The differently-abled are the way they are by chance. Given a chance they too would like to be like normal people. However, left with no choice, disability becomes a way of life for them and they accept their life as it is. Performing simple routine tasks is difficult for them, yet the differently-abled find their way. They have an amazing mind power.
Speaking to SimpliCity on occasion of International Day of People with a Disability that is observed on 3 December, Swarnalatha J, Managing Trustee of city-based NGO Swarga Foundation says “The only disability in life is absence of a positive attitude. Disability is not my identity and I was not born this way. Thanks to my disability, I have realized the power of my mind.” Swarnalatha says.
She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) which is a debilitating disease where the causes are still being researched. Having shifted base to Coimbatore, Swarnalatha and her husband Guruprasad, founded the Swarga Foundation in 2014. Swarga’s Mission is to improve the lives of individuals with Multiple Sclerosis and other neuro-muscular disorders by increasing awareness among the general public and thereby transforming the general attitude in society towards differently-abled individuals. This transformation will increase empathy and improve access to opportunities that are currently inaccessible due to lack of infrastructure and misinterpretations of disabilities among the general public.
“Mobility, cognitive disability, speech disability and visually impaired are the various forms of disability that one can experience. The family and the society must accept the disabled as they are. The disabled too have talent. The very fact that India won more medals in the Special Olympics is proof of this. The disabled must be given opportunity in education and in employment too.” Swarnalatha says.
Seconding her is Dr. Premavathy Vijayan, Vice Chancellor, Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore who says “Acceptance and Inclusion of disabled people is the most important aspect for their development. In education, the UGC has been working continuously for giving equal opportunity in educational and employment for specially blessed. The need of the hour is more number of teachers to teach the differently-abled kids and collaboration of teacher kid and parents so that the parent understands the exact method of handling their children.”
Making a mention of Avinashilingam University for Women, she said the college has an accessible environment for the differently-abled students and also proper trainers for them so as to make them independent.
Moving the focus from education, Swarnalatha shares that it would be of big help to the differently-abled, senior citizens and the infants if the city is disabled-friendly. In her opinion if the public spaces like cinema theatres, shopping malls, restaurants, parks, railway station and bus stop have basic facilities like ramps, toilets and elevators, the differently-abled too can socialise.
One of the malls in the city is disabled-friendly. Brookefields Mall has seven wheel chairs which are easily available to people who need it. This mall also has a ramp facility and two toilets on the ground floor and third floor for the differently-abled.
Ashwin Balasubramaniam COO of Brookefields Mall said “From the day of inception itself the mall was designed with features to make the place disable friendly. Any portion of the mall is accessible to disabled people and senior citizens as we have wheel chairs, ramp and lifts to access.”
He further shares that all these are the need of the hour and people should understand importance of making places disabled friendly. He also says that he is open to suggestion from people with regard to making the place more accessible to differently-abled and senior citizens.
Commenting on the facilities that are available in our city for the disabled, Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner, Dr. Vijay Karthikeyan said “We understand the needs of the disabled people. In this regard, we have installed the basic facilities like ramps in the various corporation buildings and we have plans of installing toilets for the disabled. Tomorrow, we are launching one toilet for the differently-abled at the Ramanatha Puram School.” This we are told is being done in partnership with Swarga Foundation.
In fact on International Day of People with a Disability several voices share just one message, ‘Treat the disabled on par with the others in the society’.