. From the onset, Mr. Sanjay Gandhi has supported Muskan Foundation and has been a pillar of strength for Mrs. Dipti Gandhi.

Mr. Pinkesh Kapadia,
Trustee
Since 1988, Mr. Pinkesh Kapadia is independently operating a Proprietor at Pinkesh Kapadia & Co. The company is a Service Provider of ERP accounting software service, tally accounting software service & busy accounting software service in Mumbai.

Mr. Ninad Sadvilkar,
Trustee
Hailing from Hotel industry, Mr. Ninad Sadvilkar is the owner of Angrezi Dhaba. The restaurant is one of the most sought-after dining destinations operating in 5 locations in Mumbai.

Adv. Tushar khandare,
Trustee
An Advocate by profession, Mr Tushar Khandare has been working in the field since 2005. He owns his own law practice called Tushar Khandare & Associates. He is also a member of Anam Prem Parivar, an organisation committed for the development of unprivileged.
Management

Mrs. Dipti
Gandhi
CEO

Mr. Tejas
Supekar
COO

Mrs. Pushpa Priya Ganesh
Program Coordinator

Mrs. Shubhada
Bhatnagar
Resource Manager

Ms. Simran
Galipothu
Communication Officer

Mrs. Dipti
Gandhi
CEO

Mr. Tejas
Supekar
COO

Mrs. Pushpa Priya Ganesh
Program Coordinator

Mrs. Shubhada
Bhatnagar
Resource Manager

Mr. Pruthviraj
Patil
Finance Officer

Mrs. Sonam
Ganjale
Centre Head, Bandra

Mrs. Saraswati
Khairmode
Centre Head, BJ Wadia Hospital

Mrs. Dipali
Jadhav
Centre Head, Masina Hospital

Mrs. Bhavika
Kothari
Centre Head, Goregoan

Ms. Simran
Galipothu
Communication Officer

Mr. Pruthviraj
Patil
Finance Officer

Mrs. Sonam
Ganjale
Centre Head, Bandra

Mrs. Saraswati
Khairmode
Centre Head, BJ Wadia Hospital

Mrs. Dipali
Jadhav
Centre Head, Masina Hospital

Mrs. Bhavika
Kothari
Centre Head, Goregoan

Volunteers/Interns

Muskan Foundation is open to volunteer/ internship associations with students from different establishments, who want to get a practical knowledge of the field. We have had interns/volunteers from various national & international institutions including SNDT, NMIMS and TISS.
Testimonials

Vishakha Dube, MKES College of Law
Fourth Year BLS, LLB
My time volunteering with Muskan Foundation has been a very enriching and enlightening experience. Having seen the immense impact Muskan has on kids with MDVI and their families, I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to contribute my bit by volunteering with the organization.
Throughout the course of my volunteering with Muskan, I was afforded a chance to broaden my experience and knowledge through a variety of tasks, such as filling UDID Forms, reviewing the organisation’s HR and Child Protection Policy, making a Thank You card and labelling the library books.
The best part of volunteering at Muskan Foundation though, has to be the staff and the people at Muskan. I was given the liberty and flexibility to volunteer according to my schedule and faced no hesitation or resistance from the staff with respect to the same. My experience with the staff across all 3 centres of Wadia Hospital, Bandra and Goregaon has been pleasent. This ultimately made my experience a very positive one. I would like to conclude by thanking Dipti Ma’am for giving me this opportunity.
