Devanshi’s story… and our story too, shared with deep humility and immense gratitude. When Devanshi was diagnosed to have Down Syndrome, on birth in Nov 1993, our reaction was of non-comprehension – as she looked very pretty. There was lot of fear mixed in with love and joy of being a new mom. We consulted doctors, sought guidance from early intervention centers and gathered information we could from books, internet (later) and senior parents of DS children in India and abroad. And we realized that best way forward was to groom her like a typical child – with love, being vigilant and punishing when necessary, avoiding undue protection.
We put her in regular play group and then kindergarten, focusing on her sketching, colouring and writing skills and also social skills, amply supported by our joint family.
These children have difficulty getting admitted to regular schools due to lack of information among teachers about their condition and special needs. After exploring about forty-odd schools, Hindu Dnyanpeeth Convent welcomed her with open arms. Concept of ‘Inclusion’ was unheard of then.
We had a herculean task ahead of us – her intellectual development, peer acceptance, protection against emotional setbacks and more. Exams were a major hurdle, and hours of rote learning as an option, reinforced by frequent rewards ranging from a star on her palm to chocolates, ice cream etc. Happily, all her teachers, support staff and teachers accepted her as one among them, gradually. She took active part in many activities, including sports.
Next challenge was rather delicate – of her transition into womanhood – physical, emotional and social, and all the related issues. But Devanshi responsed rather well to every new situation, and did it this time too.
Devanshi with her fighting spirit had developed her own ways of coping up and learning. Happy moment was she was declared ‘Best Student of the Year’, for her overall progress and the efforts she was taking in the school.
We put her in National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) after Std. VIII, since the subjects like Maths and Science were becoming increasingly difficult for her to comprehend. It allows them to choose any five subjects from a pool of about fifteen, studying through guided teaching or home learning.
So when all her schoolmates appeared for state-level Std. IX exam, Devanshi cleared three subjects of Std. X Board exam of NIOS and remaining two in the next attempt just when her peers passed their S.S.C. Two years later, she cleared her Std. XII exam in a similar fashion.
We felt that instead of putting her in traditional vocational courses, being run for children with Special Needs in India, it would be better if she is engaged in some joyful activity where she can work and also learn new skills, which would be helpful in the practical world.
Devanshi volunteered for NGOs during various craft exhibitions and Melas. Soon, the opportunity of working at Gram Bharat presented itself, as a full time job. We were not sure if Devanshi would adjust to such a new and demanding environment, but decided to give it a try, monitoring her safety and other issues. We established a rapport with everyone in her office .
She worked for 5.5 years and was darling of customers who have so many good things to say about her abilities. She got a salary raise and bonus, regularly. Working independently encouraged her to face new challenges and think of solutions to various situations. It has given her a unique sense of identity, confidence and her self-esteem has gone up manifold. The manager of the store always said that Devanshi was a Responsible, Reliable and Respectable employee of Gram Bharat. Devanshi has earned these Competences herself !!
She was invited to deliver the keynote address at the World Down Syndrome Congress held at Chennai, in Aug. ‘15. JetWings, inflight magazine of Jet Airways covered her story in their July ’15 issue. Myself and my husband reach out to various professionals, doctors, parents and various sections of society to spread awareness about various issues of persons with disabilities in general and those of intellectual and developmental disabilities in particular.
Devanshi received National Award in ‘Best Employee – Female’ category by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India at the hands of Hon’ble President of India at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 3 rd December 2016, on the occasion of International Day for Persons with Disability.
She also delivered a talk during the third National Convention of SAFI (Self Advocates Forum of India) at Bangalore in Dec. 2016. She was felicitated by the Governor of Karnataka during the convention.
Devanshi gave a presentation at first India International Conference in New Delhi in September 2017 and she was given the best Self Advocate Award by the Down Syndrome Federation of India. In December 2017 Devanshi received the NCPEDP- Mindtree Helen Keller Award. Devanshi was honoured as Best Employee Award of Delhi Government in 2018.
Devanshi and her mother Rashmi were invited to Melbourne for World Premiere of Raising The Bar – a Documentary covering Devanshi’s journey alongwith other families from India and Australia. Australian High Commission hosted it’s Premiere in Delhi and Mumbai.
Devanshi and her mother Rashmi were invited to Melbourne for World Premiere of Raising The Bar – a Documentary covering Devanshi’s journey alongwith other families from India and Australia. Australian High Commission hosted it’s Premiere in Delhi and Mumbai.
Devanshi was chosen as icon by Election Commission of India, in their campaign of Inclusive and Accessible elections 2019. Videos were played many times on TV channels and movie halls in most regional languages in all the states of India. This has resulted in changing the mindsets about the rights of persons with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities at a very large scale.
After a successful stint of nearly five and a half years at Gram Bharat, Devanshi has joined Future Group at Big Bazaar as their regular employee from 1 st April 2019. She is their first employee with intellectual and developmental condition. This is first of its kind and opens up multiple opportunities of Inclusion of persons with neuro-diverse conditions in formal employment. Devanshi is a trend-setter in many ways and this move paves way for their secure future by changing the Mindset of millions. She completed six months of probation period on 29th September 2019 and has got the confirmation letter from future group !!
The high point was when she was invited to speak at UN Geneva as a Self Advocate in March ‘20. All the travel plan done, Visa issued but the program got postponed due to Covid Pandemic. After the Lockdown, Devanshi enjoys going to her work, twice a week now due to partial reopening. She has learnt to take due precautions and follow Social Distancing norms and take care of herself.
And the journey continues… She likes dance and music. She also likes to watch Hindi Movies. She keeps her room neat and clean. She also loves to wear makeup and dress well, enjoys eating out in restaurants, and takes pleasure in making tea and enjoys occasionally cooking at home.
Devanshi is a bundle of joy, ready to explore the world and spread awareness about the magic of pure love and unconditional acceptance to the society as well as new generation of parents in India and across the world. And the future is pregnant with possibilities, limited not so much by her capabilities, but by our awareness of the new horizons opening up for her, as she spreads pure love and goodness wherever she goes…..
