Geeta Castelino – Realizing Her Dreams Despite Her Disability
When Geeta Castelino was two years old, she was diagnosed with polio, a disease that took away her speech and caused her to lose the use of her feet and her right hand. But Geeta had dreams of a happy life, and she wasn’t going to let her polio get in the way of them. Through therapy, she regained her speech at age six and then learned to walk again. By the time she was 18, Geeta had accomplished even more – she had learned to drive using a car specially designed to be operated by hand, and she had started pursuing her career with a position as a lecturer!
Today, Geeta has made her life a happy and fulfilling one, despite the challenges polio has presented to her. She is a wife and mother, and she has an incredibly successful career as an expert in psychology, education, and fashion. By accepting her polio and working to overcome its obstacles, Geeta is living her life to the fullest and inspiring others to do the same!
In this video, Geeta talks about overcoming her polio to find happiness and success.
Additional Resources:
- Here is an article that tells all about Geeta’s amazing career accomplishments.
- Here is an IMK post that tells about another woman who lives life to the fullest despite her disability!
Topics for Discussion:
- What do you think motivated Geeta to overcome the handicaps her polio gave her?
- What would it be like to have polio? How would your life be different than it is now?
Take Action:
- Do you know anyone with a disease or disability that makes things difficult for them? Find out how you can help them live life to the fullest!
- Visit the Rotary International website’s End Polio page to learn how you can help put an end to this disease!
Teacher Features:
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.
