Samuel's Story

Samuel is a bright 5 year old with sparkling eyes and a dazzling smile. He is studying in kindergarten and enjoys learning. Samuel has cerebral palsy and due to his physical disorder, he spends most of his day seated in a chair, is unable to speak clearly or hold a pen. Fortunately, he is in a school which understands his special needs and is willing to make the necessary adjustments to help Sam learn together with his peers. School visits are made by the Sethu team to assess Samuel's performance, talk to his teachers, discuss the class curriculum and devise a program which suits him best. For example, since he is unable to write, while the rest of the class is writing the missing numbers on the number line, Sam chooses the correct number cards and pastes them on his book. He loves music and is often given the opportunity to choose the song and lead the class in singing. A teacher's assistant helps him during yoga class so that he can participate with the rest and experience a true sense of belonging.

Empowerment and participation - these are words that have become a reality in Samuel's life, thanks to a school which believes that all children have a right to learn together.