Shout-Out Post!!!!!! Ten years ago, she was standing in front of me as a mother, Sivaa’s mother, shaking, sobbing, and terrified after her child’s arm was broken during therapy. None of us knew the law. None of us knew the system. We were already drowning between hospitals, rehab centres, schools… and then this. That day she looked at me and said, “We need to do something.” That sentence became "Together We Can". Today, I signed a 'vakkalath' with that same mother, now Adv. Preetha S. Chandran, as the legal counsel for TWC’s newest writ petition. I don’t know what the right word is for what happens inside a body at moments like this. Tears, heaviness, excitement, a kind of trembling hope, pride, even the familiar stomach flips… all arriving together. From a mother walking into TWC with pain she didn’t know how to hold, to standing today as the advocate leading this case, if this is not empowerment, then what is. A little about the writ We are challenging two recent government/RCI orders that have created confusion, fear, and even the threat of criminal action for anyone “serving persons with disabilities” without an RCI license — without defining who that even means. This has already scared teachers, shadow aides, parents, vocational trainers, volunteers, and community workers across the state. Our petition asks the High Court to protect inclusion, not punish it; to bring clarity, not chaos; and to ensure that the RPwD Act’s vision of dignity, participation and equality is upheld. A moment of gratitude Two generous donors, who wish to stay unnamed ,stepped in immediately to cover most of the legal fee so that we could honour her work, her identity, and her journey. She, of course, insisted on doing it pro bono, like all the lawyers who have stood with us before. But this one felt different. This one needed to be celebrated in a different way. Because this is lived experience taking its rightful place. And that deserves to be named. If anyone wishes to be a part of this effort, as parent, educator, professional, or ally, please write to us at: twctogetherwecan@gmail.com This is what collective strength looks like. This is what community-led change feels like. And today, it all comes back full circle.
