Panel Discussion 2: Overcoming Barriers to Social Change

Moderator: Ms. Tulika Das, Secretary, Sanchar

Keynote Speaker: Mrs. Reena Bhandari, Project Director, Voice and Vision

 (Supported by Hilton/Perkins Program of Perkins School for the Blind, USA)

Daring to Dream

As families, what dreams and aspirations do we have for our children?

We dream of a life for them where they can achieve their highest potential, have choices, and lead a fulfilled life. We hope that they will exercise their rights as individuals and fulfill their obligations in the community that they live in. As parents of a child with disability, can we have the same dreams for our child? Can we aspire that our child will find her/his strengths, and have opportunities to lead a life of dignity and independence, and be a contributing member of her/his community? Can we dare to dream so??

We are fortunate to live in present times where there is a worldwide movement for
 people with disabilities. Who better than families and people with disabilities as stakeholders to bring about change??

Some ways we can do so..

Let us be aware of the legislation in place

Use government redressal mechanisms

Have a face and be visible – use the media to exert pressure

Network with other disability groups

Ensure representation in Government committees, consultative groups.

People with disabilities, their families, and voluntary organizations are very powerful agents of change.

Let us be proactive and ensure that we use our potential power to bring about positive change in the lives of people with disabilities.

Snigdha Sarkar, Secy. Anwesha

Social Change through Legislation

Social consciousness and legislation complement each other. Social change is a general term that refers to change in the nature, the social institutions, the social behavior or the social relations of a society or community of people. It is an act of /advocacy for the cause of changing society in a positive way. Legislation or statutory law is law, which has been promulgated or enacted by a legislature or other governing body. The term may refer to a single law, or the collective body of enacted law, while "statute" is also used to refer to a single law. Before an item of legislation becomes law it may be known as a bill, which is typically also known as "legislation" while it remains under active consideration. Social consciousness is the root to legislation and legislation secures and establishes the rights of the people.

The most significant impact that recent legislations for disability have made in the lives of persons with disabilities in our country is that they have triggered a paradigm shift in the approach towards disability. The medical, clinical and charity model is being forced to shift to a right based, development and social model. This shift has brought dignity to the lives of disabled people.

Suggestions for more effective implementation of legislation

·         Existing legislation needs to be effectively implemented and resources must be allocated to make sure the qualities of life of life of people with disabilities improve.

·         The amendments that have been suggested to the Act should be tabled and passed in the Parliament.

·          Measures should be taken for uniform implementation of the Acts through out the country.

·         Disability should become an integral part of all national policies. For instance, special education should be part of the Ministry of Human Resources Development (Department of Education) and not part of the Ministry of Welfare.

·         Policies to promote greater participation, representation and involvement of disabled people in the decision and policy-making bodies as also in the political process need to be lobbied and advocated for.

Noney Khullar, Principal, AKSHAR

Inclusion ….a right not a privilege

We are an Inclusive I.C.S.E. affiliated school. Each class has a maximum of 24 students of which 3 to 4 are those with special needs. Students with varying disabilities find their place in AKSHAR - such as those with Down’s Syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, mild hearing impairment, dyslexia and others, who have mild to moderate cognitive challenges.

In AKSHAR, we have tried to provide a platform for both regular and special children to wmerge and grow together, contributing to each other’s development.  In my eight years of experience, I find that inclusion has resulted in immense gains in comprehension and reading skills, and the overall progress of children with special needs.  They interact with regular children and learn new social and communicative skills and over the years, these children continue to surprise us in their achievement in co-curricular activities, which we have included in plenty. There is something for each child.  In our school, a child with autism plays the tabla in all our shows.  An Inter-School Martial Art Tournament has had 2 children with Down Syndrome participating. Having competent role models allows them to learn new adaptive skills and learn through imitation. 

The benefits of an Inclusive School have not only been confined to those children with special needs but also for the regular children.  Children without disabilities learn from the ‘lesser able’ and observe how they strive to achieve their goals despite limitations. When we started AKSHAR, I wondered whether parents of regular children would choose to send their children to our Inclusive School.  Today, I feel that they are part of the catalyst for change.

Ajin Sen, Technical Adviser, Parivaar

Attitude changes society

When we talk about ‘Barriers’ and ‘Attitude’ in the context of disability, I feel it is just two sides of the same coin and one is inextricably related to the other.

In every situation we are facing:

n      an attitude of apathy,

n      an attitude of  ‘taking for granted’,

n      an attitude of ‘how does it matter any way’

n      an attitude of ‘what do parents understand’

n      an attitude of despair burdened with stigma   and

n      an attitude to quest for personal / individual    prominence put before the cause.

To me, the term ‘Barrier’ seems to have two dimensions. One consists of the visible (physical) barriers and the other, the non-visible (ethical) barriers. Both types of barriers in the society contribute equally in creating hindrances for the all-round positive development of persons with disability, denying their constitutional rights and not allowing them to live like equal citizens of India. Thus, it calls for:

a)     The total change of attitudes of the concerned individuals, the parents, the professionals, the establishments, Government 

b)     The commitment from society as a whole to provide a barrier-free environment

This can be done by clear policy statements and sensitization and public information and educational programmes.

I feel if we really want to succeed in changing attitudes, we need to have strong determination, creative solutions, innovative strategies, the will of wanting the ‘best’ for the disable’, willingness to face and overcome stigmatizing situations, ability to put aside personal fulfillment of one’s own needs to take care of more critical basic needs of others.  This is by no means the last word on changing attitudes and creating a barrier free society. We are sure that there are many more initiatives that have a lot to contribute. Please let us do whatever is needed to remove barriers and change attitudes.