Meet Ram Vijay
Empowered with Independence and Confidence
Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects a person's movements, muscle tone, and coordination. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age, Ram couldn’t move because of the tightness in both his hands and feet. Unable to complete basic tasks, he was completely dependent on his family. He spent most of his time in his home, a 10 foot by 10 foot room in the Dharavi slums of India, which he shared with his parents and twin brother. Raising and caring for a child with cerebral palsy is not easy for any parent, but it is a far greater challenge for people that are part of a disadvantaged community. While his mother took care of the family, his father would sell vegetables on the street, but as the sole breadwinner of the family, he often struggled to make ends meet.
CORP identified Ram during a community visit and enrolled him in the CORP programme for differently-abled children. Ram underwent an operation to reduce the tightness of his muscles and his situation immediately improved. With more mobility in his hands, he became more independent, more lively, more curious and more cheerful. He started to try new things, and discovered new hobbies that he enjoys tremendously, such as using a computer.
“Ram even dared to participate in a 1.5 km wheelchair marathon in January 2019. He completed the race in first place, showing the world that with the right support, anything is possible.”
CORP then also assisted Ram to apply for ADAPT, a National Resource Centre for Inclusion, where he is now enrolled in an three-year education programme. This is the very first time in his life that he is attending school. His parents have expressed their joy and immense gratitude for the support CORP has give Ram and his family, which has changed all of their lives forever.