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"Nature has only diversity. We , in our ignorance create all kinds of discrimination-- caste, creed, religion, ability or disability."
Parents, teachers and the society play crucial role in an individual’s development. They take care of our educational, social, psychological and emotional needs. It becomes even more important for children and adults with intellectual disability. Our work remains incomplete if parents and the society fail to participate in this process. Thus creating awareness and advocating for their rights becomes an important area for our work. |
Why awareness & advocacy
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Social awareness about persons with intellectual disability is essential for creating acceptance as well as needed support from the mainstream society.
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There are several misconceptions about intellectual disability in people’s mind which create social barriers causing impoverished life for the challenged people.
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Parents themselves have many misconceptions and it not only impedes their acceptance of their disabled child but also crucial years of learning are lost to the child with disability. Proper and accurate knowledge about the condition will help them in providing good support to the growth and development of their children.
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It is ironical that the people who need utmost care and support from us are the ones most neglected also. We hardly think about their rights to education, training, employment, and their rights for a life of respect and dignity. They constitute one of the most neglected and marginalized section of our society.
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STATISTICS
5% of our population has disability i.e. about 5crore persons. (National Survey Sample)
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40- 80 million – 2007 estimates
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World wide statistics show that 2% of the population has the condition of intellectual disability
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There are 3 crore children (age 0-14) in India with special needs of various kinds (e.g. intellectual disability, autism, hearing impaired, multiple disabilities etc.) -(UNICEF)
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There are only 2,500 special schools in India
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Inclusive education, professed in the latest education policy, remains on paper only. There is no serious thought towards creating necessary infrastructure for it.
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Such disabilities affect the life of entire family in several important ways; social support systems can be great help
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All of us are likely to spend some years (7 years) of our lives with disabilities as we grow old
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So concern for ‘disabled’ is Concern for ourselves too!!!
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Schemes of Government >>
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News from Different Sources >>
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SOLUTIONS
- There is a dire need to create public awareness about the lives of intellectually challenged children and adults
- Awareness about the nature of intellectual disability and how it affects a person
- Emphasis upon the value of training in the development of the intellectually challenged persons
- Highlight about their potential for learning and becoming self reliant in many ways e.g. self care, communication, social and emotional skills, vocational skills, earning through employment etc.
- Success stories to be publicized to build hopeful attitude in the parents
- Important points of information for the parents which will help in understanding and responding to the needs of their children
- Awareness amongst student population to generate peer support and an informed society
Advocacy for their rights and emphasis upon the dignity for people with diversity; stress upon diversity rather than disability
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