ABOUT ME

My name is Shivali Khaitan. I'm a student at Step By Step School, Noida, following the CBSE curriculum. My hobbies are always evolving, though I consistently enjoy baking, singing, and watching films across all genres.

My Journey with Cerebral Palsy

I was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy at 18 months because I was unable to sit independently. My developmental milestones came slowly. When I was two and a half, my parents found the Bobath Center, where I began intensive physiotherapy. Rather than traditional clinical exercises, my therapists creatively integrated movement into play-building snowmen, decorating cookies, playing with balloons and board games-making recovery feel like joy rather than work.

Under their guidance, I gradually learned to sit, walk, climb stairs, and master everyday skills, from tying my hair to riding a bike. My physiotherapists understood that I'd missed peer play and intentionally rebuilt my childhood through therapeutic games. My occupational therapy sessions introduced me to colors, glitter, crafts, and textures that sparked genuine wonder. These early experiences taught me that hard work, goal-setting, and fun aren't separate. They belong together.

My Work in Education

In 2023, I had the opportunity to teach English to Class 4 and 5 students at an MCD school in Delhi. My initial approach was traditional, using activities like worksheets and word games. But I realized I couldn't connect with that method; it lacked joy. So I created activities that brought giggles and genuine engagement while building vocabulary and bilateral coordination skills. Each activity strengthened focus, persistence, and whole-brain development through teamwork and creativity.

Now I'm developing age-appropriate, easy-to-follow activities for children from toddlers through age 10, designed for teachers to use across classrooms and create genuinely happy learning spaces.