Citing the instance of polio-afflicted Gautam Lewis, who became a role model for physically challenged youth for his versatile talents, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has said children confronted with disabilities, including progeria, should be given the right scope to ignite the
spark within.
"Talent within an individual, whether he is afflicted with a disease like polio, or otherwise physically disadvantaged should be allowed to flourish freely, and all of us should do our bit in rehabilitating these people in whatever disciplines they excel," Chatterjee said on Sunday, after inaugurating a photography exhibition of London-based Lewis, who still depends on crutches from his battle with polio.
With the media's focus now on progeria after a Bollywood film dealt with the disease, Chatterjee said, "Not only polio, or other physical deformities like blindness, deafness or likewise, children afflicted with other crippling ailments should also be encouraged to face life on their own terms."
He called upon media and the public to create more awareness about all such diseases, and include children struck by cerebral palsy, and not just make it a one-off affair.