Page 56 - Sportability

CREATING AND SHARING

A SAFE SPACE WITH

THE PHYSICALLY

CHALLENGED PERSONS:

THE PERSPECTIVE AND

THE PROSPECT

MS PREETI CHADHA SADH
(PRT, Experimental Basic School, CIE, Dept. Of Education, Delhi University.)

o understand the wider aspect hidden in the word could try out the progressive ways of teaching that
‘sportability’, I recall a few episodes of my life we imbibed while going through the training that
Twhere I was made to feel like an achiever by some was comparatively new and revolutionary in a few
significant others. ways. On the first day, realizing the challenges of
staying in a staff hostel and reaching the workplace
• “Come on, we have nearly reached there! Be brave”. after finishing all the routine activities seemed
Often these were the words of my father during our physically exhausting. I felt incapable and scared of
evening walks on the street outside our home where the expected physical labour required while living
his goal was to make me walk wearing the calipers in that village for a long duration. I expressed to my
and also recite the multiplication tables side by side friend that working there for one whole year looked
so that I get diverted from the physical discomfort impossible to me and I thought of quitting it. But my
and social embarrassment. Today, though I walk friend suggested I give myself two to three days and
without any support the motivational words at the then decide. Till this point in my life, I had understood
back of my mind remind me that just a few steps that life is about trying and pushing oneself one step
are left and that I am almost there! This helps me in ahead, so I accepted my friend’s suggestion. After
reaching my destination. that how the year flew by one doesn’t know but the
gifts of experiences - both personal and professional,
• Whenever I fell while walking, which was very the self-confidence and self-pride last till date.
frequent during my childhood, my parents told
me that it was okay, and I should get up and start • When I was expecting my baby, I managed not to
walking. Over time, I learned this so much that many fall by any chance while walking during those nine
times, I swiftly used to get up and check the people months. I was extra careful in each step. I kept going
in my surroundings in the hope that they wouldn’t to my workplace and did my routine work during
have seen me falling. I would feel successful if this pregnancy. It was like a big project where I had to
happened. prove to myself and to the world that I was capable
of this. Before going to the operation theatre for
• My first job was in a village with a school different delivery, my gynaecologist praised and said, “Kudos
from traditional schools. Being a fresh passionate to you! you have taken good care when the baby was
graduate of teaching, my friend and I decided to take inside, well done”! I felt triumphant.
upon the opportunity to leave the metropolis and
work in a village for one year. The idea was to have Looking at the research on inclusivity and accessibility
teaching experience in a different setup where we

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