Fourth Grader Helps Specially-Abled Girl Give Exam; Anand Mahindra Reacts

While most students fear exams, a fourth-grader girl was anticipating taking one for a specially-abled peer. In an X (Twitter) thread, a woman shared the inspiring story of her daughter, a fourth-standard student, who volunteered to read and write for a specially-abled fourth-standard girl. The X thread by Varsha went viral and caught the attention of business magnate and philanthropist Anand Mahindra, who said that such stories "make our world a better place." 

A small, simple story.

But one that makes our world a better place.

Thank you for sharing it, Varsha. https://t.co/hGQ2egWGjx

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 23, 2024

Varsha shared a thread about her daughter helping a specially-abled girl and also shared a message on children with learning disabilities. The post has captured the internet's heart, as many are lauding the little girl for her gesture and Varsha for her parenting. 

Girl's Gesture For Specially-Abled Peer Wins Hearts

A woman on Twitter, Varsha, said that she found a message on a group, asking for a scribe who could help a specially-abled fourth-grader girl in exams. Varsha asked her daughter if she would be interested, and the little girl expressed enthusiasm even though she had her own exams going on.

"And there began a spate of phone calls, looking up the exam calendar and after a night of rumination and assurances that 'saying no won't make you a bad person nor me unhappy or disappointed, but do this only if YOU want to'", Varsha expressed, until they decided, "My little girl decided to take this on."

Varsha continued with the inspiring story, "She went as a reader/writer last weekend and today, smack in the middle of her own school exams to help another little girl out. Her only demand is-- 'Mom you please come for the exam too, I won't go alone'. Which was a reasonable demand."

"The exam centre was an hour away and we left early in the morning. The same girl who hates waking up early got up without much fuss and didn't complain one bit," Varsha said, describing her daughter's excitement to help a fellow schoolgoing girl and hopefully make a new friend. 

After the exam, both the girls and their parents went out for a snack, where they became good friends. "The girl was extremely excited to play games, chit chat, have a pizza and we ended up with a long play plus dinner date instead of the planned 'chai pe mulakaat'," Varsha wrote in the post.

Schooling For Specially Abled Children

Varsha explained what the experience at the school was like, and described the saddening reality of schooling for children with learning disabilities. "There at the exam centre, which is also a school for the specially-abled, I learnt how hard it is for people to find writers. While we speak of inclusive education the reality is far from this dream," she expressed.

The mother said, "Kids with learning disabilities struggle in normal schools, get bullied, lose their confidence and even face the wrath of their teachers. As most parents say, for the sake of money, till grade 6-7 the school 'tolerates us' but later coerces us to join special schools."

She also addressed how several parents who attempt to help their specially-abled children the right education have to run from post to pillar in search of the right certificates and assistance. She further detailed how some parents often dismiss the signs of learning disabilities in their children and are quick to call them names and deem them as "lazy".

Varsha ended the thread urging fellow parents to help specially-abled children. "If you're a parent and reading this, do consider helping a special kid as a writer/reader/unconditional friend. Teach your neurotypical/normal kids to adjust a bit for them. If your child is struggling at school do get them assessed before labelling them as lazy."