Recently, the Madras High Court issued two orders related to the accessibility of public facilities for persons with disabilities.
About People with Special needs
Over one billion people – about 15% of the global population – live with some form of disability and this number is increasing.
The Constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice and dignity of all individuals and implicitly mandates an inclusive society for all including persons with disabilities.
In recent years, there have been vast and positive changes in the perception of the society towards persons with special needs.
It has been realized that a majority of persons with disabilities can lead a better quality of life if they have equal opportunities and effective access to rehabilitation measures.
Data
People with disabilities experience poorer health outcomes, have less access to education and work opportunities, and are more likely to live in poverty than those without a disability.
According to the Census 2001, there are 2.19 crore persons with special needs in India who constitute 2.13 percent of the total population.
This includes persons with visual, hearing, speech, locomotor and mental disabilities.
Seventy five percent of persons with special needs live in rural areas, 49 percent of disabled population is literate and only 34 percent are employed.
Approach by the Government
The earlier emphasis on medical rehabilitation has now been replaced by an emphasis on social rehabilitation.
There has been an increasing recognition of abilities of persons with disabilities and emphasis on mainstreaming them in the society based on their capabilities.
Barriers associated with people with special needs
A physical environment that is not accessible.
Lack of relevant assistive technology (assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices).
Negative attitudes of people towards disability.
Services, systems and policies that are either nonexistent or that hinder the involvement of all people with a health condition in all areas of life.
Attitudinal barriers are the most basic and contribute to other barriers
Stereotyping, Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination, People sometimes stereotype those with disabilities, assuming their quality of life is poor or that they are unhealthy because of their impairments.
Communication barriers are experienced by people who have disabilities that affect hearing, speaking, reading, writing, and or understanding, and who use different ways to communicate than people who do not have these disabilities.
Physical barriers are structural obstacles in natural or manmade environments that prevent or block mobility (moving around in the environment) or access.
Policy barriers are frequently related to a lack of awareness or enforcement of existing laws and regulations external icons that require programs and activities be accessible to people with disabilities.
Programmatic barriers limit the effective delivery of a public health or healthcare program for people with different types of impairments.
Social barriers are related to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, learn, work and age – or social determinants of health – that can contribute to decreased functioning among people with disabilities.
Transportation barriers are due to a lack of adequate transportation that interferes with a person’s ability to be independent and to function in society.
Government policies and intervention
Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, which provides for education, employment, creation of barrier free environment, social security, etc.
National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability Act, 1999 has provisions for legal guardianship of the four categories and creation of an enabling environment for as much independent living as possible.
Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 deals with the development of manpower for providing rehabilitation services
National Institutes are working for the development of manpower.
There are five Composite Rehabilitation Centres, four Regional Rehabilitation Centres and 120 District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs) providing various kinds of rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities.
National policy statement
The National Policy recognizes that Persons with special needs are valuable human resources for the country and seeks to create an environment that provides them equal opportunities, protection of their rights and full participation in society.
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