Neeraj lives in a neighbourhood called Panditwari, just a short distance from our centre. He has Cerebral Palsy and difficulty walking and speaking. One day, Satya Pal, at that time the gate keeper at Karuna Vihar school and also a resident of Panditwari, happened to see him fall down in the market. He rushed over to help him up and after dusting him off and comforting him, he said to his mother: “You should bring him to Karuna Vihar. We can help children like him.”

A few days later, his mom turned up with him and his younger sister. Neeraj was 11 and had only had one experience in a mainstream school – an experience which had been so traumatic he was terrified at the thought of even stepping through the door. The first day he was to attend, he cried so hysterically we finally sent him home, asking his mother to bring him back the next day along with his younger sister, Rakhi, for company until he adjusted to the new environment.

The next day he came with his sister, but stood by the gate the whole day, whimpering piteously whenever anyone tried to involve him in an activity. Rakhi stayed with him for most of the time but every now and then she would nip off to join in a game or a singing session. Each time she returned she would tell him what she had done with excitement and pleasure. Neeraj got more and more curious, but still refused to budge from his point of safety at the gate.

By the third day, Rakhi had given up all pretence of taking care of Neeraj and joined happily in all the different classes – story time, play dough, blowing bubbles, counting and sorting beads.

On day four, Neeraj decided he was ready. He walked into his class and has never looked back since. He is a wonderful person with the most amazing can-do attitude in the world. No matter how difficult the task, he is prepared to give it a try. Ten years later, he is ready to graduate from the CVT and will soon be starting his new job as an assistant at the Doon Hospital Help Desk.