Banker Gita Mirji narrates how enrolling son Chinmay, afflicted with Down's Syndrome, in a badminton class, changed his world By Lekha Menon GAME SET: Chinmay Mirji with mom Gita, playing his favourite sport at the Balkan-ji-Bari court in Santa cruz pics: Rana chakraborty Raising a mentally disabled child is a huge challenge for any parent. But Gita Mirji, whose son Chinmay has Down's Syndrome, listened to her instincts and got him involved in sports. Recently when Chinmay, 14, shone at a badminton tournament for the disabled, it was a special moment for the Mirji family. Likewise, several mentally challenged people are veering towards sports, which, experts say, boosts their abilities. Events like the Special Olympics are proof of what these kids are capable of. Gita narrates how badminton helped her son realise his hidden potential. "Half an hour after Chinmay's birth, doctors informed that he had Down's Syndrome. We were numb; Chinmay was our second child, born nine years after the birth of our daughter. As months passed, the enormity sunk in. Our son's developmental milestones - walking, talking and motor skills - were delayed compared to others. But I decided not to get bogged down, and took it up as a challenge instead. Bringing Chinmay up Despite consultation with experts, I mostly went by my own instincts and observations. Chinmay would respond to music. Similarly, he loved building blocks. I decided to work with him accordingly - identify the stimulus that he responded to the best and get him interested in that activity. He would never be able to perform academically, so why not engage him in physical activities and see where it took him, I thought? At six, I enrolled him in a special school but taught him at home too. Chinmay's tryst with badminton began when he observed children in our society playing the game. Gradually, he began toying with a racket and playing with our house-help. The way he held the racket and his excitement indicated he had a natural inclination towards it. I decided to explore this spark. I sought coaches who were willing to train him. The first time Chinmay stepped into a badminton court, he was flustered seeing the court, lines and players. It took around 10 days to just get him familiarised with the place. Training process It was very frustrating, but I continued to take him to the court until he got used to it. His coaches, R V Pai and later, Kiran Gehare, played a huge role. They were extremely patient and kept his motivation level going. Getting him used to the warm-up itself was difficult. But Kiran would demonstrate each exercise until Chinmay followed it. Gradually his body became more supple and he moved to the next level. He was slowly trained to hold the racket well and make contact with the shuttlecock. He was also familiarised with the terms of the game. Chinmay first learnt by observing other players. The coaches made him play with 'normal' children to improve his agility. By and by, he became adept at the game. Meanwhile, seeing his interest in sports, I trained him in cycling. It took me three years just to get him to balance on a cycle. Today his cycle is his most favourite possession and he rides it every day after the badminton session. Visible changes Chinmay's efforts with the racket for the past five years paid off when he recently played at the state level Special Olympics Bharat tournament (a national programme for development of sports for the mentally disabled). He won two matches and lost two by a whisker. Earlier he played very well at the district level. Now he is trying for the national level. More than winning or losing, sporting activities have done him a world of good. Chinmay's very enthusiastic and never misses a session. His concentration levels have increased, so has his interest in studies. His maths, alphabet-knowledge, crafts and motor skills have improved too. It's most visible in his painting; he can colour well within the outlines of figures given. Also his speech has become more coherent than before. Therapy has of course, been useful, but it's sports that has made him independent. I feel parents of mentally challenged children shouldn't get disheartened. Never shy from taking them to social situations. If you train them, they can be extremely independent. Most importantly, identify an area of interest and get them completely engaged in it. It makes a world of difference to their lives, and yours. WHY SPORTS FOR DOWN'S SYNDROME Often individuals with Down's syndrome, a chromosomal disorder, may have some or all of the following characteristics: abnormally small chin, slanted eyes, poor muscle tone, a flat nasal bridge, a protruding tongue, a short neck etc. They tend to have lower than average cognitive ability, ranging from mild to moderate developmental disabilities, and poor language skills. Physical, occupational, and speech therapists can accelerate development of such kids. Says Krishna Bhavsar, special educator at Dilkhush Special School, Juhu, "Since these children have weak muscle tone, sports activities can help improve concentration and make them mobile. They then follow instructions better. Moreover, they learn how to play in a group, and follow commands. Lastly, the child becomes more confident with constant appreciation; his/her self-esteem increases. Outdoor games also helps them face the outer world making them more social." Source: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/9/20090822200908220426433129c8d7012/ A-Shot-of-hope-.html
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