Surat: “Do you know I have one extra chromosome?” That was Unnathi Suranaa’s confident reply when her elder brother Mudit reminded her during a bout of teenage banter that he was three years older, 10kg heavier and a foot taller.For her family, it was more than a witty comeback. It was a glimpse of the extraordinary confidence Unnathi had developed despite growing up with Down’s syndrome — a condition that had once made even getting admission to a regular school seem almost impossible.Today, at 20, Unnathi is in the final year of her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication at Auro University.In 2022, she became the first individual with a disability to receive the IB MYP Innovator Grant, according to UNICEF India. She was later selected as a UNICEF India Youth Advocate for Inclusion and Mental Well-being and became a brand ambassador for the Down Syndrome Federation of India (DSFI).But her journey to the classroom, the stage and international platforms has been anything but easy.When Unnathi was born, her family immediately learnt that she had Down’s syndrome. Awareness about the condition, however, was limited, and the family had little idea about how best to help her.Her mother Meghna, a chartered accountant, travelled to Chennai for consultations, sought advice from experts and experienced people and devoted much of her time to helping Unnathi learn.Even learning to walk required painstaking effort. Unnathi would stand for long periods on a sandbag to develop stability and underwent physiotherapy. For learning and communication, the family experimented with different methods — pictures, videos, visual aids, speaking and writing. Even simple exercises such as whistling and blowing were used to improve her speech.Then came another hurdle: school admission.“When we tried to get her admitted to a school, we were refused because she was a child with Down’s syndrome,” Meghna recalls.But Unnathi had been practising the kindergarten syllabus for two years. When the school tested her, it changed its decision and admitted her.The struggle continued as academic concepts became more difficult. Unnathi could take longer to understand things, although her family noticed that she had a remarkably sharp memory. What she needed was not a different destination, but more time, practice and patience.Until Class V, Meghna worked closely with her on her studies. As the lessons became tougher, Unnathi herself became increasingly determined. She would sometimes stay awake until 3am, practising and clearing her doubts.After Class X, the family opted for open schooling for Class XII to reduce the academic pressure. By then, however, something important had changed: Unnathi had developed the confidence to believe she could go to college, even though her family was initially unsure.Her determination has since extended beyond her own education. While in Class X, she conducted workshops under the IB MYP Innovator Grant, teaching other children with Down’s syndrome how they could learn more effectively.“I tried to share the knowledge with other children who were like me — how they can easily study. I shared the process of how I learn and study,” she says.“She proves that if a child with Down’s syndrome is given an opportunity, they can excel in any field,” says Dr Surekha Ramachandran, president of DSFI, which has about 7,800 members across India.Unnathi has also learnt Kuchipudi for seven years and is comfortable on stage. She follows developments in India and around the world and shares news on social media. Her confidence has made her a natural public speaker.Her father Vineet, an architect, says, “She needs a lot more practice and patience from the person teaching her. My wife spent a majority of her time helping Unnathi when she was young.”“The best thing about Unnathi is her confidence. It inspires us to join her in whatever she wants to do,” says her aunt Anchal.Unnathi knows there are still challenges. Writing and understanding concepts can take her longer, she says, but she has learnt how to confront them.“I come across many challenges while studying, like writing and understanding, but I practise more to overcome them,” she says.
