India’s first Female Skydiver with Polio: Story of Anita Sharma

At just six months old, Anita was struck by polio. With no cure available in India, her parents' hopes turned to prayers. As the eldest daughter, she watched her younger siblings thrive while she felt left behind. At 18, after a successful operation, she walked for the first time—unaided. The cold floor beneath her feet remains an unforgettable victory. Anita pursued research, earned a salary, chased bigger dreams and earned an MBA from IIM Indore. This experience made her more confident. She not only learned to drive but began teaching others with disabilities. One day, she spotted a wheelchair in the trunk of a car and, out of curiosity, chased after the vehicle. To her amazement, it was her own student—behind the wheel, taking his mother on a drive. Overcome with emotion, his mother stepped forward and hugged Anita tightly. That’s when Anita understood her purpose.

At a recent event at Taylor and Francis, Anita shared her journey, revealing that she was India’s first female skydiver with a disability. Her story struck a chord. An attendee from Singapore, once afraid to drive, found the courage to try again. That day, Anita imparted a greater lesson—it’s not ability that makes you successful, but the power to overcome your own fear. The power to be truly ‘on your own’!

From a shy Mumma's boy to performing on National Television: Story of Karthik Krishnamurthy

The radio played softly. Karthik’s grandmother hummed along, her voice calm and steady. Across the room, five-year-old Karthik sat curled up, hands over his ears. He never spoke. Never looked at them. Never played. Then, one evening, something magical happened. A soft hum, barely there—but real. His grandmother stopped. His parents stared. Karthik was humming with her! Music became his voice. His parents, even after many rejections from music teachers, decided to teach him at home. Lyrics? He memorized them fast. Tunes? Always perfect. But finding a stage? Another challenge. Local bands refused. But Karthik never gave up. He practiced endlessly.

Then came his big chance. A guest performance, just one song. But when Karthik sang, the audience listened. Judges whispered. The crowd cheered. He was no longer just a guest—he became a contestant and won second place. From South India, he mastered Hindi songs, leaving people amazed. Traveling was tough because of his sensitivities, but for music, nothing stopped him. Last week at KIIT’s Autism Awareness event, he shined. The founder was spellbound. The audience shouted, “Amazing!” And Karthik? He remembered it all. Every face, every smile, every person who believed in him. 

She started dancing before she started walking: Story of Rashmi Patil

Rashmi’s mother always said, “Rashmi started dancing before she started walking.” And she wasn’t exaggerating. Born with a hearing impairment, Rashmi learned to dance by sight—reading lips, feeling vibrations, and counting beats in her head. “The journey has been incredibly difficult,” says her mother. Yet, Rashmi found her way. 

Rashmi was just eleven years old, lost in the divine trance of her dance on stage, when a sharp pain shot through her foot. A stray piece of glass had pierced her skin, and she was bleeding. But Rashmi didn’t flinch. She continued, her movements as elegant as ever, her face revealing nothing of the pain. It was only the next morning, when her mother noticed her swollen foot, that the truth came out. “Why didn’t you tell me?” her mother had asked, horrified. Rashmi had simply smiled and signed- “I thought if I told you, you’d stop me from dancing.” That was Rashmi—silent as the world around her, yet speaking volumes through her art.

Today, with over fifty performances, Rashmi has showcased her talent at events hosted by the Government of India and renowned brands like Adani, breaking barriers with every step. Since joining the AA team, she’s found not just a stage but a family that believes in her as much as she believes in herself.

Atypical Advantage is India’s largest livelihood platform for Persons with Disabilities(PWD). Whether it is a singer looking for a show, a visual artist looking to sell their paintings, or job seekers with disabilities looking for career opportunities, it bridges the supply & demand side inefficiencies so that Persons with Disabilities can earn a dignified income. We have a large pool of 30,000+ talents with disabilities and have worked with 400+ corporates within a short span of 4 years. We were also featured on Shark Tank Season 2 and were declared the winner of the prestigious National Startup Award for Social Impact, and the National Award for Best Organization empowering persons with disabilities in 2024, conferred by the Union Government. For more information, visit our website here.