Last few days, I have come across stories of people with disability and how they have come a long way in their life; how they prove 'having disability' doesn't really mean 'being disabled'.

Do you know about this girl with down syndrome who walked on the ramp of a fashion show?

Do you know about this actor with learning disability who is world renowned for his incredible acting skills?

Do you know about this girl with one leg amputated, who is a world famous Bharatnatyam dancer? Or

the girl with both hands amputated, completing her PhD?

(we definitely know about the girl with one leg amputated, who conquered Mt. Everest)

This list is long, let me cut this short for now.

I am trying to point out something common in all of these cases. If you read life story of all of these people, the common thing is, they, in most cases, were all incredibly supported by their parents even after their "assumed flaws".

Their parents always believed that they could do whatever they wanted to do.

Think for your yourself:

The girl with the down syndrome would not have real fit in the conventional educational system. What would have happened - if her parents wanted her to top her class? if her parents would have associated their prestige with her marks/grades? if her parents would have thought that if she didn't do well in her class, she would reach nowhere in life? if her parents wanted her to ace the mad race?

Let's assume if you have a child with intellectual disability.

What will you do ?

Most probably, you will stick with your child and help him/her overcome obstacles. The child might face stigma from peers / society - may not make friends easily, may not be considered "normal" etc. So, even if inside you're weak/worried, you will always show the child that they can do it. You will talk to people / probably read books on disability/ mental health. In short, you will prepare yourself for the child, and instead of keeping unrealistic expectations, you will show faith in the child. You will find a place / school, where the child fits in (devoid of stigma). I, in fact, know so many cases where children with physical / mental health disability have conquered so many things because of the immense unconditional non-judgemental support from parents.

This is incredible and so good to hear.

Now, let's assume the child is healthy and categorized as "normal". What will you do ?

This is where it gets funny and interesting. If the child is "normal", it's convincingly assumed that the child fits in the conventional education system. The child is showered with expectations. It's assumed child will reach nowhere without good grades. There is huge pressure to perform in the conventional system. Though we know depression rates, suicide rates are on all time high, we don't want to look further.

I am not saying that conventional formal schools are utterly awful (I do want to say that though), I just want to say that not every child is same; not every child can fit in the race of these schools; a child necessarily doesn't have to have a disability to need a school change; if your child doesn't fit in, please find alternate spaces -- there are incredible people doing incredible work, look beyond what you already seen, I am sure you will be amazed, and more importantly be relieved.

Do you know about this boy who literally failed in the conventional system, then transferred by his parents to an alternate school went on to become an entrepreneur at an age of 16. Look beyond, will you?

PS: A child may have disability, but it's the society (us) which makes the child disabled, and poignantly, the society can make a child disabled, even if the child doesn't have disability. Tears my heart, seriously!