When Arti Krishnamoorthy was about 10, she was scared of swimming. Her mother Sandhya, pushed her into it, encouraged by a coach who thought she would do well.
Last December, Arti, who has Down Syndrome won a silver and bronze medal at the Asia Pacific Special Olympics held in Australia.
“I have never thought that Arti could or could not do anything in particular. I want her to be able to do whatever she wants, make her own decisions, and as far as possible, remain independent,” said Mrs. Krishnamoorthy, who trained as a special educator some years after her daughter was diagnosed.
For Arthi, a keen photographer with a camera equipped for underwater pictures, Australia was a fun experience. “I made friends there and I did everything by myself – the changing in and out of a swimming costume and wearing caps and goggles,” she said.
Her mother attributes this partly to the fact that Arti went to a mainstream swimming class. “She learnt by watching her peers – how to dress and undress, to wait for your turn at a changing room. It has given her the kind of confidence nothing else can – she wants to travel by herself now,” she said.
For many children with Down Syndrome, a congenital disorder causing intellectual impairment and physical abnormalities, life is a series of ‘do nots’. “Unless we teach them to look after themselves and encourage them to try new things, how will they manage? For every parent of a child with Down Syndrome, a key question is: who, after me, will look after them?
If we can manage to ensure that they are occupied and independent to a degree, life becomes much easier,” said Surekha Ramachnadran, chairperson, Down Syndrome Federation of India and a parent.
Over the years, Arti has discovered a passion for sports – she also plays tennis, badminton, street cricket and carom.
At her last street cricket match with children from the neighbourhood, “I scored five runs,” Arti said.
And her success at games has helped outside too. “She walks to neighbourhood shops to make little purchases, makes dosas, cuts vegetables and uses a smartphone,” said Mrs. Krishnamoorthy.
Every day, Arthi helps bake biscuits and cakes and weave mats at the Federation. She also enjoys painting, and goes for a class every week. Going to the salon and getting her nails done – on Wednesday they were bright green – also figure in her list of enjoyable activities.
Despite increased awareness and sensitisation about the syndrome, even today, parents, face immense difficulties, mainly because of the lack of a support network and resources.
One parent, who was at the Federation on Wednesday, had been told by a doctor that her child was mentally retarded, nothing could be done and the child would just be around and grow up.
Today, when Arti’s grandfather visits, she is able to care for and spend time with him – just as any regular grandchild would.
