Ability Forum

srividyaa · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:09 am Post subject: Wheeled warrior

The wheelchair doesn't confine Sminu Jindal's spirit from working towards finding work for the the differently-abled, like herself

35-year-old Sminu Jindal thinks no movement must be restricted to that. She is busy juggling office work and
And thus she spoke: Sminu Jindal has moved many with her determination

household chores on a wheelchair, but there's always room for more. Paralysed waist downwards, Sminu does not believe on sitting on her laurels. She is the founder of Svayam -- an initiative that has been working towards providing independence and dignity to people with reduced mobility. Svayam has been engaged in making various public places accessible to all, especially the elderly and the disabled.

She is also the chairperson of 'Arunim' (Association for Rehabilitation under National Trust Initiative in Marketing) and Managing Director of Jindal SAW, apart being a mother of two. We could finds out how this Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2009, who was recognised by the World Economic Forum as an under-40 leader, manages it all.

How did you muster the courage to start your own cause?
I was confined, but I never allowed my spirit to be chained. On the contrary, it  added wheels to my determination. I wanted to take life head on, not only for myself, but for the millions of others who needed support. That's the reason why Svayam was conceptualised. The results are already showing. I feel that the government is now far more sensitive about introducing disabled-friendly outfits in sectors that affect the day-to-day lives of people.

How did you decide to be a part of Arunim, and what is its role?
National Trust discussed the launch of a first-of-its-kind Marketing Board for the disabled 'ARUNIM' (Association for Rehabilitation under National Trust Initiative in Marketing) with us, and invited me to be the chairperson. I was highly obliged. Arunim was launched to act as a step towards economic empowerment of persons with severe to profound disabilities, who have limited opportunities for open placement. We them in securing livelihood and capacity building through production of goods that are market-driven, making them competitive and market compatible.

And your third role, that of an MD.
Things started changing once I joined a part-time MBA programme at the Fore School of Management. I chose to do a part-time programme, because by this time I was in-charge of a unit that was not doing too well. So, I really had to give it my best there and in the evening I would go and study.  While I was ascending the ladder in business, I also had to face skepticism. In a Marwari society, you really do not find women at work. People think that women just can't do it when it comes to industrial work.
What does your typical day look like? One hour of yoga and cardio exercises, lots of work in office, digging information on 'crystal therapy' and giving constant feedback to different organisations who approach me, besides being involved in Svayam's and Arunim's activities as well.

Did you find enough support?
My parents have been really supportive since my childhood. I am so glad that they were tough when they needed to be tough. Of course, they were kind and loving, too. I really appreciate their faith in me. My family is full of selfless people, who have helped me to understand myself.
I have not had a problem in accepting my condition, and neither has my husband. I am a mother of two, (Arjan and Anav) aged six and three, and divide time between work and children along with Svayam. I expect my kids to become more sensitive and actually take forward my work at Svayam.

How can the common man make a difference in such a cause?
I believe that growth is possible when you include everybody. Hence, everyone whether able-bodied or mobility challenged, should be treated with dignity and given equal opportunities.
It's a matter of developing the right attitude, and believe me, it ain't rocket science!

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2010/mar/150310-FYI-Sminu-Jindal-wheelchair-Paralysed-Svayam.htm

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Kr_iyer · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject:

Ronald Lawrence Kovic (born July 4, 1946) is an anti-war activist, veteran and writer who was paralyzed in the Vietnam War. He is best known as the author of the memoir Born on the Fourth of July, which was made into an Academy Award–winning movie directed by Oliver Stone, with Tom Cruise playing Kovic. Kovic received the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay on January 20, 1990, exactly 22 years to the day that he was shot and paralyzed in the Vietnam War. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (Kovic and Stone co-wrote the screenplay for Born on the Fourth of July). Bruce Springsteen wrote the song "Shut Out The Light" after reading Kovic's memoir and then meeting him. Tom Paxton, the folk singer/political activist, wrote the song "Born on the Fourth of July", which is on his "New Songs from the Briarpatch" album. Academy Award winning actress Jane Fonda has stated that Ron Kovic's story was the inspiration for her film Coming Home.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Kovic

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 7:14 am Post subject:

Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911), Hungarian-born editor and publisher, was instrumental in developing yellow journalism in the United States.
Joseph Pulitzer's father was a well-to-do grain dealer. Joseph was born in Budapest in April 1847. Thin, weak-lunged, and with faulty vision, he was unable to have an army career in Europe. In 1864 he emigrated to America, enlisted in the Union cavalry, and became a mediocre soldier. The 6-foot 2-inch red-bearded youth was among the jobless at the end of the Civil War. In St. Louis, where a large German colony existed, Pulitzer worked as mule tender, waiter, roustabout, and hack driver. Finally, he gained a reporter's job on Carl Schurz's Westliche Post.
In the 1880s Pulitzer's eyes began to fail. He went blind in 1889. During his battle for supremacy with William Randolph Hearst, publisher of the New York Journal, Pulitzer had to rely on a battery of secretaries to be his eyes. In New York he pledged the World to "expose all fraud and sham, fight all public evils and abuses" and to "battle for the people with earnest sincerity." He concentrated on lively human-interest stories, scandal, and sensational material. Pulitzer's World was a strong supporter of the common man. It was anti-monopoly and frequently pro-union during strikes.

Pulitzer died aboard his yacht in the harbor at Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 29, 1911. In his will he provided $2 million for the establishment of a school of journalism at Columbia University. Also, by the terms of his will, the prizes bearing his name were established in 1915.

Source: http://www.bookrags.com/biography/joseph-pulitzer/

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 11:08 am Post subject:

Sidney Bradford (May 30, 1906 – August 2, 1960) went blind at 10 months of age but regained sight on both eyes after a cornea transplant at the age of 52. He was the subject of many scientific studies of perception by neuropsychologist Richard Gregory.[1]

His operation was able to reveal idiosyncrasies of the human visual system. For example, not having grown up with vision, Bradford did not perceive the ambiguity of the Necker cube. Nor was he able to interpret the perspective of two-dimensional art.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Bradford

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 9:28 am Post subject:

Joni Eareckson Tada is an evangelical Christian author, radio host, and founder of Joni and Friends, an organization "accelerating Christian ministry in the disability community."

A diving accident in 1967 left Tada hospitalized and paralyzed (as a quadriplegic; unable to use her hands or legs.)[1] After two years of rehabilitation and in a wheelchair, Tada began working to help others in similar situations.

Tada wrote of her experiences in her international best-selling autobiography, Joni, which has been distributed in many languages, and which was made into a feature film of the same name.

Tada founded Joni and Friends (JAF) in 1979, an organization for Christian ministry in the disability community throughout the world. The organization grew into the establishment in 2006 of the Joni and Friends International Disability Center (IDC).

Led by Tada and President and COO Doug Mazza, the Joni and Friends International Disability Center has four flagship programs. "Joni and Friends," a daily five minute radio program, is heard over 1000 broadcast outlets. In 2002 it received the “Radio Program of the Year” award from National Religious Broadcasters. The organization offers family retreats. Wheels for the World collects wheelchairs, which are refurbished by prison inmates and donated to developing nations where, whenever possible, physical therapists fit each chair to a needy disabled child or adult.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Eareckson_Tada

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 1:11 pm Post subject:

RJ Mitte is an American actor best known for his role as Walter White Jr. on the AMC television series, Breaking Bad.

In 2006, Mitte moved to Hollywood and began training with personal talent manager Addison Witt. Mitte has mild cerebral palsy. His manager states that it was Mitte's diligence and attitude that has helped him overcome challenges in all areas of his life.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RJ_Mitte
http://www.facebook.com/pages/RJ-Mitte/44826659507

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject:

Bonnie St. John (born November 7, 1964) is the first African-American ever to win medals in Winter Paralympic competition as a ski racer. In the 1984 Winter Paralympics in Innsbruck, Austria, Bonnie won a bronze medal in the slalom, a bronze medal in the giant slalom, and was awarded a silver medal for overall performance thereby earning her the distinction of being the second fastest woman in the world on one leg in that year.

At the 2002 Paralympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bonnie was asked to speak during opening ceremonies.[1]

Due to a condition called pre-femoral focal disorder, Bonnie had her right leg amputated above the knee when she was only 5 years old. Despite this challenge, she went on to excel as an athlete, a scholar, a mother, and a businesswoman. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University in 1986, Bonnie won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University where she earned her M.Litt. Degree in Economics in 1990. She worked in the White House during the Clinton administration as a Director for the National Economic Council, and is currently CEO of Courageous Spirit, Inc. Bonnie provides inspirational and motivational keynote speeches to dozens of business organizations annually, touching literally tens of thousands of lives each year with her messages of strength and courage.[2]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_St._John

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject:

Karen Ann Killilea (born August 18, 1940) is the subject of two bestselling books by her mother Marie Killilea, Karen and With Love from Karen. These books were groundbreaking by asserting that children with cerebral palsy could lead productive lives.

Karen Killilea was born three months prematurely at a time when such babies rarely survived. As a result of her prematurity, she developed cerebral palsy. After she was diagnosed, Karen's parents decided to raise her at home, contrary to the advice of doctors to commit her to an asylum and forget her.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Killilea

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 6:57 pm Post subject:

Douglas Tilden (May 1, 1861 to August 5, 1935) was a world-famous deaf sculptor who went to the California School for the Deaf in Berkeley, California (now in Fremont, California). Tilden became deaf after a severe bout of scarlet fever. After graduating from the CA School for the Deaf, he went on to attend UC Berkeley, but then left to study art in Paris. Once in Paris, Tilden studied under Paul Chopin, another deaf sculptor. He made many statues that sit in San Francisco, Berkeley, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Tilden

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:18 am Post subject:

Sabriye Tenberken (born 1970) is a German socialworker and co-founder of the organisation Braille Without Borders.

Sabriye was born near Bonn, Germany, and she became gradually visually impaired and completely blind by the age of thirteen due to retinal disease. She studied Central Asian Studies at Bonn University. In addition to Mongolian and modern Chinese, she studied modern and classical Tibetan in combination with Sociology and Philosophy.

As no blind student had ever before ventured to enroll in this kind of studies, she could not fall back on the experience of previous students,so she developed her own methods of studying her course of studying. It was thus that a Tibetan Braille script for the blind was developed in 1992, which became the official script for the blind in Tibet.

This script combines the principles of the Braille system with the special features of the Tibetan syllable-based script. This script for the blind was submitted for close examination to an eminent Tibetan scholar, who found it to be readily understandable, simple, and easy to learn. As Tibetans at the time had no script for the blind, he suggested to Sabriye that she let blind Tibetans make use of it.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabriye_Tenberken

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 6:38 pm Post subject:

On his tombstone in Arlington National Cemetery, William O. Douglas is identified correctly as a former justice of the United States Supreme Court, and incorrectly as a former member of the United States armed forces. The error is significant, not only because Arlington National Cemetery reserves its plots for distinguished veterans but because Douglas himself was willfully responsible for the mistake. For 10 weeks at the end of World War I, the 20-year-old Douglas served in the Whitman College regiment of the Students' Army Training Corps in Walla Walla, Wash., where he and his fellow trainees conducted unarmed predawn marches in their street clothes against imaginary enemies. He later described his wartime experience as a three-month stint in Europe as an Army Private, and recorded some of the putative details in an autobiography as well as a Supreme Court opinion.

How did a prominent public figure manage to lie about such a central fact of his biography? Probably the same way he lied about everything else: flagrantly, easily and in the service of his own rags-to-riches legend. In ''Of Men and Mountains,'' a personalized travel guide to his native state of Washington, Douglas recalled his triumphant bout with polio at the age of 2, though in fact he had suffered from an intestinal colic. He frequently lied about his years as a student at Columbia Law School, falsely boasting, for example, that he had graduated second in his class. In his 1974 autobiography, ''Go East, Young Man,'' he repeated many of these outright lies, introduced new ones and liberally embellished other key details of his life story. His widowed mother, for instance, was not destitute, but middle-class -- though it's true she was miserly and secretive about her money

Source: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wdouglas.htm

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject:

Annette Joanne Funicello (born October 22, 1942) is an American singer and actress. She was Walt Disney's most popular cast member of TFunicello announced in 1992 that she suffers from multiple sclerosis.[7] She had kept her condition a secret for many years, but felt it necessary to go public to combat rumors that her impaired ability to walk was the result of alcoholism. That same year, she was inducted as a Disney Legend.[8] In 1993, she opened the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders at the California Community Foundationhe Mickey Mouse Club,[1] and went on to appear in a series of beach party films.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annette_Funicello

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:37 pm Post subject:

Herbert Marshall (23 May 1890 – 22 January 1966), born Herbert Brough Falcon Marshall, was an English actor.

His parents were Percy F. Marshall and Ethel May Turner. He graduated from St. Mary's College (later known as Harlow College, until c1964) in Old Harlow, Essex and worked for a time as an accounting clerk. Marshall overcame the loss of a leg in World War I, where he served in the London Scottish Regiment with fellow actors Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, and Claude Rains,[1] to enjoy a long career.

His stage debut took place in 1911, and he entered motion pictures with Mumsie (1927). Initially he played romantic leads and later character roles. The suave actor spent many years playing romantic leads opposite such stars as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich and Bette Davis, and starring in such classics as Trouble in Paradise (1932), The Little Foxes (1941), and The Razor's Edge (1946). He was featured in both the 1929 and the more famous 1940 version of The Letter, first as the murdered lover, then the wronged husband.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Marshall

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject:

Brett Smrz began his racing career at the age of thirteen and quickly found his way to the front of the pack. In the three years spent racing karts, Brett won nine championship titles, and in 2006, was awarded the Ekarting News “Young Driver of the Year” award.

In 2007, Brett began racing in the SCCA San Francisco Region Formula Ford 1600 series, winning his first race at Infineon raceway. Just two weeks later, Brett entered the opening round of the SCCA Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup sports car series, held at the Houston Grand Prix. Brett put it on pole, and then followed it up with a third place finish in the main event.

The following weekend would change Brett’s life forever, as an off track accident resulted in the amputation of his left leg below the knee. After ten surgeries and months of physical therapy, Brett returned to racing with the hopes that his accident would not effect his driving.

Brett’s first race back was at the SCCA San Francisco Region Formula Ford 1600 series Triple Header round, held at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Raceway. Brett put it on pole for all three races and followed it up with three wins. Brett finished the season with another victory in the F1600 class at Mazda Raceway, and set a new course record in the process.

For his accomplishments and determination, Brett was awarded the 2007 SCCA “Regional Driver of the Year” award.

Source: http://www.brettsmrz.com/about/

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Kr_iyer · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:50 am Post subject:

Bernard Morin is a French mathematician, specifically a topologist, born in 1931, who is now retired. He has been blind since age 6 due to glaucoma, but his blindness did not prevent him from having a successful career in mathematics.

Morin was a member of the group that first exhibited an eversion of the sphere, i.e. a homotopy (topological metamorphosis) which starts with a sphere and ends with the same sphere but turned inside-out. (See Smale's paradox.) He also discovered the Morin surface, which is a half-way model for the sphere eversion, and used it to prove a lower bound on the number of steps needed to turn a sphere inside out.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Morin

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE