international disability day

Helen Keller and Nani Palkhiwala are two outstanding examples of persons who overcame congenital defects and achieved feats which 'normal' persons would find impossible.Keller became blind and deaf while an infant and yet was able to master Greek,latin,french,english and evn rowing.Palkhiwala was born with a speech impairment and went on to become an authority on Constitutional and Income -tax law as well as a brilliant lawyer.
Every individual is unique and born with both capabilities and disabilities.Given a supportive and caring environment,any individual can achieve significant goals in life,if he chooses to persevere and excel.In fact,being born with a handicap can prove a blessing in disguise,since it enables the individual to focus on his remaining body organs.
In India,because of poverty and adverse environment,many children suffer from vision defects,malformation of limbs,speech defects and mental illness.
I know from personal experience that even close family members regard a person suffering from mood-swings to be insane and fit to be permanently confined in a mental asylum.Dr.Raja Ramanna,the 'Bharat Ratna'

scientist refused to sit with a limbs impaired person in a flight and requested the air-hostess to seat him elsewhere.The conditions in homes for the disabled in India are so pathetic that many disabled persons prefer to commit suicide rather than stay there.
The Constitution of India has made it the responsibility of the stat to look after the neglected sections of society and make every possible effort to rehabilitate them.The Supreme Court of India has been going out of its way to ensure that disabled persons are able to live a life of dignity.