A programme to launch free DVDs depicting the life of Jethro Daniel, a 19-year old youth affected by cerebral palsy and microcephaly, was held in Coimbatore on Friday.

According to the organizers, the documentary titled ‘The Power of Love and Commitment – The Jethro Daniel Story’ was directed by Pugal and produced in English, Tamil and Hindi. The documentary was produced with the objective to create awareness among public about the need and care of special children.

The programme was held to mark the memorial service of Jethro. S. Sundar Manokaran, Vice Chancellor of the Karunya University, handed over the first DVD of the documentary to the District Disabled Rehabilitation Office, Coimbatore, P. Chandrasekar and Rani Moses, Founder Trustee of Shanthi Neethi Kendra, Kotagiri.

Jethro was born to Daniel Victor and Lata Daniel in 1995 and he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and microcephaly. He was completely crippled by the time he turned 19 when he died. He was brought up in Navi Mumbai for a few years and settled in Coimbatore in 2008. However, the boy had some unusual ability to use his shoulder as a pointer and thrust it towards alphabets spread before him following regular training by parents. He could also form words and sentences through the ability, with which he composed poems also.

His father said the boy’s life would be a giant wakening of human conscience across the world. “Even with extreme limitation in physical capacity, he accomplished and it would be a compelling lesson for this frivolous generation who are frivolous.” he added.

They planned to distribute the DVDs of the documentary free of cost to all Government Departments and organizations across India, which are involved in rehabilitation of the differently-abled children.