The term ‘cerebral palsy’ would perhaps be a deterrent to most of us, but Avelino de Sa defied the odds to not only achieve his dreams, but to spearhead the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG). “Persons with disability have been successful down the centuries; these include, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Agatha Christie, Beethoven and Hellen Keller. If you want to be successful it is in your hands. God is always with you,” he exhorts the disabled Goan populace. Avelino’s success story is attested by the fact that he has not only completed his graduation in commerce, but today works as an investment and taxation consultant and besides founding DRAG, he is also a member of the North Goa local level committee of the National Trust, National Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disability and the Association of Crusaders for Jesus with Mary.
His efforts have earned him this year’s national award for excellence in activism- for being an achiever with cerebral palsy for his work in Goa for disabled people. “This award, instituted by ADAPT (formerly known as Spastics Society of India), Mumbai in the year 2012, is awarded every year to achievers with cerebral palsy from all over India in the fields of academics, arts and humanities, activism, independent living, entrepreneurship and corporate employment on the occasion of World Cerebral Palsy day,” he informs.
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The first Goan to receive this award, Avelino is justifiably proud. “I was greatly honoured when I won this award. This award will give a boost to my work for persons with disability in Goa,” says Avelino who is indebted to Giselle Lobo for nominating him. But his biggest thanks he reserves for his mother to whom he has dedicated the award for her unrelenting support, as well as all disabled people in Goa.
In another recognition for his stellar work, Avelino is one of only two of the disabled people who have been listed as India’s 50 modern day heroes by ‘The Better India’ website.
Enumerating the various activities of DRAG since it commenced in October 2003, Avelino says,” It is an association of persons with disability which was formed with the main objective of bringing persons with disability into the mainstream society. We have, over the years, taken up various issues of injustice towards persons with disability in the field of education, accessibility and employment and have been successful. We have a Facebook group as well as a Whatsapp group,” says Avelino while expressing the earnest hope that more will be done in the field of education, accessibility and employment for persons with disability in Goa. ”DRAG conducts various sensitisation programmes for the general public. We also organise a film festival every year to sensitise school and college students on disability issues,” he adds.
Through his stellar efforts, Avelino is indeed proving that persons with a disability are children of a greater God!
