On the eve of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD), I renew my vow to keep at it. Keep advocating for an ‘inclusive’ world for all. Not only because it’s the right thing to do, and everyone deserves a chance to live independently with dignity. But also, because including 15 per cent of the global population will change the majority’s perspective towards life and situations.
The conversations on disability in the media focused on romanticized tales of role models, generating sympathy from the audience or worse, making them feel thankful for their able-bodied existence vis-à-vis someone who was paying off his or her karmic debt.
If you are wondering ‘how so’, believe you me, that’s been my biggest life lesson. Disability is a condition that a person is either born with or acquires later in life. It’s a condition that results in limiting the person in some ways. The limitations, however, are a result of barriers in the physical (and virtual) environment as well as behavioral blockades.
Very often we see that some of them who break the barriers and come out to voice their concerns are treated as “people who inspire” but actually they don’t need our sympathies rather we need to understand them and act with empathy. We all need a family; we all need this society to accept us as we are.
Learning to respect the differences stems from concentrating on the potential of people without fixating on what doesn’t ‘seem’ possible to us. For this to happen, ‘accessibility’ has to become a priority. Once persons with disabilities start participating and interacting with the mainstream, the walls in our heads will slowly start coming down.
Before you write me off as pedantic, here are some examples which reiterate the gaps in inclusion and speak of our (read society/government/corporate/policy-makers/media) indifference towards the disabled community.
1. Its 2021. And the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 recognizes 21 types of disabilities. But our accessibility definition starts and ends with a wheelchair. So much so, that we force blind, deaf or speech impaired people into a wheelchair despite their ability to use their legs!
2. Even wheelchair access is not implemented fully on the ground. Many places don’t have wheelchairs. If you bring one of your own, good luck pushing it through the narrow doors of rooms, toilets, shops, restaurants etc. And then there’s the ramp. You are sure to exercise your forearms pushing the wheelchair up and down the inconsistent and steep inclines.
3. Where are the statistics on the disabled population? Forget gender, children, state or disability specific data, the latest count we have is from Census 2011 which is far from accurate. If we don’t know how many need access to services and spaces and in which geographies, what is the likelihood of catering to their needs?
4. The United Nations theme for IDPD 2021 is “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-Covid-19 world.” After the pandemic, a majority of our social and professional activities have moved online. But digital platforms including websites and mobile applications are not fully accessible to persons with disabilities. December 31stis the deadline for filing income tax returns and the government’s official portal is ridden with virtual barriers. Digital wallets, the new norm of post-demonetization and socially distanced world, remain inaccessible.
5. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 is to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Yet we are building parks, cinema halls, shopping plazas and holiday resorts discarding the principles of universal design.
Although some media reports and surveys might suggest that we don’t score too badly on the global index, is India really a disabled-friendly country? Can the media step away from tokenism on December 3 and really ask some tough questions on whether our country adheres to the ‘Leave No One Behind’ philosophy?
It does not cost much but rather pays well to provide proper accessibility in regular places like places of worship, parks, public utility like ATM, banks, government buildings and why even our homes. Just considering providing a ramp or a bridge instead of a step or two we can make everyone welcome. While designing a bathroom we spend so much on the fittings, but we often forget that a side wall hand grab rail can be so much more comfortable for a senior at home.
People with physical disability are not those who have come from Mars, even a pair of spectacle or a walking stick are disability aids. So let’s celebrate them who use a wheelchair or need our hands to maneuver through a crowd. They too have emotions, a mind of their own and more than anything can become a major participant in our society. It is us the so called able bodied people who need to understand that we are not alone in this society, everyone has their place and we should provide for all.
