World Disability Day 2011

To commemorate World Disability Day 2011, Cross the Hurdles invited entries to be published from members of our "Hum Saksham" Facebook Group. We are pleased to have gotten a good response. Here are some of the entries.

Dr Satendra Singh writes about myths regarding disabilities

Myths

Timeless Myths In my opinion the biggest discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (PwD) is attitudinal. There assumptions may take the form of myths as well as stereotypes. On International Day of PwD’s, I am sharing with you ten myths people encountered regarding disabilities and the truths behind them. MYTH: Dyslexia and learning disability is the same thing. REALITY: Dyslexia is a type and not a synonym of learning disability. It is a specific language based disorder affecting a person’s ability to read, write and verbally expressing themselves. MYTH: If a hemophilic person gets a cut, he/she will bleed to death. REALITY: The truth is that a person with hemophilia will bleed longer (in some cases, much longer) than someone with a normal level of clotting factor. In most cases, hemostasis will be achieved and the bleed will stop, usually through an emergency treatment of factor. MYTH: Employees with disabilities have a higher absentee rate than employees without disabilities. REALITY: It has been seen by various studies that employees with disabilities have higher retention rates, high rate of loyalty to a company and usually a positive effect on staff. Unlike the misconception these studies show that on the average, people with disabilities have better attendance rates than their non-disabled counterparts. MYTH: Wheelchair users are confined to their chairs as they are paralyzed. REALITY: Some Persons with Disabilities (PwD) can walk, but their strength may be limited so they prefer a wheelchair to enable them to travel longer distances. A common occurrence is at the airport.

MYTH: All deaf people can read lips. REALITY: It is often thought that deaf people can speechread as efficiently as persons can hear. However, speechreading (or lipreading) is a skill that some deaf persons are good at; others have difficulty mastering such a talent. While good speechreading skills can help in communication, only 30 percent of all speech is visible on the lips, and even the best speechreaders cannot speechread everything that is said. MYTH: People with thalassemia have more appetite than usual REALITY: Deferiprone ( Ferriprox) is an oral drug that chelates iron and is used to treat thalassemia major. Increased appetite may occur only as a side effect for people who are on this drug. MYTH: Repetitive or ritualistic behaviors in Autism should be stopped. REALITY: One of the characteristic features of autism is repetitive and ritualistic behaviors. Though these behaviors -- which can include hand flapping, banging on walls or rocking back and forth -- may seem peculiar, they are the his/her reaction to his/her own problem. They can be calming; they can feel good; and they may help the person communicate with others. Such behaviors may become problematic if they begin intrusive in family life or if they prevent those with autism from functioning separately. Over the time it is seen that a child may learn to outgrow such behaviors as they isolate him in the society. MYTH: Cerebral Palsy is Treatable REALITY: The symptoms of cerebral palsy are treatable but the condition itself is not. Brain injuries do not heal, as the tissues in the brain are not capable of regenerating in the same fashion as are the tissues in the rest of the body. MYTH: Leprosy causes fingers, toes and limbs to fall off. REALITY: Another myth. Leprosy affects the nerves in the limbs resulting in all sensations in them being lost. This puts these individuals at a higher risk for injuring their limbs, since they do not experience any pain. The neglected parts especially the feet is more susceptible to ulcers which if not cared correctly and in time may need to be amputated. MYTH: It hardly matters if you say mentally retarded/handicapped/crippled/lame or ‘special’ or ‘differently abled’. These are mere words and convey the same meaning. REALITY: Language plays a significant role in breaking attitudinal barrier. PWD’s are people first and their disability should come later. Words DO make a difference and Persons with disabilities is more acceptable than disabled persons. The carry-home-message: Each human being is of inestimable value and nobody is insignificant

Dr Satendra Singh

Coordinator, Enabling Unit, Equal Opportunity Cell

University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, Delhi

Chairperson, Equality and Diversity Committee, UCMS Founder, Infinite Ability

Founder, India Chapter, World Association of Persons with Disabilities

Medical Advisor, Cross the Hurdles

Purshottam Rathore writes about Role of IT for Differently Able

Role of IT for Differently Able – A real Tribute

Physical disability was a curse before the invention of Information Technology, Mobile Technology etc. Some years back in 90’s we were able to put all efforts but could not succeed. After the advent of Computers in India there has been an opportunity for all of us to be a part of the main stream. Computers and Mobiles make our lives simpler and we have come closer to everyone, almost at the same platform. After passing 10th we had to choose Medical or Non-medical. If we were able to get good marks in Pre Engineering examination, we had to opt for Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Instrumentation Engineering etc. All these branches are not suitable for a person with disability as they require lot of physical work.

Why Bill Gates could remain on the top for several years in Forbes magazine within few decades of his life. How he became the richest man in terms of money and popularity! It is only due to computer technology. If we look in terms of Computers only few things are required i.e. Computer, Internet & Mobile for starting an IT based business by a skilled person. No too much material cost, huge investment, marketing, sales promotion costs etc are required in this business in as compared to other businesses. One of the biggest advantages of this technology variety of software that has been developed and so many more would be developed in the near future according to the user’s choice. So many technical supports are available according to needs. There are so many technologies are available for hearing impaired, speech impaired etc.

Different softwares have been developed for our fellow friends and lot of have to be developed in near future. Only with a single touch of keys we can connect to the world within a second and can express ourselves. Lot of skilled manpower is required with specialization in this field. So it can be a great career option for the people with disabilities. For e.g. If a person is interested in Fashion Designing, he can opt for some specific kind of software and can develop his skills. Likewise if someone has a good in Database administration, he/she can opt of Designing.

One of the advantages of this technology is that a person does not have travel long distances. A person can even work from home.

Various options are also available for self employment as well as in Govt. sectors in IT including freelancing. We have to understand that every person is a unique in his talent. So I request to my fellow friends to put your best efforts to prove them and grab the opportunities which comes in these few decades. Now the time has come where we can prove our abilities even with disability. This could be a real positivity towards achieving our goals.

The concluding view is that we have to understand that we should be more vigilant to the developments in technologies. These can be beneficial to a physically challenged person. As soon as anything new comes in the field of IT we should try to capitalize on it by learning it. I am sure in no time we can achieve IT skills and even can become an icon in this field.

Purshottam Rathore
Email id: puru@nhpc.nic.in

Rashid Siddiqui's Poem

Tanha nahi hun main..

Tanha nhi hun main mera saya mere sath h,
Khud se hi h mohabbat aur yakin b beshumaar h,
Kiyun rahe meri zindagi me kisi aur ki khalish
Jise dekhta hun aaiyne me har din wahi mera sathi h wahi mera yaar h

Ashq behte hain gar to khud se hi pochh leta hun
Khud k kaandhe pe rakhkr haath sahara b de deta hun
Is zamane ki bandishon ki ab parwah nhi h mujhko
Thamta hun to bas ek pal fr rah pe chala jata hun

Ab khud se to bewafai koi kar nhi sakta
Shahinshah ho jo khudki marzi ka ghulami wo kar nhi sakta
Yun to aksar armano ko tootte dekha h maine
Darte nhi jo tez fizaon se chirag-e-khwab unka kabi bujh nhi sakta

Rashid Siddiqui

Mohini writes about her experiences

3rd December To commemorate the world disability day on 3rd December Cross the Hurdles (CTH) has asked us to send our experiences and views about disability in different forms of creation. I chose to spread my views on virtual paper through words. Writing about disability is difficult until you experience it directly or indirectly and ones you have experienced it, it is even more difficult to gather those experiences in words or colors. The more you write the less you feel. I am yet to experience a lot on this topic and with my little experience, I am unable to do justice with my views hence I chose a narrow side of this and decided to write about my own experience. I remember last 3rd December 2010, I was searching for so called office job and spending hours on job portals. Negative results from interviews had made me anxious, stressed and worried. I didn’t realize when my wish to get a job made me mulish, and I stopped seeing other options available for my financial independence. The days and months were passing by with no success. I poured my defeat and pain on paper and fortunately Abha (didi) published it on CTH for the first time. That was my first article and first step towards the beginning of a new life. There are few people who actually convinced me to opt for this profession. The budding writer in me would never have grown without their support and initiative. I slowly started writing on blogs, and today I am associated with few companies and writing for their websites and blogs. However, the story doesn’t end here and there is a still long way to go. In this one year a lot has changed, and I learned something that I never did before. Acceptance of situation is the most important aspect that has helped me to grow in a better way. I accepted my disability many years ago hence I am always very comfortable with it but when I grew I couldn’t accept the changing situations around me. I am not suggesting anyone to give up on their goals and dreams, but we should learn to set realistic goals. Unrealistic wishes may give you blissfulness for short period, but it always becomes the reason for pain. I too believe in cliché “Nothing is impossible” but that should not make you rigid. I am glad I learned, accept and moved ahead, and I wish same for everyone…….

Mohini Sharma

सत्य नारायण शर्मा "विश्व अपंग दिवस" के बारे में

आज ३ दिसम्बर है ,विश्व विकलांग दिवस है ,विश्व स्वास्थ संघठन ने यह दिन घोषित तो कर दिया है ,पर उनकी और से वह पुरजोर कोशिश नहीं की गयी जो अपंगो को सक्षम और आर्थिक रूप से स्वावलंबी बना सके. इस मामले में भारत तो बहुत ही पीछे है ,बहुत ही कम सुविधाएँ और साधन हमारे देश में उपलब्ध है.

सरकार की तरफ से विश्व विकलांग दिवस पर अख़बारों मे विज्ञापन देकर, कुछ संघोष्ठी कर और दो -चार सेमिनार का आयोजन कर अपने कर्तव्य की इतिश्री कर ली जाती है. टी वी पर चार सोशल जस्टिस वाले बड़े -बड़े नाम, अपना-अपना ज्ञान और कानून की बारीकियां बताकर अपना काम पूरा कर लेते हैं. ठोस पहल कोई भी नहीं करता है. कानून तो अपंगो की सहायता के लिए बहूत बने हैं ,पर उनका पूर्ण पालन हो रहा है या नहीं, यह देखने वाला कोई नहीं है.

अपंगो के प्रति समाज का रवैय्या भी बड़ा ही उपेक्षापूर्ण और हिकरात्मकभरा है ,जो हाथ सहायता के लिए उठते है वह भी एक दया के रूप में,जो अपंगो के मन में एक ग्लानी सी भर देते हैं. कुछ सहायता एन. जी. ओ. करते हैं ,पर उनमें भी जो कार्य हो रहा है ,वह केवल शिक्षा तक ही सीमित रह पाता हैं. जो सुविधांए उपलब्ध हैं ,उनका भी लाभ विकलांग इसलिए नहीं उठा पाते हैं ,कारण कि उनके पास आवागमन के निजी साधन उपलब्ध नहीं हैं,लोकल ट्रेन में एक छोटा सा कोच ही है ,बसों में जगह निर्धारित तो है पर उनके घरों से गंतव्य तक पहुँचाना एक चुनोतिपूर्ण कार्य है ,बस और रिक्शा का किराया ही इतना अधिक है की वे आधे समय मन पर पत्थर रखकर घर ही रह जाते हैं, नौकरी के साक्षात्कार के लिए घर से बहार ही नहीं जा पाते है ,साधनों का आभाव उनमें एक निराशा भर देती है ,वे अपने उपर ही खीज जाते है ,व्यवस्था के प्रति नफरत सी हो जाती है.

कई देशो मैं जैसा की मैंने बहुत ही करीबियों से सुना है उनके आने जाने के लिए सरकार उन्हें एक कार मुफ्त मैं देती हैं. खूब आराम से इज्जत से रह सको एसा घर और आजीविका चलाने के लिए माता पिता को भत्ता दिया जाता हैं आप आर्थिक रूप से आत्मनिर्भर हो सके ,इतनी रकम तो सरकार दे ही देती है.

भारत जैसे देश मैं यह सब दिवास्वप्न की मानिंद है ,इससे आधे मैं भी सरकार कुछ कर सके वही बहुत उपकार होगा. अपंगो को उनके सामर्थ्य और शिक्षा के अनुसार रोजगार उपलब्ध करा सके ,जहाँ संभव हो होम बेस्ड जॉब दे सके तो भी बहुत कुछ संभव हो सकता है.पर सरकार और समाज दोनों मैं ही इच्छाशक्ति की कमी है. कुछ उपाय होते हैं वह भी पूर्ण नहीं हो पाते हैं,

अभी कुछ दिन पहले अख़बार मैं एक अंग्रेजी पुस्तक की समीक्षा पढ़ी वह भी केवल अंग्रेजी अख़बारों मैं. अपने अपंग पुत्र के प्यार परवरिश और उपलब्धियों पर,पुस्तक लिखी थी. श्री अरूण शोरीजी एक उम्दा पत्रकार और आर्थिक विशेषज्ञ है .वोह पांच सालो तक एन डि ऐ सरकार मैं केबिनेट मंत्री के पद पर रहे , चाहते तो एक परिवर्तन की लहर ला सकते थे. एक पत्रकार के नाते इंडियन एक्सप्रेस के संपादक थे उनके पास कलम और सत्ता दोनों ही शक्तिया थी. वह कोई अच्छा सा कानून ला कर बहुत कुछ कर सकते थे पर दृढ इच्छाशक्ति बिना कुछ भी संभव नहीं है, अतः इस दिशा मैं अपने पुत्र तक ही सीमित रह गए.

कुछ संस्थाएँ अपंगो के रोजगार की व्यवस्था करती है ,पर वो इतनी नहीं हैं की उनकी आर्थिक जरूरतों को पूरा कर सके ,बैंकों मैं उनके स्थान नियत है पर साक्षात्कार मे जाने के लिये जहा सामान्य प्रत्याशी रुपया पचास खर्च करता है वही यदि अस्थि व्यंग प्रत्याशी रूपए १६००/- टेक्सी का किराया देगा. ऐसा कोई साधन नहीं है की जिससे वह अपनी परीक्षा सामान्य खर्च करके दे सके. हम इन्हें रोजगार दे रहे है या नहीं ये तो पता नहीं पर इन सब से उन्हें भावनात्मक और मानसिक रूप से दुखी जरुर कर रहे हैं. क्यों हर क्लेरिकल जॉब जिसमे बैठ कर काम करना हैं पढ़े लिखे विकलांगो के लिए आरक्षित नहीं है? क्यों यह रिजर्वेशन सिर्फ १ या २ प्रतिशत तक सिमित हैं?

अगर सरकार और समाज दोनों ही दृढ़ विश्वास से यह कार्य कर सके तो शिक्षित विकलांगो की समस्या कुछ कम हो सकेगी. इसी तरह अंध और बधिर का भी आर्थिक आधार बन सकता है ,क्यों यह लोग अपने इलाज के लिए सरकारी अस्पताल पर पर निर्भर रहे उनके घर के पास वाला डॉक्टर उनका इलाज कर अपनी फीस सरकार से ले सकता है. या फिर इन्हे मुफ्त चिकित्सा मिल सके ऐसी कोई व्यवस्था हो. पर सच कहू तो कुछ ही डॉक्टर सहायता करते हैं जो अपने कर्म के प्रति निष्ठांवान है बाकि डॉक्टर तो अपनी फीस वसूलते,और वो भी सामान्य से कही अधिक ,उनकी समाज के प्रति निष्ठां कही भी दृष्टिगोचर नहीं होती है.

बहुत समस्या है उनके समाधान भी है ,पूरी की पूरी थीसिस लिखी जा सकती है परन्तु हम भी केवल आज ही कोई सेमिनार संगोष्ठी कर लेंगे ,सरकार कोई घोषणा कर देगी ,नेताजी भाषण देवेंगे मैं भी अपना लेख लिखकर दे दूंगा और कल सब जैसा पहले था वैसा ही चलता रहेगा ,अगले विकलांग दिवस तक. पता नहीं कब कोई अन्ना इस तरफ भी ध्यान देगा.......???????

सत्य नारायण शर्मा (एक पिता)

A Poem by Nira Rajpal

Meri kavaya rach di

Kitni baar imtihaan loge
Kitni baar muje
Sabit karna hoga
Tumhari hi rachai duniya
Khud ko qabeel karna hoga
Roz Sabitt karna hoga

Bheja tha duniya mein jab
Thor kar pankh mere
Kya soch kar muskurahye the
Kyun is keerti par itraye the

Ek galti kar gaye
Muj mein himmat
Bhar gaye
Hausle ki zindgi de di
Muj mein qabeeliyat bhar di

Kalam mein siyaahii di
Kagaz par rihayi likh di
Bhar ke itne bhaw dil main
Meri kavaya rach di

Mukaam par muje
Pahuncha diya
Ek rasta dikha diya
Duniya mein ladna
Sikhaa diya
Khud mein vishwas jaga diya

Aaj shukriya karte hain tera
tuze namaan karte hain
Tere hi banayi sansaar ne
Muj mein kamyabi bhar di

Nira Rajpal

A video by Sajeev Sarathie

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