Being physically-challenged can never hold back those who have the dauntless spirit and the nerve to face all odds. A living example of this is 19-year-old S. Kalaivani, a differently-abled girl who was born hearing and speech impaired. She is a student of Tirupur School for the Deaf. An all-rounder, Kalaivani has mastered many skills to win state-level recognitions in dance, sports, and drawing.

The sportive differently-abled girl brought laurels to the institution by winning Rs.5 lakh cash award in a reality TV show in 2014, by showcasing her prowess in dancing. Dedicating her award to the school’s founder Murugasamy, and the school in-charges Srinivasan and Chithra, she expressed her gratitude to them in sign language.

Murugasamy, also a hearing-impaired person, explained with the help of an interpreter, that Kalaivani, , was brought to the school by her mother Kannammal, a daily wage earner. She was finding it difficult to leave her child alone at home and go to work.

Chithra said that Kalaivani was very dedicated and keen on education, sports, and dance. She grew up under the tutelage of Srinivasan, also a differently-abled person, in learning the nuances of dancing.

In all smiles, she showed the medals, certificates, and trophies that she had won in dance, sports, and drawing competitions. Kalaivani made the institution proud by topping the SSLC public examination in the differently-abled category. She is now in her Class XII, and her teachers are leaving no stones unturned to see that she gets the top slot in the public examination.

Photo: S. Kalaivani, an inspiration to all.