Despite the societal disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, many people remain undeterred in pursuing their passion’s and dreams. One of those remarkable people is Isa Kajee, a five-year-old boy with autism from Johannesburg, South Africa. Isa’s driving passion (pun intended) is racing, or motorsport. Until recently, Isa had been a spectator, rather than a participant. That changed prior to the Coronavirus outbreak, when Isa was able to personally drive a kart for the first time, with help from the Parolin Racing South Africa Team.
According to a report by Wheels24.co, Isa is non-verbal, but is still highly active. Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, Isa attended the Talk Shop special needs school, where he received help with speech, occupational, and physical therapy. He also attended swimming classes twice a week, and participated in practice sessions for the Under 6-Wits Junior Football Team. When it comes to racing, Isa idolizes fictional characters like Lightning McQueen (of Pixar’s “Cars” movies), Jackson Storm, and Turbo the snail. Isa’s older brothers, Aadam and Moosa, are also passionate about racing, and participate in competitive races themselves.
Isa’s visit to the track has inspired Parolin Racing South Africa to create another karting academy, after the announcement earlier this year that a Parolin Racing Driver's Development Academy would be established.
“In the end, we want to see this grow into more than just a motorsport academy,” Isa’s mother, Shehnaaz Kajee, was quoted as saying. “We want to promote children with special needs in all sports, not necessarily only in motorsport.”
Source: https://www.wheels24.co.za/Motorsport/this-local-karting-academy-is-making-an-autistic-five-year-old-boys-motorsport-dreams-come-true-20200526