Today’s guest post is by Sindhura Gaddepalli. She is an Electrical Engineer by education and a mom of 2 lovely kids. A special parent counsellor by profession, she provides strategies and IEP support for special needs parents, currently pursuing masters in Autism and severe multiple disabilities from Adelphi university.
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Inclusion is a practice or policy providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who have either “physical” or “hidden disabilities”. “Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it is not there.”
Globally one in six of us live with a disability i.e., approximately 1.3 billion people. While some of us experience a disability that is “visible”, many have a “non-visible condition” called Hidden Disabilities or experience a combination of both visible and non-visible conditions.
These disabilities can be temporary, situational, and permanent. They can be Neurological, Cognitive and Neuro developmental as well as physical, visual, auditory and include sensory processing difficulties. They also include, ASD, ADHD, cerebral palsy, PDD, Asperger’s, Anxiety, Sleep disorders and many more.
Challenges faced by persons with disabilities
The disability model is classified into medical and social. The medical model says that a disabled person is a problem whereas the social model says that the barriers within the society are the problem. Social model emphasizes on understanding and accommodating strengths, abilities, and perspectives of individuals with disabilities. It acknowledges lack of accommodation which are physical and environmental barriers. Information and communication barriers, classroom barriers, attitudinal barriers.
Making the world more inclusive
We need to eradicate barriers so that the persons with disabilities can thrive and achieve their dreams. To make the world more inclusive, following can be done:
- Accessible fitting rooms
- Accessible parking spaces
- Accessible toilets
- Assistive listening
- Audio description
- Braille
- Changing places toilet
- Companion or Career access
- Large font/print
- Level access in elevators
- Quiet hour/sensory breaks
- Safe space
- Seating
- Sign Language
- Step-free access
Also, we can offer quick help to co-regulate with the persons having disabilities as follows:
A person with disabilities is much more than the challenges that are too often used to define them. It is a serious problem that many individuals grow up regularly hearing about what their problems are. It can have a detrimental effect on how they see themselves. Despite many strengths, they often experience poor outcomes in education, employment, independence, community engagement and interpersonal relationships because their strengths get neglected.
It is the “time for change” that we support individuals with difficulties to help to grow and get better outcomes. They become the most productive if allowed to self-organize in teams by building up confidence. They are truly worthy of “dignity” and “acceptance” just the same way the persons without disabilities are embraced and accepted in the society.
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities – IDPD day 2023, let each and every one of us take a pledge that all the individuals are same and equal irrespective of their disabilities (either visible or non-visible) and overcome the thought that “people with disabilities as a model of deficit” to considering and accepting them as people with unique/unusual interests and optimal learning capabilities.
Let us make the world more “Inclusion Diversified”.
This post is a part of “International Day of Persons with Disability” blog hop hosted by Sakshi Varma – Tripleamommy. #IDPD2023Bloghop. Access all posts of this bloghop at Championing Diversity, Uniting Voices: Commemorating IDPD Together
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Regards, Sakshi aka tripleamommy
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Nicely worded. Not only are people with disability not defined by that, they are so much more than their challenge. their perspectives are quite different and they make discussions richer by their contribution.
Well written. If only people had a little time to try and understand the next person, ours would be a much more inclusive society.
[…] Day 6, 6th December Blogger Sindhura Gaddepalli, talks about the difference between visible and invisible disabilities and shares her thoughts about making this world more inclusive. Read her thoughts here. Let us Make this World more Inclusive and Diversified […]
The social vs medical model discussed in your post is very instructive and insightful. It makes readers understand that irrespective of what a person’s medical diagnoses may be, we as a society definitely have (untapped) potential and the capacity to make sure everyone feels included.
Beautifully expressed. Social accommodation is certainly an issue. By constantly focusing on the weaknesses, we forget the strengths and the power to live a beautiful life. You are so right, there are so many undiagnosed and hidden disabilities in our life. We need to become balanced.
Truly agree that a person is much more than their disabilities or challenges. It is so very important to see beyond them.
Sindhura’s insightful post beautifully captures the essence of inclusion and diversity. Her emphasis on eradicating barriers and recognizing the unique strengths of individuals with disabilities is commendable. The call to support self-organization and nurture confidence is truly impactful. Her commitment to making the world more “Inclusion Diversified” on this International Day of Persons with Disabilities is inspiring. Thanks to her for advocating for equality and acceptance. Your dedication to supporting special needs parents is making a meaningful difference. Keep spreading positivity and awareness!
Wonderfully articulated simple tips there!
Insightful. Thanks for a wonderful write up.
Sindhura…Thanks for sharing a very practical methodology. I loved the thought that every person with disabilities is much more than the challenges. Every individual has infinite potential regardless of the disability. In our scriptures, there is story about sage Ashta-Vakra. It emphasizes the same thing 🙂
So well written. It is really very important that the people around the person with disability don’t misbehave and understand that they are much more than their disability. Further they may have diverse interests and hobbies in life.