Introduction

Max Foundation Bangladesh (MFBD) will officially launch its blog on 31 January 2026. This blog will be a platform to share experiences, lessons, and stories with a wider audience. One of the key highlights is the initiative under the Healthy Village in Urban Programme, where women entrepreneurs are stepping forward to provide community-based disability support services.

The Idea

In many project areas, children live with developmental delays, Autism, Cerebral Palsy (CP), ADHD, and other disabilities. Families often struggle due to limited access to early screening and therapy services.

Healthy Village women entrepreneurs, already active in health, nutrition, WASH, and homestead gardening, are now being trained to expand their role. With proper capacity building, they can deliver affordable, accessible disability support services right at the community level.

Partnership and Training

In December 2025, MFBD facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Disability Service Support Centre (DSSC), Lalmonirhat, and the Lalmonirhat Women Entrepreneurs (HPAs) Association.

Through this partnership, a three-day specialized training was organized from 21–23 December 2025. A total of 18 women entrepreneurs (HPAs) participated, learning:

• Basic therapy techniques
• Child development milestones and early stimulation
• Parental counseling skills
• Use of assistive devices and sensory toys
• Awareness of disability rights and laws

Certification and Recognition

At the end of the training, all 18 women entrepreneurs proudly received certificates of participation from DSSC. This recognition not only validates their new skills but also empowers them to confidently begin delivering disability support services in their communities.

Progress

Since January 2026, these certified women entrepreneurs have started working in their communities. They are now:

• Providing basic therapy and home-visit services
• Supplying low-cost sensory toys and assistive materials
• Conducting parental counseling and awareness sessions
• Receiving ongoing technical guidance from DSSC

The results are still at an early stage, but the most important achievement is that work has begun.

Possibilities Ahead

Looking forward, this initiative holds great promise:

• Sustainable micro-businesses led by women entrepreneurs
• Early detection and intervention for children with disabilities
• Reduced burden on families through local, affordable services
• A more inclusive Healthy Village approach

Conclusion

This initiative is still in its early phase, but the journey has started. Women entrepreneurs are now certified and delivering community-based disability support services, marking a significant step toward inclusion.