Extraordinary Ordinary: Athira’s story
25-year-old Athira from Kerala, India, was born with a neurological condition affecting her vision, hearing, and mobility. Despite Athira’s resilience and desire to learn, her family were reluctant to allow her independence, worried that she wouldn’t be able to develop skills, travel alone, or become employed. When financial difficulties stopped Athira from attending school she was resigned to staying at home full time, becoming totally dependent on her family. Without socialisation, community interaction or purpose, Athira became withdrawn and lost confidence in herself and her future.
When a local support service referred Athira’s family to Sense International India, they began to understand the benefit that rehabilitation and vocational training could have for Athira – and suddenly, her world began to open up.
Now, Athira is enrolled in the Inclusive Communities vocational training project supported by the John Lewis Partnership Foundation. As part of the programme she has learned coir making, enabling her to earn an independent income. With newfound skills and independence, Athira’s confidence has blossomed. Now with a laptop of her own, Athira is completing digital skills training and has part-time employment supporting local government services; she studies history, loves to travel alone, and enjoys socialising with her colleagues who have become her friends.
Athira always had the ability to learn, work, and be independent – it was the barriers in the world around her, and the limiting beliefs of others, that needed to be changed.
Across the globe, Sense International supports people with deafblindness and their families to access opportunities and unlock their potential through early intervention, inclusive education, and employment programmes, helping to build where everybody has the chance to live their extraordinary ordinary.
