Seventeen years ago, eight-year-old Sriram Srinivas with cerebral palsy and mental retardation attempted to learn walking, swimming and cycling.
Later, he went on to bag 13 medals in various championships.
His mother Vanitha Rajasekharan says, “We didn't expect any of this. All that I wanted was to see my child walk and get better. When someone said swimming and cycling could do him some good, we got him to learn it. He doesn't know what these accomplishments are but when people clap, he gets extremely happy and our day is made."
On Sunday he turned 25, and Sai Sriram Training Centre and Voice Of Parents for Inclusion, Care and Empowerment of children with special needs (VOICE) launched ‘I CAN’, a programme that aims to empower special children through their parents.
Subhashni, a parent and member of VOICE, recollected how this group with a bunch of parents began eight months ago.
“Many of us who have a special child didn't have any guidance or moral support when our child was diagnosed with a certain disability. Many of us had lost the golden period during which our child could have been given a far better therapy and treatment. That's when we decided to start this group to help the other parents and extend every possible help. We meet once every month," she said.
Prof. K. Sekar, registrar, National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), said he has learnt quite a bit from families on how they handle children.
Henry Prakash, Senior Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, spoke of the advancements in medicine.
Paul Deva Sagayam, area director, special olympics, Tamil Nadu, and Joseph Xavier SJ, former principal of Loyola College spoke.
A short documentary film on Sriram Srinivas was screened on the occasion.
