This weekend meet-up will ensure that the differently-abled can have fun

Dhruv Shirpurkar swims for the first time in 16 yearsSunita Sancheti loves the outdoors The 47yearold is a badminton player enjoys travelling she has journeyed across 90000km in India and has participated in marathons Sancheti has a spinal injury and is wheelchairbound and spends spare time from her job handling administration and accounts at her family business spreading awareness about people with special needsEveryones invitedThis weekend she is helping organise a oneofakind meetup All In For This for people with and without disabilities The event is being put together by Trinayani an organisation dedicated to creating awareness about disability The goal of the meetup is simple dissolving barriers taking part in conversations and most importantly having a good timeScenes from Trinayanis treasure huntPeople with disabilities usually come together only for an occasion if an NGO organises an event if it is World Disability Day or to build awareness There too theres very little interaction with people across disabilities says Sancheti The idea of the event is that people from all walks of life come together and enjoy each others companyThis is the first of what will be monthly meetups Since the entry to the venue is via the Title Waves bookstore Ritika Sahni foundertrustee Trinayani is hoping attendees browse through and pick up a few books Ive invited two visually impaired musicians and I will be singing Ive been also telling people who have signed up to come prepared with a song if they wish to perform We are leaving the entertainment for the night open says Sahni There will also be snacks and games Sahni wants the attendees to share details about their life and work so that others get to hear stories they wouldnt otherwiseIntegrate socialiseThe agenda is twofold People with disabilities have to get out of their comfort zone and explore a new place I want others to see them doing things you think they wouldnt or couldnt do like check out a bookstore or go for a movie Its the quickest way to trash the misconceptions people have about them says SahniFor Rupa Shirpurkar mother to 16yearold Dhruv who has muscular atrophy this event is a chance to be social and learn from others We were recently in Goa for a festival organised by Umoja an organisation dedicated to inclusive travel There Dhruv got into a pool and into the sea for the first time It was a new adventure for him His socialising has been limited to going for a movie or visiting the mall Here we are hoping he can talk to others and share his feelings with people who can relate with him Shirpurkar who will be attending the event with her husband and son adds that it is an opportunity for parents of disabled children to socialise tooPlaying a specially created Snakes and Ladders gameEarlier this year Trinayani had organised an inclusive treasure hunt which saw transgender participants visually and physically impaired people and the nondisabled come together for a day of fun I know people like us dont go out too much We want to show them that their disability shouldnt stop them from having a blast We need to be seen says SanchetiFor future meetups Trinayani is planning a walk down Marine Drive a day spent at the movies a visit Sanjay Gandhi National for a nature or bird trail or just a jaunt to Matunga to savour idlis I want disabled people attending the event to suggest what they would like to do for fun so we can incorporate those ideas too says Sahni