IANS/Mumbai

For differently-abled Mumbaikar Neha P Naik, her “dinner date” with the Obamas in the White House was like “a dream come true” and she will always cherish memories of the humbleness and courtesy of the US president and the grace of the first lady.

Ever since she returned home from Washington early yesterday, the joyful Neha and her parents Prakash and Asha simply can’t stop talking about the mega-experience of her life.

The Obamas hosted ‘A celebration of Special Olympics and a Unified Generation’ at the White House on July 31, the glittering event which attracted special athletes, top representatives of Special Olympics, celebrities and business barons from the US, and, of course Neha from Mumbai’s Goregaon suburb.

“President Barack Obama was so nice, humble and courteous, he gave me a warm handshake, asked my name and wanted to know which part of the world I came from... I told him,” Neha said, totally floored by the unique experience with the world’s most powerful man.

And then, a graceful Michelle came forward, smiled, shook hands and hugged Neha even as her mentor-teacher Juanita Rodricks looked on with pride.

The welcome ceremony for 24-year-old Neha and 10 other select differently-abled children from all over the world took place on an upper floor of the White House.

The event with the Obamas was organised by the Special Olympics of which Neha is an International Global Messenger (SOIGM), to commemorate its anniversary and as a fore-runner to next year’s Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

Neha’s family credits Special Olympics for giving independence and confidence to her to address large audiences and share her experiences and excitement with the world, including at the 2013 Special Olympics in Korea.

She also participates in Special Olympics athletic events and trains young athletes in India, besides teaching reading and writing skills to others youngsters requiring special attention.

Neha said that shortly after the welcoming ceremony in which the Obamas personally welcomed each invitee, they all went to a nearby hall for a formal sit-down dinner.

“There was a placard with my name on table no20, along with the dinner menu, the venue and the date mentioned on it,” she said.

After dinner, the invitees were ushered to another room nearby where the Obamas attended a special presentation by several Special Olympians who spoke how their lives were changed and improved by Special Olympics.

Later, US singer Katy Perry entertained the gathering in the presence of legends like Stevie Wonder, Jason Derulo, former basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, former tennis player Andy Roddick and former figure skater Michelle Kwan, among others.

“The Unified Partners are persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) who play with persons without ID. The message is that through such unified partnership, the world can be united,” said Rodricks.

Rodricks, who is Neha’s mentor, is a teacher at Goregaon’s 33-year-old Punarvas Education Society’s Shri Devrajji Gundecha Punarvas Special School and Vocational Training Centre for Mentally Handicapped, where Neha studied.

Though she lagged behind in academics at Punarvas, Neha more than made up in her speaking abilities and athletics.

She is gifted with a unique, convincing manner of speaking and addressing audiences, leaving a permanent impression on the listener, said her proud mother Asha.

This talent is what got her an opportunity to represent India as an SOIGM since the past five years around the world, topped off by the White House event.

“It has been the biggest experience of my life and will live in my memory forever... a dream come true. Now, I shall dedicate myself more to Special Olympics to ‘Play Unified, Live Unified, Game On’,” Neha asserted.