A Milton Keynes man with a neuromuscular condition has praised his daughters for their work in breaking down barriers around disability.
Prajakt Deotale's daughters, 11-year-old twins Eva and Amaira recently took to the TEDx stage in Milton Keynes to deliver their talk, Through Our Eyes: Rethinking Disability.
Prajakt has muscular dystrophy, and his condition means that he uses a power chair for mobility. His daughters became aware from a young age of the challenges he faces.
“Rather than feeling sympathy, they chose action,” Prajakt told MKFM, “They began by raising funds for muscular dystrophy charities, delivering inclusion sessions in local schools, and creating a school magazine to help children understand disability in a positive way. They’ve also authored two children’s books to bring inclusion into early learning and spoken at corporate events - including Microsoft - to encourage empathy and accessibility.”
The girls are passionate about delivering the message that 'Disability does not mean defeat; it means determination,' and they encourage people to see ability, strength, and resilience where others might see limitations.
“They’re making a difference by ensuring that children their age understand disability - a topic often left out of school conversations,” Prajakt told us, “When young people learn empathy early, they carry those lessons home to parents and communities, helping reshape attitudes on a larger scale.'
Eva and Amaira now plan to expand their Being Purple campaign across the UK and beyond, and are engaging with MPs and policymakers to promote disability inclusion at the education and community level.
Understandably, Prajakt is a very proud father: “For me personally, what could have been a difficult personal journey has instead given our family a shared sense of purpose - one that continues to bring others along,” he said, “It is a joy in life to see what they are doing. I am extremely proud of them both,” he added.
