This post is by guest blogger Svetha Venkatram, a yoga instructor who specifically helps people improve their sleep. Deeply empathetic towards people with disabilities and cognizant of the multiple accessibility issues, she participated in the blog hop last year as well. In this post she shares how the able – bodied enjoy so many privileges, that one would not even realise in the normal course. She goes on to share an example of how it is possible to design more inclusive spaces for the disabled.
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I travelled to New Zealand recently for a holiday and it was one of the nicest things I have ever done for myself. And I remember sending so many silent thoughts of gratefulness out to the universe during my holiday. Grateful that I have a body that is perfectly fine in conventionally designed public spaces. Grateful for the education and financial independence I have, in no small part a blessing because I have the fortune of having sight, locomotor and auditory senses all functioning in the way society typically demands if one is to experience any measure of kindness and inclusion in this world. Grateful because all of this meant I was able to go online, book my holiday, apply for a visa and get onto a plane – no assistance needed from anyone, absolutely my own person, enjoying my own time.
I have to confess that a lot of these thoughts would probably never have occurred to me before. It’s been a shift in perspective that has been taking place over a period of time.
Last year, I had the good fortune of participating in the IDPD blog hop. You can read my post here. I have to say that the simple act of participating has brought about some small changes in how I perceive the world. Reading everyone’s posts and thoughts has pushed me to think about the subject of how we as a society have designed a world which only some of us can enjoy. Indeed, as many blog posts through both this year and last year’s blog hop will tell you, 16% of people in the world currently live with disability. That is one in every six of us. Breaking it down to numbers, that is actually 1.3 billion people who may be excluded from taking advantage of things others take for granted such as the ability to go out of the house, meet new people, have friends, explore social media and form virtual connections, keep abreast with news online, go to school or college, go to work and take charge of one’s own financial independence while developing professional networks. And so on. The list is long.
But I want to devote this post to just one idea. The idea that everyone should have the right to go on holiday and relax – irrespective of whether or not they live with a disability. And for me, this realisation came when, on a deliciously warm afternoon during my time in New Zealand, as I was taking a stroll through the delightful Wellington Botanic Garden I suddenly came face to face with this sign:
Wellington Botanic Garden Braille Trail. Photo Credit: Svetha Venkatram
A sign in a series of many, all part of a Braille Trail, for anyone with visual disabilities to enjoy the absolutely stunning gardens. It touched me in so many ways, just the fact that someone cared enough to build in a Braille Trail into an inconic landmark.
Lady Norwood Rose Gardens, Wellington Botanic Garden. Photo credit: Svetha Venkatram
Back in India, I did some reading around the Braille Trail and how it works. Essentially, those with visual impairments can ask for a Braille brochure before entering the gardens. The brochure comes with detailed instructions about the tactile Braille route to follow and descriptions on the various plants to touch and feel along the way.
I’m not the best of photographers but I did take some pictures of the gardens for a memory. I have to say though that my photos probably don’t do justice to the fresh smell of herbs and roses that was everywhere that afternoon 😊
I found a very quick 1 minute 40 second video on YouTube in case you want to get a better idea on how you can experience these fascinating gardens with a visually impaired loved one.
I can say that as a typically functioning, able bodied individual, coming face to face with this simple signage for the Braille Trail and its efforts to be inclusive did impact me on a deeper level. For starters, it has made me acknowledge that leisure time and sightseeing itself are a privilege of the able-bodied.
Another co-blogger who is writing for this blog hop has done an excellent post that, amongst other things, discusses organisations that host holidays for people with disabilities. It is well researched and informative, and I encourage you to give it a read.
So. Where do we go from here? Let’s pause and think about ways in which we can contribute to making the many amazing parts of our world accessible to the 1.3 billion people who may currently not be able to enjoy them. It may be advocating for more Braille Trails. Or it may be advocating for more sign-language interpreters available at public spaces. Or it could be something entirely different but just as useful. Every idea that comes into a manifestation starts with a thought.
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This post is a part of the ‘International Day of Persons with Disablities’ blog hop hosted by Sakshi Verma. #IDPDbloghop2023. Access all posts of this blog hop at https://tripleamommy.com/2023/12/04/championing-diversity-uniting-voices-commemorating-idpd-together/
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Thanks for reading this post. Please like, comment and share!
Regards, Sakshi aka tripleamommy
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I love how this #IDPD2023Bloghop is bringing forth so many aspects of enabling and empowering the disabled. It is true, that a disabled person has equal rights to information, employment and entertainment. Posts like these are what we need to sensitize the government to the needs of this section of our society.
[…] Day 15, 15th December. In today’s post, blogger Svetha Venkatram, talks about how the able – bodied enjoy so many privileges, that one would not even realise in the normal course. She goes on to share an example of how it is possible to design more inclusive spaces for the disabled. Read her thoughts here https://tripleamommy.com/2023/12/15/leisure-and-travel-are-the-privilege-of-the-able-bodied-what-can… […]
I agree with you on so many points. I have found this blog hop very educational. I have begun to understand the finer implications of dealing with specially abled people. The expenses, the requirements and the abilities are different and they should not be excluded from all the privileges that they can enjoy. I don’t think India has any Braille Trails and we also need to be more empathetic towards their needs. Besides, I truly feel grateful that we have the ability to make the change, even through our writings.
Such an important issue tackled here- it’s true we just kind of assume the PWDs don’t need to travel for pleasure- a lot more needs to be done here
Thanks so much for raising this important issue. A lot needs to be done here. As our son is growing up, we have to think that much more about logistics of travel and choice of holiday.
Your post beautifully highlights the privilege many take for granted when it comes to leisure and travel. The Braille Trail at Wellington Botanic Garden is a wonderful example of inclusivity. Your perspective on acknowledging the privilege of able-bodied individuals in experiencing leisure is thought-provoking. Advocating for more accessible features like Braille Trails or sign-language interpreters is crucial for creating a more inclusive world. Thank you for shedding light on this important issue and inspiring positive change.
Every year as part of the ‘WeCare’ initiative, first year management students from our college are required to work in NGOs for three weeks. And the first reaction of most of the students who worked with Special schools was that of ‘Gratitude’.
Wow! We’ve been to many parks and reservoirs here in Singapore and I’ve always been amazed by it. But this park in Australia that you’ve highlighted put their parks into a different level which I think Singapore should also follow. It’s very true that leisure and travel should also be available for disabled people. Great article!
Wow, so important to highlight how we don’t see a disabled person’s perspective in the most common things. Entertainment, travel and leisure are supposed to be basic rights, and often persons with disabilities are left out of these mainstream activities. I am a caregiver to a parent on a wheelchair and often we have to compromise or forego our plans to travel because of the lack of accessibility.
Thank you for bringing attention to this crucial issue. We often view a person with disability only through the lens of their disability — not as a person with all the needs and desires of any other able-bodied person. We, in India, are very poor in this regard — people with disability have to be very wealthy to be able to enjoy vacations with dignity. At least, most places have wheelchair access to an extent now. But for those who are visually or hearing impaired, its very difficult. And for those who have sensory issues — forget holidaying!! So its wonderful to read about the Braille trail. Perhaps the big parks like Lalbagh and national parks in India can try to emulate
Svetha…I loved the core idea of this blog – “Everyone should have the right to go on holiday and relax – irrespective of whether or not they live with a disability”.
And of course, thanks for sharing YouTube link for Wellington Braille Trail 🙂
All the points are precisely written ..this article gives a great understanding on how specially abled people are taken for granted even when it comes to leisure time activities like travel which every person needs