They are constantly told to sit quietly without fidgeting or to lower their voices or kept back home and denied social interaction. Seeing them jump, shake a leg and sing with gay abandon brought wide smiles to many a face at Tagore Theatre on Friday morning.
The occasion was ‘Uniquely me,’ a day out for differently abled children organised by the Centre for Empowerment and Enrichment, an Ernakulam-based non-governmental organisation.
Their arms and legs may refuse to do their bidding, but dressed in traditional set mundu, they clapped and swayed during a Kaikottikali performance. They may not know what Nadanpattu is but that did not deter scores of them from rushing to the stage and dancing as Nadanpattu artiste Mani and his team entertained the gathering. A band with lots of attitude - that too was there, their instruments being kitchen utensils, their guitar a broomstick, and their microphones cucumbers.
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P.A. Mary Anitha, chairman of the Centre for Empowerment and Enrichment, says their attempt is to encourage special children and make them confident of their abilities and of the support of others.
“Normal children have a children’s day but special children have few venues or occasions for them. To encourage their social interaction and confidence, entertainment for them and performances by them are arranged every year in the presence of celebrities. For this, the children are trained with professional artistes,” she said.
Ms. Anitha says they aim at teaching special children how to manage their lives and requirements to the extent possible. The centre also provides therapy, medication, financial support, equipment, and counselling, including for parents.
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Governor P. Sathasivam who inaugurated ‘Uniquely me’ said the day out would provide the children a platform to perform with professionals, thereby building their confidence. This would help bring about a change in society’s perception of disability and approach towards it.
From being denied education, confined within four walls of their homes and denied social recognition as individuals in the past, problems related to the differently abled were now being taken up as challenges, Mr. Sathasivam said.
Mr. Sathasivam referred to his judgment as the Chief Justice of India on 3% reservation in jobs for the differently abled and said people should strengthen their resolve not to let disability of any kind hamper the growth of a child.
Curriculum released
The Governor also released a curriculum designed for the differently abled by the State Council of Educational Research and Training to coincide with International Teachers’ Day.