Chandigarh: The City Beautiful hosted, for the first time in North India, a community meetup for persons with Cerebral Palsy. The event was organized by the Bengaluru-based disability organization EnAble India under its national initiative CPRise.
The meetup brought together persons with Cerebral Palsy, their families, caregivers, professionals, and allies to create a safe and inclusive platform for dialogue, connection, and shared learning. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions on important themes such as self-advocacy, accessibility, and community participation.
Cerebral Palsy remains one of the least recognized disabilities in India. Many individuals with CP live not only with a neurological condition but also with multiple associated co-morbidities, which often limit their participation in society and restrict opportunities to raise their voices. Initiatives like CPRise aim to address these systemic challenges by developing leadership and strengthening community networks.
The event was held at the Chandigarh Press Club and featured several inclusive and interactive sessions. Dr. Anuradha Sharma, Lecturer in the Department of Otolaryngology at PGIMER, conducted a session on Finding Your Voice with AAC. Dr. Alka Sharma, former Clinical Psychologist at PGIMER and Prayaas, spoke on Mind Matters: Psychological Well-being for Persons with Cerebral Palsy and Caregivers. Dr. R. S. Sodhi, MS (Ortho), Senior Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon and former Medical Superintendent and Head of Orthopedics at GTB Hospital, Ludhiana, shared Tips on Maintaining Muscle Strength for Wheelchair Users. Dr. Arun Bansal, Administrator at Social Substance, conducted a session on Capturing Moments: Adaptive Photography with Smartphones.
Nandini Bajaj, a person with Cerebral Palsy, mesmerized the audience with her singing and poetry recital. Artist Mallika Khaneja, who also has Cerebral Palsy, showcased and spoke about her latest painting. These sessions encouraged active participation and presented practical tools and approaches that enable greater independence and self-expression for persons with CP.
The Chandigarh meetup marks an important milestone in expanding the CPRise movement in North India. Similar community gatherings have previously been held in Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, and Kolkata, bringing together diverse stakeholders to strengthen support systems and promote inclusion for persons with Cerebral Palsy.
Through such initiatives, EnAble India continues to work towards building inclusive communities where persons with Cerebral Palsy are heard, seen, and valued as active citizens and agents of change.
