Auburn Smith

This post is adapted from the news at Easter Seals site. I like to read and write about the people who have  some disabilities but they accepted their challenges and have become successful in their life.

Auburn playing tennis

Auburn Smith

High school sophomore Auburn Smith is a nationally ranked tennis player and aspiring musician who enjoys riding her adapted bicycle and loves to travel. She doesn't let a disability get in her way.

There was a time when her doctors couldn't imagine Auburn doing even half of what she does today. Born with spina bifida and clubfoot, she was just a day old when she had her first surgery. Her parents were told that she would likely never walk – something no one in the Smith family accepted.

At seven months, Linda and Jim Smith enrolled Auburn at Easter Seals for inclusive childcare and therapy. With both parents working full time, Easter Seals was the one place where Auburn could have her physical therapy during the day at childcare. Linda, a respiratory therapist, says she recognized immediately that they were in the hands of top-notch professionals. “There was such a calmness about them,” she says. “As a new parent of a child with special needs, it was wonderful to have that steady guidance. We knew we had come to the right place.” At 18 months, Auburn had surgery to realign her feet and the Smiths were amazed by the optimism of Easter Seals’ early intervention team. “They told us they would have Auburn walking by age 2,” says Linda, “and they did. I can’t describe in words what that was like. After that,” she says, “everything else seemed much more attainable.”

Auburn transitioned from Easter Seals childcare to her local school when she was three. But as she’s grown and faced new mobility challenges, Easter Seals has been there to improve her gait and balance or get her fitted for new leg braces.

These days, Auburn is on the honor roll and busy at school. Her teachers say she projects a calm confidence and that she is wise beyond her years. Her ceramics teacher says she’s a rock star and “a one of a kind kid.”

Now, when she comes to Easter Seals, it’s for fun. Tennis Everyone, a partnership between Easter Seals and the United States Tennis Association (USTA), introduces kids with mobility challenges to tennis. Auburn’s coach Nancy Olson is a two-time Paralympic silver medalist in wheelchair tennis. Auburn works with her longtime physical therapist at Easter Seals to strengthen her back and side muscles so she can better maneuver her sports wheelchair on the court. A natural at the game, Auburn says the rewards of tennis go way beyond winning: “I love the competition and meeting new people and how it keeps me healthy.”

Her dad, Jim Smith, is a trauma nurse who works nights so he can be home during the day for Auburn and her sister, Kellie, 13. Auburn also has an older sister — Ashley, 22. Her companion dog, Alpine, makes the family complete. At home, Auburn has chores, homework, and other responsibilities, like any teen. “This is our normal,” Jim says, noting that it was at Easter Seals the family learned to take things in stride. “Easter Seals has been a godsend to us.”

Adapted from Easter Seals

Ishaqzaade (2012)

Recently, I watched a hindi movie "Ishaqzaade" released in 2012. The movie was good and it also worked very well on box office. It was a love story, but a little bit different. Both actors, Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra acted very nice. Arjun Kapoor is son of Boney Kapoor. I didn't know this when I was watching the movie. At first, when movie started, I didn't like the boy. But after watching movie, I was impressed by him. His expressions were so good according to his role. Parineeti Chopra also worked very nicely. I liked her role too.

In the movie, I liked that there were emotional scenes, but there was very less emotional drama (crying scenes). The way, how boy tricks the girl. And also how the girl comes to boy's house to kill him without any fear. Both characters were so strong. They were like fighters who can do anything for each other. I also like their attitude towards life. 

But there were few things which I don't like. Too much use of gun and firing on every little thing. I also didn't like the end part of the movie - death of both lovers. I really feel bad about it. But, I know that it happens in reality. But, overall the movie was good.

i am intelligent

I recently read a book "i am intelligent" written by Peyton Goddard and Dianne Goddard. "This is the story of a child who, although unable to express herself, lives fully aware of her limiting circumstances."

Peyton was having multiple disorders and also non-verbal. Her mother Dianne did everything, what she could do to help her daughter. She went to several doctors to treat her physical symptoms and behaviors. She made every effort to make her daughter learn new skills, to attend school, not to institutionalize her and also to make new friends.

As Peyton was unable to express, Dianne had to guess everything about her daughter. She herself didn't know, what are her daughter's thoughts. She wasn't aware, what Peyton suffered in her absence and she was abused by her own relatives who were supposed to babysit her.

As Dianne was eager to do anything to help Peyton, she heard about Facilitated Communication (FC) when Peyton was 22 years old. Through FC, Peyton started to type with the support of facilitator. On that day, whole life was changed for her and her family. She was able to communicate now. She told everything to her mother, what are her feelings, likes, dislikes, desires, expectations etc. and also she told about what she suffered in her earlier life.

With the new technology of FC, she was able to study in the college and also passed the exams. She was able to make new friends, to meet people, to teach other children and was involved in various activities. She is now writer, poet, advocate for inclusion and also she has her own website http://peytongoddard.com/. Her wisdom is now sought by eductaors, parents, doctors and community groups. 

I like her saying "mute in speaking is not necessarily sign of mute in ideas".

Barefoot College

In November 2012, I watched a TV show on PBS - "The Making of Solar Mamas". I was so impressed to see that a school in India organized courses for the rural people from the whole world and taught them solar technology to get jobs & earn money. It was really exciting and amazing for me. Now, I feel more proud to be an Indian. But when I did research about it, I was shocked to know that this was only one part of its work. The school's name is "Barefoot College" located at Tilonia district in Rajasthan and is working in various rural areas since 40 years.

The school "Barefoot College" is a non-government organisation, whose mission is to improve the quality of life of the rural poor people, and make them self-sufficient and sustainable. These 'barefoot solutions' can be broadly categorized into the delivery of Solar Electrification, Clean Water, Education, Livelihood Development, and Activism. With a geographic focus on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), it believes strongly in Empowering Women as agents of sustainable change.

In late 1960s, a small group of determined Indian people felt that there is need of alternative ways of living, thinking and looking for solutions for problems facing by rural communities. They had no long term plan. They just started to teach the rural people to make them their life better. They start this with few rural parts of the country.

With little resources, they educate urban people and then they come together with a big idea. They started a college 'Barefoot College' in 1972. The name emphasizes the organisation's commitment to poor, neglected and marginalized sections of society. Barefoot college started working in the village of Tilonia in Rajasthan, with a population of about 2000 people on 45 acres of Government land.

Bunker Roy is one of the founders and now Director of Barefoot College. He was a cartographer, typist and social activist.

Members of the college were geologists, economists, doctors, medical and social workers, chartered accountants, graduates and post graduates from universities who were out to serve in the villages. They focused their efforts on trying to find out the needs and priorities of village communities to improve their standard of living and quality of life.

The college has adopted the Gandhian ideas into its lifestyle and work ethics, holding it true and relevant universally even in the 21st century. Gandhi's central belief was that the knowledge, skills and wisdom found in villages should be used for its development before getting skills from outside. 

Gandhi believed that sophisticated technology should be used in rural India, but it should be in the hands and in control of the poor communities so that they are not dependent or exploited.

Gandhi once said that there is a difference between Literacy and Education. He believed in the equality of women.

The Barefoot College and the individuals who work with it have established a code of conduct for our organization. They believe that they must -

• Live and work in close proximity with the rural community,
• Create a space for creative and constructive personal growth - not discriminating against caste, religion or political thinking,
• Ensure gender equality within the organization,
• Have an intrinsic belief in the democratic political process and not follow partisan political agendas or include partisan politicians on the board,
• Judge the worth of people by their willingness and ability to learn - not by their paper qualifications,
• Believe in the law of the land and have a commitment towards social justice through non-violent means,
• Have respect for collective, traditional knowledge, beliefs, wisdom and practices of the community,
• Be committed to the preservation of natural resources and not endorse processes that destroy, exploit or abuse natural resources,
• Use appropriate technologies that sustain the community and not encourage technologies that deprive people of their livelihoods,
• Set a personal example in adhering to the code of conduct.

I wanted to write a big article on this topic as there is so much I wanted to tell to my friends. You can know more about Barefoot College by visiting it's official site "Barefoot College". Here are some pictures showing great works of Barefoot College -

Welcome in the Barefoot College

HAND SHAKE:-2010-Prince Charles with JOKHIM CHACHA (main puppet of Barefoot College)

These toys made by Tilonia artisans.

Beautiful collection of bags made by Barefoot Artisans. These are all designed and manufactured at the Barefoot campus. The rural artisans produce not only bags but also clothing and accessories, decorative home furnishings, furniture, rugs, textiles, handmade paper products, puppets, educational toys, metalwork, and leather goods. The crafts are sold through retail shops and exhibitions held in metropolitan cities of India, Europe, USA and Canada.

Meet the Barefoot Puppet Family :) The Communication Team is expert in making puppet replicas of barefoot staff.

The Shiksha Niketan, the day school of barefoot college.

Disrupting Poverty : How Barefoot College is empowering women through peer-to-peer learning and technology

The women of India's Barefoot College bring light to remote village

The women bringing solar power to Sierra Leone

Women Barefoot solar engineers a community solution

Barefoot College has been named one of the Top 100 NGOs in the world by The Global Journal in the 2013 

5 Good Books on Parenting

Having 2 kids - 6 and 3 yrs old boys, everyday is a challenge for us. As they are growing up, their behaviors change, their preferences change, they are learning and grasping so fast by observing only, they need more attention, discipline, activities to keep them engaged. They need friends to play and also need to learn how behave socially. There are so many things to raise them and give a better life.

Growing up phase is learning phase for both - parents and kids. There are lots of information in form of books, magazines, sites and blogs on parenting. I have found these 5 parenting books very good (my personal views) -

• Awakening Children's Minds: How Parents and Teachers Can Make a Difference by Laura E. Berk

• Discipline Without Shouting or Spanking by Jerry Wyckoff & Barabara Unell

• Secret of Play by Anny Murphy

• The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting by Laurence Steinberg

• Parenting For Dummies by Sandra Hardin Gookin

Oh My God (2012)

Today, I watched a movie Oh My God (2012 film) and I liked the movie very much. Every one acted very well in the movie and I liked the role of Kanjibhai Lalji Mehta (Kanji Bhai) played by Paresh Rawal. Paresh Rawal is a great actor. Mithun Chakraborty has played a very different role and he was also good. Akshay Kumar was in the role of modern Krishna and he also performed very well. The story and subject of the story were also impressive.

I like theme based movies. This movie was message to all the people in this world, that how today most of the people make use of the religion and have made it their businesses. The people are very superstitious and easily misguided by godmen (priests, pandits and maulvis). These god-men have made business in name of religion. They themselves are not spiritual and having any knowledge of religion, they don't know the meaning and purpose of the rituals. They just have made use of religion to earn money.

It's true that the people like to give money and other things to the temples, churches and masjids, but not to needy people. They are god fearing people, not god loving people. The God is everywhere. We should have faith in him. Whatever religion we follow, first we are the human beings. And we should respect every person in this world. Every religion teaches us to spread love everywhere.

Hindus advocate the practice of ahimsa (non-violence) and respect for all life because divinity is believed to permeate all beings, including plants and non-human animals. Jainism teaches us "ahimsa parmo dharmah" (Non-violence is main religion) and "Jiyo aur jeene do" (Live and let live). Islam also is a great supporter of peace and non-violence. It is proven in the article Ahimsa. All other religions also follow the same. Our great leaders like Mahatama Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Malcom X and Cesar Chavez were also the supporters of non-violence.

The drama was shown in the movie to question the existence of God and to attack on Godmen's selfishness. And the movie was based on a Gujarati play called Kanji Virudh (vs) Kanji, and with a plot similar to that of the Australian film The Man Who Sued God.

The Secret

Few months back, I was so much frustrated and was in depression. It seems that everything was out of my control and I was not able to handle anything. I was very much upset. I kept complaining about my life whenever I talk to others. Then one of my friends suggested me a book - "The Secret" written by Rhonda Byrne. That book changed my life.

I got the book from the library and read it. As I was reading the book page by page, my thinking was also changing. I started to see same things with different perception. My all negative thoughts automatically converted into positive thoughts. My whole attitude towards life was changed. I could feel changes in myself and I found that others also felt same in me.

I am not changed, I am the same person. I am following the same routine and am doing same things whatever I was used to do earlier. Still, I feel frustration and stress, still I have complaints against life and people around me. Still, I get some negative thoughts in my mind.

But, my thinking process is changed. Now, I am able to convert my negative thoughts into positive thoughts easily. Now, I can easily control my frustration and think ahead. Still, I have complaints, but now I am more able to express my feelings without any negative comments.

Still, sometimes I face problems. Still, I get frustrated. Still, I get upset. When again this situation occurs - I know, I need to read the book again. I bought the book, read the book again. After seeing my changed attitude, my husband also read it. He also liked the book. I also suggested the book to my family, friends and relatives. Really, "The Secret" is a great book. It's a must read book.

Here are few snippets from the book -

Two important sentences in the book - "Like attracts like." and "Thoughts become things." It means that most of events in your life depend on your thoughts. And I also find that very true. Really, the author has explained it very nicely that your life depends on your thoughts. Whatever you think continuously, you will attract it.

But there is no filter for want or don't want. So, if you will say - "I don't want to do this". You will get more of that. So, think mostly what you want and avoid any negation in your thoughts. It is explained very nicely that if you want to receive something from the universe, you have to ask for it and believe it that you will get it definitely. Think, ask, have faith, be positive and act like you have received it.

Here are few lines what I like them very much - "Action is a word that can imply 'work' to some people, but inspired action will not feel like work at all. The difference between inspired action and action is this: Inspired action is when you are acting to receive. If you are in action to try and make it happen, you have slipped backward. Inspired action is effortless, and it feels wonderful because you are on the frequency of receiving."

"Imagine life as a fast moving river. When you are acting to make something happen it will feel as if you are going against the current of the river. It will feel hard and like a struggle. When you are acting to receive from the Universe, you will feel as if you are flowing with the current of the river. It will feel effortless. That is the feeling of inspired action, and of being in the flow of the Universe and life."

"Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life. Be grateful for what you already have, and you will attract more good things."