MADISON (WKOW) -- For Asha Shukla, a senior at West High School in Madison, life hasn't been the easiest.

"It was harder for her to make friends, it was harder for her to be a part of the school community, it was harder for her to get the kind of support that she needs just to be involved in the schools," said Asha's dad, Raj Shukla.

Asha has Down syndrome, but Raj said everything changed when his daughter started swimming.

For the past two years, Asha swam with her high school's team. Though, she hasn't been racing for medals, but as an exhibition swimmer; a program designed for students with disabilities to show off their skills at meets.

"That sense of community is so vital, especially for people with disabilities, who are very often ignored, very often pushed to the side," said Raj

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