Summary
Contents
Awards:
President of India's Award
One Little Finger is the autobiography of Malini Chiba—woman who defied all odds to emerge victorious in spite of a crippling disability and an indifferent society; who dragged herself out of the limits of her condition. This is the story of Malini's search for independence and identity, and her zeal to live a full, meaningful life despite lifelong disability.
Malini has Cerebral Palsy, a neurological condition similar to adult stroke, which makes body movement and speech extremely difficult. However, the cognitive functions of brain can often remain unimpaired, as in the case of Malini. She recounts her experiences from childhood to adulthood, her struggles with motor skills and speech, managing day-to-day activities, and the apathy and indifference of people towards her and others who are disabled. She educates herself, learns to type with her little finger and speak through the Lightwriter. Finally, she works through unfavorable social systems and attitudes to get a career as an event manager.
As life becomes a tear and a smile for her, Malini tells us the story of her heroic battle against adversity, prejudice, stigmas, stereotypes, of her will to succeed and her search for an identity in a contrary world. And in the process of self-realization, she becomes a beacon of hope for everyone.
Entre-vous to Adulthood
Entre-vous to Adulthood
After my degree, I went to the United States for a short visit in 1988. It was a great learning experience for me. One of the places I visited was Berkeley.
When visiting the University town of Berkeley, I was pleasantly surprised to find it teeming with electric wheelchairs; in fact, these wheelchairs were the order of the day. Wheelchairs had the right of way. The traffic came to a halt just to let them cross the road. The accessibility was splendid. All the pavements were ramped and the curbs rounded, making it a very disabled-friendly place. A wheelchair could hop on and off with ease. Every place was accessible, be it a library, museum, restaurant, shop, school, public toilet or ...