National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped established in the year 1984 at Manovikasnagar, Secunderabad (AP) is an Autonomous Body under the administrative control of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India and thus the institute is fast approaching towards its silver jubilee to celebrate its dedicated services to persons with mental retardation in the national interest. 

     NIMH has three regional centers located at New Delhi, Kolkata, & Mumbai, NIMH Model Special Education Center located at New Delhi. The institute endeavors to excel in building capacities to empower persons with mental retardation.  Since the quality of life of every person with mental retardation is equal to other citizens in the country, in that they live independently to the maximum extent possible and through constant professional endeavors, National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped empowers the persons with mental retardation to access the state of the art rehabilitation intervention viz., educational, therapeutic, vocational, employment, leisure and social activities, sports, cultural programmes and full participation. The objectives for which NIMH works are listed as under:-

 OBJECTIVES

     To achieve optimum results, the institute has developed and introduced innovative structured training courses like Early Intervention, Rehabilitation Psychology, Special Education and Disability Rehabilitation at Masters level. The training programmes are offered on gradual scale from certificate - diploma - undergraduate - graduate - post - graduate -Masters levels.  Presently, the Institute conducts 5 Certificate Courses, 4 Diploma Courses (DSE(MR), DVR, DECSE, DCBR). Further, 2 Graduate courses (BRT & B.Ed Spl.Ed(MR)), 1 Post-graduate Diploma course (PGDEI) and 2 Master courses (M.Ed Spl.Ed & MDRA) and 2 M.Phil (Special Education and Rehabilitation Psychology) level courses in affiliation with different universities.   

The research policy of the institute is to continuously update the research need matrix that basically covers (a) the life-cycle needs of the persons with mental retardation (b) the holistic development of the persons with mental retardation including therapeutic interventional needs, family support, resource support, capacity building needs, and (c) public policy and enabling society. The documentation and dissemination are important activities of the Institute which include (a) procurement of books, journals, and documents (b) publication of quarterly NIMH newsletter and bimonthly Mentard Bulletin.

            The Institute conducts national level seminars in mental retardation in partnership with leading voluntary organizations, parent associations. Special employees national meet at NIMH, National meet of parent organizations and National level Workshops.  In order to rehabilitate the persons with mental retardation in the community, the services should be rendered at the grass root level itself. The service to be provided at theses centers includes identification, screening, assessment, delivery of services, training of local resource persons and supply of training material to the needy persons. 

The institute focuses on quality in every aspect of its functioning to bring equality and dignity in the lives of persons with mental retardation, which is endorsed by ISO 9001: 2000 certification.

MILESTONES
Registration of society  22 Feb., 1984
Establishment of nucleus office  Sep., 1984
Start of services  15 Feb., 1985
Start of research projects  April 1985
Mentard - abstract bulletin  Jan., 1986
Diploma in special education (MR)  Feb., 1986
Shifted to permanent buildings  June., 1986
NIMH newsletter (Formerly Karavalamban)  Mar., 1987
Degree course in mental retardation  July., 1987
Early Intervention services  Jan., 1989
Family cottage services  Jan., 1991
Department of adult Independent living (Formerly Department of Vocational Training)  Jan., 1991
B D Menon Gold Medal Award for top Rank in DSE(MR) Course Feb, 1992
Multiple handicap unit  Dec., 1993
Genetic counseling unit  Dec., 1993
Diploma in vocational Rehabilitation (Mental Retardation)  Nov., 1995
National Award received by Ms. A T Thressia Kutty for outstanding performance as "Placement Officer of the Handicapped" for the Year 1995 Dec., 1995
Ashwani Sapra Award for top rank in Bachelor of Mental Retardation Feb, 1996
National Award received by Shri. Ravi Shanker for outstanding performance as    "Most  Efficient Disabled Employee" for the year 1997 Dec.,1997
Services at regional centre  Dec., 1999
Composite regional centre, Bhopal  Aug, 2000
BEd. special education (MR) Aug., 2000 
Outreach services in north east region  Nov., 2000
Districts disability rehabilitation centre  Dec, 2000
Regional rehabilitation centre for spinal injuries, Jabalpur  Dec., 2000
Sensory stimulation room for persons with multiple handicap  April, 2001
Resource room for children with autism having MR  April, 2001
Resource room for slow learners  April. 2001
PG. Diploma in early Intervention  July, 2001
Study centre for BEd. special education by distance mode  July, 2001
Resource room for visual acuity testing  Dec, 2001
Hydrotherapy services  Jan., 2002
Placement cell  Jan., 2002
Diploma in early childhood special education  May, 2002
Workstations for vocational training  June, 2002
Certificate courses in speech therapy, physiotherapy, psychological assessment and transition from school to work early Intervention  Aug., 2002
Manoranjanam - a service unit for persons with profound mental retardation  Feb., 2003
Mobile services for persons with MR  Feb., 2003
Bachelors in Rehabilitation Therapy (BRT) 4Year degree course, New Delhi  Sep, 2003
Diploma in Early Childhood Special Education at RC, Mumbai  Oct., 2003
M.Phil Rehabilitation Psychology  Nov, 2003
MEd. special education (MR)  Nov., 2003
Study fellowship  Mar, 2004
Masters in Disability Rehabilitation Administration (MDRA)  July 2004
Diploma in Vocational Rehabilitation RC, Kolkata  Aug., 2004
BEd. Special Education (MR) at RC, Kolkata  Aug.. 2004
Department of Community Rehabilitation & Project Management  Oct., 2004
National award received by Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi Myreddi on outstanding performance as "The Nodal Officer for Best District Disability Rehabilitation Center" for the year 2004 Dec., 2004
ISO 9001-2000 Certification Apr., 2005
R L Seth Gold Medal for top ranker in M.Phil Rehabilitation Psychology Jun., 2005
Tula Anantha Gold Medal for top ranker in PG Diploma in Early Intervention Jun., 2005
Digitization of NIMH Publications Jan., 2006
ICT Enabling Lab May., 2006
Project of training Anganwadi Workers in UP and Bihar, on Early Detection and referral services of children with Disabilities Jun, 2006
Diploma in CBR Aug, 2006
M.Phil in Special Education Sep.,2006
Pilot Project on Prevention and Early Detection of disabilities in the state of Assam Sep.,2006
Model Early Intervention centers in AP , Orissa and West Bengal Oct.,2006
Extension of Early Intervention Centers in districts of AP ( Nizamabad, Adilabad, Srikakulam, Nellore and Guntur district ) and in Karnataka state ( Haweri, Gadag districts ) Mar.,2007
Extention of Financial assistance to NGO's for running DVR / DECSE centers in UP, Maharastra and Orissa July, 2008
Nationl Award received by Shri T C Sivakumar for the "Best Applied Research / Technological Innovation aimed at Improving the life of PWDs " Dec., 2008
Silver Jubilee Celebration of NIMH Feb.,2009
M.Sc in Disability Studies (Early Intervention ) Apr.,2009
ISO 9001-2008 Certification Sep.,2009
NIMH website is hosted with N I C, Hyderabad and registered with new domain name (.GOV.IN)  Sep.,2009