Barriers to Disability Inclusion

Often the needs of individuals with hearing impairment, visual impairment or intellectual disabilities are ignored when communicating. All individuals have a right to communicate and when mediums of communication used are inaccessible, an entire section of society is left out. Within India, cultural beliefs like the disability of a child being caused as a result of parents' sins, a disabled child being treated as a bad omen, etc colour the narrative on disability. This further complicates the discrimination being faced by persons with disabilities. The RPWD Act, 2016 has been landmark legislation that safeguards the rights of the disabled community. However, while the government has been taking measures to make the country disability-inclusive, the implementation and monitoring of the schemes and policies have been poor

The social model of disability views disability as influenced and created by limiting attitudinal, physical, systemic, communication and technological barriers created by society. The Rights for Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 defines a barrier as"any factor including communicational, cultural, economic, environmental, institutional, political, social, attitudinal or structural factors which hampers the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society". It thus implies that despite the medical condition, it is the responsibility of society – individuals, community, businesses, and government to take accommodative measures to be inclusive.

Such barriers exist at various levels

- Infrastructural Barriers: Physical inaccessibility is a major challenge for persons with disabilities. Most spaces are designed in a way that limits disabled people from participating in society and exercising their fundamental rights. Be it schools, hospitals, workplaces, or grocery stores – ensuring access for all is rarely given a thought.

- Attitudinal Barriers: Normative stereotypes around disability hinder persons with disabilities from actively participating in society. From questioning their competency to making fun of their disability, a general lack of sensitization reflects in the way society interacts with disabled individuals.

- Communication Barriers: Often the needs of individuals with hearing impairment, visual impairment or intellectual disabilities are ignored when communicating. All individuals have a right to communicate and when mediums of communication used are inaccessible, an entire section of society is left out.

- Cultural Barriers: Within India, cultural beliefs like the disability of a child being caused as a result of parents' sins, a disabled child being treated as a bad omen, etc colour the narrative on disability. This further complicates the discrimination being faced by persons with disabilities.

- Institutional Barriers: In the absence of disability-inclusive measures by institutions in making their services and products accessible to persons with disabilities, such individuals are discriminated against by design. Not being able to provide reasonable accommodation to address and include the needs of disabled people acts as a major barrier further limiting them of the opportunities of expressing themselves.

The RPWD Act, 2016 has been landmark legislation that safeguards the rights of the disabled community. However, while the government has been taking measures to make the country disability-inclusive, the implementation and monitoring of the schemes and policies have been poor. With no data to highlight the sufferings of the millions of people living with disabilities, lack of scientific evidence has been another barrier to including the community and its concerns during policy-making. People with disabilities, now, need to lead and take proactive measures to ensure that they are included in all spheres of decision-making.

By: Arman Ali 

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