At 18, Preethi Srinivasan’s life changed forever. Once a national-level swimmer and Tamil Nadu state cricketer, a spinal cord injury left her paralysed below the neck.

“From being extraordinary in every way, I suddenly couldn’t even feed or bathe myself. It really broke me,” recalls Preethi. But her parents’ support gave her the strength to fight back.

Her father quit his job to care for her, and her mother encouraged her to pursue education. However, when Preethi tried to enrol in a BSc Psychology programme, she was denied admission because the practical classes and colleges were not accessible to people with disabilities.

She remembers being asked, “Why do people like you come to study?” Despite the discouragement, her father would read to her from various books and stood by Preethi every step of the way.

Yet, life tested her again. In 2007, her father passed away, and her mother needed bypass surgery. “We had no idea how we’d manage the next meal or even get me into a wheelchair,” she recalls.

She also did an MSc in Psychology despite wanting to do counselling psychology. “I wanted to counsel people as my voice is the only thing I have. I was denied admission and had to settle for psychology,” she says.

Amid these struggles, Preethi came across stories of neglect towards disabled women. Two paraplegic girls she knew were poisoned by their families, leaving a lasting impact on her.

With her mother’s encouragement, Preethi founded ‘Soulfree Inspire’, a haven for people with severe disabilities. The centre offers free rehabilitation, therapy, and training to restore their dignity.

“We restore their will to live,” Preethi explains. The centre provides physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, counselling, computer training, tailoring, and more, helping individuals become self-reliant.

Karthikeyan, 25, who came to Soulfree bedridden, says, “I can now walk with a stick and support myself. I’ve learnt tailoring and computers.”

Preethi also works with the Tamil Nadu government to improve rehabilitation facilities and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. “The government must provide proper recognition for our disability,” she urges.

Reflecting on her journey, Preethi says, “If you succeed when everything is going your way, it’s no big deal. True victory is boxing with your hands tied and saving the world.”

Through Soulfree, Preethi has empowered over 2,500 individuals with spinal cord injuries and is currently pursuing her PhD at IIT Madras.