SEPTEMBER 03, 2013 | ASIA PACIFIC: SRI LANKA
I Am Proud of My Special Child
By K P G Sirisena
Having Fun
Special Olympics has changed our lives immensely. As parents of child with an intellectual disability, we intend to share our own experiences for the purpose of their welfare. Also we wish to bring to your notice how to socialize and obtain optimum benefits from their potentials. We would like to bring forward the manner that we socialized our eldest son Sahana Pradeepa Palliyaguru, who was born in 1986. We learned of his intellectual disability through the doctors. Henceforth we had to pay special attention to him. There is a general view in the society that if parents are gifted with a child with an intellectual disability, they are scared to give birth to other children thinking that they also become same. But making that opinion a false one, we were fortunate to be gifted with three more children. In Sri Lanka children are admitted to school at the age of 5. Likewise I admitted my child to a school with a special education unit. Being a teacher, his mother also got a transfer to the same school to give more attention him. We did a great sacrifice and we were totally devoted on behalf of him when compared to our other three children. Our child obtained various capacities through school. He won the hearts and became popular among principal, staff and the other students. He became popular among school community because he was law abiding and he possessed leadership qualities. He was very friendly and supporting and he was well-mannered. He had a special talent for dancing every concert in the children included his dancing item. He was clever at cricket and badminton. He played cricket and Bocce for Special Olympics Serendib team. He toured India with the Special Olympics cricket team in 2006 and 2009. The reason behind his skills competencies are the experiences exposed by us. We didn’t corner him or felt him a different person. We took him to the family and social functions, trips and picnics, function held in his sisters and brothers in schools. Due to that he grasped many things without much effort here his Alma matters Pamburana Shariputhra M/V always come to our mind and we are so much great full to it.
About K P G Sirisena:Am KPG Sirisena from Southern Province a father of four children. My Eldest son Sahana Palliyaguru is a special child who play cricket and Bocce for Special Olympics Serendib team. He toured India with the Special Olympics cricket team in 2006 and 2009. Am also attached to Special Olympics Serendib as the family coordinator. My second son also attached to Special Olympics Serendib as National Coach. Am so proud of them. Special Olympics has changed our lives immensely.
UGUST 29, 2013 | ASIA PACIFIC: SRI LANKA
Miracle of Special Olympics
By Hemachandra Sellahewa
On 16th of November 1992 the birth of a girl gave greater happiness to our family. She was named Hiruni. She was late in her activities as an infant such as crawling, laughing and walking. She was under the treatments of a physiotherapist in order to improve her activities. At the age of 9 years, she was sent to the special education unit at the school to give her special care about her speaking and other abilities. As time passes, in 2006 we were informed about some sports activities by an organization called Special Olympics. We sent her to the training programmes conducted by them. Special Olympics conducted a sports festival in our city in 2006 she participated and won a gold medal. That time we got to know that there was some sort of energy in my daughter, not in her thinking ability but physically. Special Olympics selected my daughter for badminton and she began to practice badminton. Through her practice we realized that she has a great ability in badminton. Around that period we got some knowledge about Special Olympics such as its aims, who can take part in Special Olympics. Life lies in motion and the luck lies in courage. Now my daughter has achieved a lot through training and doing activities. In 2011 she was selected to participate in Special Olympics World Games in Greece. There she won a Gold medal in girl’s single event. It was a golden happiness to our family, to her school, to our village and to our motherland, Sri Lanka. This prize is very valuable to us and now she is beyond our wealth.So, I invite all the parents of intellectually disabled people, to join hands with Special Olympics. Because, through Special Olympics parents can try their best to support and help their children with intellectual disabilities to participate in the society rather than leaving them alone. My heartiest gratitude goes to the pioneers of this concept who provided such a big opportunity to people with intellectual disabilities in all around the world to show their power.
