World Autism Awareness Day par, Yadhavi Sports Academy for Special Needs ke head coach aur founder Sathish Sivakumar ne usual activities jaise walkathons aur roadshows se aage badhne ka faisla kiya. Unhone ek aisi initiative sochi jahan autism se affected bachche khud apni achievement feel kar saken, aur apni abilities par proud aur confident ho saken. Isi soch ne open sea swim ka idea diya.
Satish Kahte hain, “Resilience, courage aur inclusion ka powerful example dete huye, lagbhag 38 autism se affected bachche apne coaches ke saath 4 April ko Marina Beach par 2 km open sea swim mein hissa lenge. Yeh dikhane ke liye hai ki sahi support mile toh woh kuch bhi achieve kar sakte hain.”
Is event mein 8 se 22 saal ke bachche participate karenge, aur Indian Book of Records ke representatives bhi maujood rehne ki ummeed hai. “Aisi recognition bachchon ke liye kaafi motivating hoti hai,” woh add karte hain.
Academy mein multiple sports ke liye structured training di jaati hai, jahan skill-building par khaas focus hota hai. “Swimming ke liye hamare paas lagbhag 20 certified trainers hain. Iske alawa hum bachchon ko basketball, handball aur tennis bhi sikhate hain. Hum camps aur beach clean-ups jaise group activities bhi karvate hain, aur hamare kai bachche pehle se hi open water se familiar hain,” woh batate hain.
Sathish ke liye training ka pehla step har bachche ko samajhna hota hai. “Swimming sikhana aasaan nahi hai. Sabse pehle humein bachche ko samajhna padta hai. Kisi bhi sport se pehle trust build karna, patiently communicate karna aur comfortable environment banana zaroori hai. Jab bachcha coach par trust karta hai tabhi learning shuru hoti hai. Kuch bachche jaldi seekh lete hain, jabki kuch ko thoda waqt lagta hai.”
Unke according, paani ka autism se affected bachchon par ek unique asar hota hai. “Unki sensory needs ki wajah se paani mein rehna unhe calm feel karata hai. Swimming ke baad humne bachchon mein clear behavioural changes dekhe hain, jaise better listening, improved focus aur badhta hua confidence.” Lekin approach kabhi bhi same nahi hoti. “Har bachcha alag hota hai, isliye teaching method bhi alag hona chahiye. Humein har bachche ki needs ke hisab se apna approach customise karna padta hai. Coach ke roop mein patience rakhna aur individual goals set karna zaroori hai. Sabse important hai har bachche ki actual need par focus karna.”
Bachche regularly swimming pool mein training lete hain, aur open water conditions ke liye hafte mein do baar samundar mein bhi practice karte hain.
Sathish, jo pichhle 13 saalon se special needs bachchon ke saath kaam kar rahe hain, unhone unki journeys ko kaafi kareeb se dekha hai. “Kuch bachche jab 8 saal ke the tab join kiya tha, aur ab woh 18 ke ho gaye hain. Unki growth dekhkar bahut satisfaction milta hai.” Woh yeh bhi kehte hain ki bachche aksar utne se zyada samajhdaar hote hain jitna log samajhte hain.
“Woh bahut transparent hote hain. Sabse important yeh hai ki hum unhe kaise samajhte hain. Hum yeh bhi ensure karte hain ki woh hamesha physically fit rahen. Mera goal hai ki log unhe waise hi dekhein jaise woh hain.”
Swim ke challenge se aage badhkar, is initiative ka aim logon ki soch badalna hai. “Yeh sirf swimming ke baare mein nahi hai. Yeh acceptance, inclusion aur har bachche ko shine karne ka mauka dene ke baare mein hai,” Sathish kehte hain.
Is event ki importance ko aur yeh fact aur badhata hai ki kai participants February 2024 mein hue 165-km Cuddalore se Chennai sea swimming relay expedition ka bhi hissa reh chuke hain. Yeh academy ke long-term development aur confidence-building par focus ko dikhata hai.
Parents ke liye iska impact kaafi personal hota hai. 12 saal ke Havish ke father, Siva Shunmugam, ne apne bete ko 2022 mein swimming mein enroll kiya. “Use swimming bahut pasand hai, yeh uske liye therapy jaisa hai. Coaches zyada pressure nahi daalte, balki har bachche ko samajhte hain. Hum fitness par bhi focus karte hain aur main koshish karta hun ki mera beta nature se juda rahe,” woh kehte hain.
Samay ke saath changes kaafi noticeable rahe hain. “Pehle mere bete ko sleep disturbances hote the, lekin swimming aur regular fitness activities shuru karne ke baad uski routine improve ho gayi. Ab woh zyada disciplined ho gaya hai. Pichhle teen saalon mein yeh uski habit ban chuki hai.”
Woh yeh bhi kehte hain ki bachche sabse pehle apne coaches ke saath rapport build karte hain, jo learning ki foundation ban jaata hai. “Har bachcha alag hota hai aur coaches jaante hain ki unhe kaise train karna hai. Logon mein aur awareness ki zaroorat hai. In bachchon ko inclusion aur poori tarah se jeene ka haq milna chahiye.”
Is baat ko support karte huye Sathish kehte hain ki unki energy ko sahi direction dena bahut zaroori hai. “In bachchon mein kaafi stamina hota hai. Swimming unki energy ko positive tareeke se use karne ka ek behtareen tareeka hai—yeh physically demanding bhi hai aur calming bhi.”
