We all tend to take things for granted. It’s only when we are deprived of something that we realise its importance. Gifted with mobility, a wheelchair isn’t significant to us but to a bedridden child it’s a door to a whole new wonderful world! While the sole purpose of a wheelchair is to supply mobility, it provides other practical advantages too, not the least of which includes making daily activities faster, simpler and more fun!

A kind sponsor in Singapore donated ten imported wheelchairs last month for Arul, Arun, Praveen, Ravi, Avinash, Rubhan, Naren, Sanjay, Thamarai Selvi and Jayabhaathi. Ranging between 11 and 25 years of age, these children have never experienced the joy of mobility but these lightweight wheelchairs are giving them a new range of motion and they can now look forward to a more dynamic lifestyle. As they learn to manoeuvre they will have the potential to participate in sports and many other outdoor fun activities. Above all, this simple gadget is signalling the dawn of new hope in their lives!

International Childhood Cancer Day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors, and their families. The day promotes increased appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges relevant to childhood cancer that impacts children/adolescents with cancer, survivors, their families and society as a whole. It also spotlights the need for equitable and better access to treatment and care for children with cancer all over the world. Around ten of our youngsters participated in the 18th International Childhood Cancer Day rally organized by Chennai Volunteers on March 17th at Besant Nagar Beach between 7.30 am and 9.30 am. We were joined by other NGO organizations in the awareness campaign.

On March 24th, our Founder Managing Trustee, Iyyappan Subramaniyan, received an award in recognition of his services to abandoned children with intellectual disability, from the International Vaish Federation during their annual convention. The award was presented by the Honourable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri. Banwarilal Purohit. Post a networking lunch with awardees and the Governor, the Vaish team visited Sri Arunodayam to spend time with the children.

We are smack in the middle of massive preparations for our upcoming 2019 Special Mom Award and Forum. As most of you are aware, our Special Mom Program is the first-of-its-kind ‘Women’s Recognition & Empowerment’ Program in the disability sector. Although there are several awards honoring mothers across India and the world, Sri Arunodayam’s award is uniquely different in that it honor mothers of ‘special’ children. This has resulted in a unique platform for advocacy on issues related to mental retardation and intellectual disability. 2019’s winners are mothers of special children, vetted through a stringent selection process by eminent panellists, from over 100 applications received from across South India this year.

In launching our Special Mom program in 2017, we committed to support and honour the values and progressive abilities of mothers who make a significant impact on the lives of their special children, families, and communities. Last month we announced the 15 finalists for 2019. They are: (1) Asiyabenazir S from Virudunagar, TN, (2) Baby R from Cuddalore, TN, (3) Chidambaragomathi from Tirunelveli, TN, (4) Jayanthi M from Chennai, TN, (5) Kalavathy from Thiruvallur, TN, (6) Lakshmi P from Tirunelveli, TN, (7) Lakshmi Suneetha from East Godavari, AP, (8) Nalini R from Krishnagiri, TN, (9) Ponrajam M from Chennai, TN, (10) Radha Nandakumar from Chennai, TN, (11) Rajakili K from Kanyakumari, TN, (12) Savithri M from Coimbatore, TN, (13) Shanthi Pappa from Marthandam, TN, (14) Usha Subramanian from Chennai, TN, and (15) Vasumathi R from Chennai, TN.

The finalists will be honored at a special ceremony to be held on Mother’s Day – May 12, 2019 at Good Shepherd Convent, Nungambakkam, Chennai, where they will be presented with: (1) a Certificate of Excellence in Parenting, and a special Trophy, (2) a Cash Award of INR 15,000/- each, (3) a special gift hamper, and (4) a Special Lifetime Pass entitling them to a host of free support services for them and their children from Sri Arunodayam Charitable Trust.

Each finalist’s inspiring story has been captured on film, which will be screened at the event that attracts and audience of over 800 including eminent personalities from across disability and other sectors. Through these awards, Sri Arunodayam aims to share inspiring family life experiences that could fuel hope in the hearts of thousands of families of special children across our country, encouraging them in their journey towards a more inclusive society. For more information on the upcoming event, click here.