3 minutes of readingBombayUpdated: February 4, 2026 10:23 pm IST
A 12-year-old boy with cerebral palsy rode a bicycle and stretched his legs in water for the first time on Wednesday, as ADAPT (Able Disabled All People Together) inaugurated a new temperature-controlled aquatic therapy pool at its Bandra centre. The facility, built at a cost of Rs 40 lakh, was supported by Orbis Financial Corporation Limited under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
Harish Shinde (name changed) entered the pool with the help of his physiotherapist, Dr Arunima Sharma, who guided him through leg and back movements on a moving platform. “It has only taken one introductory session. I have seen the difference in children with cerebral palsy and autism. For children who have difficulty standing or maintaining balance, water is a safe medium as it reduces the chance of falling and weightlessness makes movement easier,” Dr Sharma said.
He warned that medical examination is essential before therapy, as water could trigger conditions such as active seizures or infections.
He the pool is equipped with heat pump, pool lift seat and scissor platform to ensure safety, and filtration group to maintain hygiene. Users must wear waterproof diapers and water-resistant clothing during therapy sessions.
The aquatic therapy pool in Bombay It is equipped with a heat pump, pool lift seat and scissor platform to ensure safety, and a filtration unit to maintain hygiene.
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The pool is four feet deep, 13 feet wide and 12 feet long, with room for three therapists and three children at a time.
“It is an expensive system that is not easy to get in the city. We think ADAPT is a good organization with trained therapists and doctors. Children from families below the poverty line can use the facility free of cost,” said Orbis president Upendra Tripathi, adding that aquatherapy sessions in Mumbai usually cost between Rs 700 and Rs 2,500, making them unaffordable for most families. Orbis has previously supported inclusive education for visually impaired children and rural school infrastructure.
Founded in 1972 by Padma Shri Dr. Mithu Alur with just three children in Colaba, ADAPT now serves over 3,000 children and 10,000 families annually at its centers in Colaba, Bandra, Dharavi and Chembur. Dr Alur said: “The creation of the aquatic therapy pool was aimed at providing comprehensive accessibility and rehabilitation, allowing people with disabilities to achieve greater independence, participation and quality of life.”
He added that 54 years of experiential learning have shaped ADAPT’s pedagogy and that the organization is “on the verge of becoming a university.” ADAPT has already met Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to discuss the proposal. Their rural outreach project, “Reaching the Unreached”, is underway in Dahanu, Palghar district.
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Dr. Alur said 90 percent of his children come from low-income families, often whose parents work as rickshaw drivers. “Our dream is affordable, accessible and safe rehabilitation for children with disabilities. This is the only group we have for all our centers and we hope to expand it with the support of donors,” he added.