Accessibility is Human Rights issue

3 December 2015: It was my first visit to Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi to witness the National Award function on International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Govt of India launched the Accessible India Campaign from here but alas the venue was disabled friendly. I along with Abha Khetarpal wrote to the PMO office and Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities about the inaccessible ramp the very next day.

4 December 2015: I was invited at Social Welfare Department of Govt of Delhi on my grievance of web-inaccessibility. When I reached there, I found the premises again disabled-unfriendly. The same day I registered my complaint.

6 December 2015: I was returning to home when I saw the 'masterpiece' steep ramp at IDBI Bank in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad near my house. I tweeted to the officials at the same moment.

A year later!

Today is Human Rights Day (10 December 2016) and the theme is #StandUp4HumanRights

"“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere." (Eleanor Roosevelt)

I followed up with all three officials where I get success with IDBI Bank, partial success with Delhi Govt as they released tender for installation of lift and no result with Central Govt as their overhyped Accessible India Campaign failed to produce any results.

Youth Ki Awaaz followed the IDBI story which you can read here. News18's Citizen Journalist program also covered the story:

 

The end result was creation of an accessible ramp by IDBI Bank.Times of India covered the story on the Diwali Day:

GHAZIABAD: The relentless pursuit for over one year by a differently abled activist has prompted one of the banks in Vasundhara to construct a ramp at its building to enable wheelchair-bound customers to enter premises. The activist had found it difficult to access many banks in the area as he had to climb a fleet of steep stairs.

Bank Manager Sumit Jakhar with Dr Satendra Singh

This year also marks ten years of coming into existence of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which is the first human rights treaty in the 21st Century. Article 9 of UNCRPD states:

States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.

Since India has ratified the convention, it is obligation of the State to provide us accessibility. As I quote Ms Roosvelt above, no effort is small or insignificant. Accessibility is human rights issue and we should strive to make a difference. Every little effort counts.

#HumanRightsDay #StandUp4HumanRights #envision2030 #CRPD #SDGs #dISABILITY #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #LeaveNoOneBehind

Everything you want to know about rights of drivers with disability

Ability On Wheels... Enabling Drivability (First Edition, 2016) Paperback – 2016

"Ability on Wheels," penned by Harish Kumar, is an attempt to answer all the questions which come to the mind of any person with disability when he dreams of buying a vehicle & driving on his own. This book also provides insights on safe driving, which are applicable to all & hence even people without disabilities can read this book & learn a lot of things about driving which they may have been ignorant of.

Who is Harish Kumar? A Holder of two National Records in Limca Book of Records, Harish was born with an absence of right arm below the elbow. He did his schooling from a reputed school in Dehradun & went on to do his Masters in Science from IIT Roorkee & Masters in Technology from IIT Delhi. In 2012 he became the first physically challenged person in the country to successfully complete a Solo All India Driving Expedition thereby creating a new National Record in Limca Book of Records.
 

Harish Kumar, editor and Dr Satendra Singh

What is "Ability on Wheels"? ABILITY ON WHEELS is an effort to encourage the people with disabilities to take a big leap towards leading a normal life by providing mobility & accessibility services & solutions. As a first step towards this direction Ability on Wheels has launched a first of its kind in the country driving school exclusively for the differently abled using customized cars in Ahmedabad. This is the first book penned by Harish as an effort to spread awareness & provide useful information on disability & driving. 

"Enabling Driveability" is everything you always wanted to know about disability & driving. In line with 'nothing about us, without 'us', 6 individuals with disabilities have pen down their experiences to make it a complete encyclopedia on driving and disability in Indian context.

Harish Kumar begins with 'Can I drive?' where he writes about disability assessment with regards to driving. Kavita Modi writes about invalid carriage (IVC) in chapter 2 -'What can I drive?' Pallav Pathak mentions driving strategies in chapter 3 - 'How can I drive?' Jaspal Singh talks about driving license in chapter 4 - 'Let me drive'. Navin Gulia mentions about Governmental benefits in chapter 5 - 'My best drive'. Issues facing these benefits are covered in chapter 6 written by me 'A worthy drive'. Finally there is a chapter on the ideal scenario as 'Dream Drive'. The foreword has been written by Advocate Subhash Chandra Vashishth. I request people to forward this valuable info in the Ability on Wheels Book to all the needy. One can buy the book from here.

The above picture is that of my modified Baleno along with the 'Ability on Wheel' book as a constant companion. To buy this car, I had to fight a lengthy battle which is covered in Chapter six and its outcome was amendment of Central Guidelines for availing excise duty concession. The details are available here.

What do the SDGs mean for India’s disabled citizens?

Lack of disability data a significant deterrent in India’s push for achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Satendra Singh, MD
Coordinator, Enabling Unit (for persons with disabilities)
Infinite Ability (Medical Humanities subgroup on disability)
University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, Delhi, India
Email:dr.satendra@gmail.com

(This post first appeared on the Delivery 2030 website)



“I am pleased that elimination of poverty in all forms everywhere is at the top of our goals. Addressing the needs of 1.3 billion poor people in the world is not merely a question of their survival and dignity or our moral responsibility. It is a vital necessity for ensuring peaceful, sustainable and just world.”
- Prime Minister of India’s address at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit1

According to the World report on disability, around 15% of the world's population, or an estimated one billion people, live with some form of disability.2This makes us,the people with disabilities, the world’s largest minority.This number is increasing with chronic diseases, population growth, and the ageing process. It is also reported that 80% of people with disabilities worldwide live in developing countries and 60-75% of these live in rural areas.3Thevicious circle between poverty and disability is known to everyone.

India was one of the first major countries to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2007.4It thus becomes incumbent on India to harmonise all its relevant domestic laws and policies with this international treaty.UNCRPD also requires states to generate robust data in order to demonstrate their compliance with the obligations. Article 35 of the UNCRPD mandates nations to submit country reports on its effective implementation.
It took India 8 years to submit its first country report on UNCRPD implementation, which became public in November 2015 on the website of the United Nation’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.5The comprehensive report sadly lacks data to supplement the claims of the Government.

Disability data is essential to provide services, monitor the implementation, and equalise opportunities. How crucial it is can be gauged by looking at the census data. The latest 2011 census figures have shown only a marginal increase in the number of people with disabilities in India with the figure rising from 21.9 million (2.1% of population) in 2001 to 26.8 million (2.2% of population) in 10 years.6 This census data, however, has been widely criticised for being under-reported. Widespread criticism followed the use of direct question, ‘Is the person mentally/physically disabled’, in the census survey.5 In India, especially rural areas, disability is a big taboo and the use of such direct questions has possibly lead to under reporting.
Globally, the Washington Group of questions is used for authentic measurement of disability in surveys. The Telangana Disability Study Group7 of International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London, who used Washington Group questions, found the overall prevalence of disability in Telangana state of India to be 12.2%. This estimate is much higher than predicted in the Indian Census 2011, and justifies concerns of the disability sector. India does not feature in the list of countries/territories which have included Washington Group questions in their last census as per the website of UN Statistics Division and Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

As a health care professional with disability, and after being inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inspiring speech at the UN General Assembly, I decided to search for evidence ofdisability data in our preparedness for post 2015 (now deliver 2030) agenda. I used the list of disability indicators – developed by the United Nations, International Disability Alliance and International Disability and Development Consortium8– and filed Right to Information (RTI) to gather data from our nodal Ministry on disability9 and National Statistical Agency.10 These indicators intend to measure the progress made for persons with disabilities in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Will SDGs serve the purpose?
To give an example, targets 4.a, 11.2 and 11.7 refer to accessibility by persons with disabilities and suggested ISO standards refer to building codes. At present, there are no common standards. The Draft National Building Code (NBC) of India is being revised after a decade but strangely the NBC exempted 14 places from having toilets for disabled.11 These public spaces include office buildings, cinemas, convention halls, theatres, art galleries, libraries, museums, hotels, restaurants, schools and educational institutions. Moreover, the Ministry of Urban Development has different guidelines. With the Accessible India Campaign being implemented by Centre on mission mode, the disability sector is in a dilemma as to which guidelines to follow.

SDG indicator 10.2 outlines the percentage of government websites which meet the ISO/IEC 40500:2012 of accessibility for Web content. Despite international guidelines being available, the majority of the websites of medical institutions and hospitals in the capital are disabled-unfriendly. For this basic health need, Ihad to file a petition in the Court of State Commissioner (Disabilities) of Government of Delhi to make all the websites of these hospitals accessible.12Following this, on the first day of the deliver2030 agenda, the websites of Delhi hospitals with accessible features were made live. We need this commitment in all the States/UT and certainly not through judicial activism. This is why these indicators must be included in the national framework.

The current scenario
There is no data as per the nodal Ministry on SDG indicators on disability9 despite India ratifying UNCRPD in 2007 and adopting the Incheon Strategy13 to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific in 2012. The table shows disability indicators for SDGs and the response from Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The last column also shows goals of Incheon strategy indicators adopted by India which overlap with SDGs to a large extent. The Strategy comprises 10 disability-inclusive developmental goals, 27 targets and 62 indicators, which build on UNCRPD.

There too was no clear response from the Ministry of Statistics &Programme Implementation on the same questions.9The RTI was forwarded to other ministries and departments like Vital Statistics Divison (Ministry of Home Affairs), Office of the Registrar General (Ministry of Home Affairs), Department of School Education and Literacy (Ministry of Human Resource Development), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The situation calls for deep reflection as we are in the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2013-2022) as declared by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

The Government has launched the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), as a nation-wide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility for persons with disabilities. The targets 3A, 3B and 3C of the Incheon Strategy and the defined indicators (3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6 and 3.8) for tracking the progress on these targets have been used to frame objectives and targets under this campaign.

The intersectoral approach used in this campaign is needed to address other disability statistics else the dream of a prosperous nation will remain elusive. Last month, we completed 20 years of enactment of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 and the lack of data itself speaks of the challenges ahead.With no disability statistics, how the Government frame policies for this largest minority of the world.
Father of the Nation Mahatama Gandhi once said, “A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members."Unless and until people with disabilities are involved in this worthy goal of SDGs, the deal will not become real. Disability inclusion is the key towards human development.Yes, inclusion matters!



Table: SDG and Incheon Strategy disability indicators and Government of India’s response as per Right ToInformation (RTI)



References:
1. Full text: PM Modi’s address at United Nations Sustainable Development Summit | The Indian Express [Internet]. [cited 2015 Nov 7]. Available from: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/full-text-pm-modis-address-to-the-united-nations-general-assembly/
2. World Health Organisation, World Bank. World Report on Disability. Geneva. WHO; 2011.
3. Groce, NE. "Disability in cross-cultural perspective: rethinking disability." The Lancet1999;354(9180): 756-757.
4. Nizar S. Impact of UNCRPD on the status of persons with disabilities. Indian J Med Ethics. 2011 Oct-Dec;8(4):223-9.
5. United Nations Human Rights. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Treaty bodies Download [Internet]. [cited 2015 Nov 22]. Available from: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRPD%2fC%2fIND%2f1&Lang=en
6. Census of India: Disabled Population [Internet]. [cited 2015 Nov 7]. Available from: http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/disabled_population.aspx
7. International Centre for Evidence in Disability (ICED), The Telengana Disability Study, India Summary Report,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) 2014 [available from http://disabilitycentre.lshtm.ac.uk]
8. Disability Indicators: SDG Advocacy Toolkit | International disability and development consortium [Internet]. [cited 2015 Nov 7]. Available from: http://www.iddcconsortium.net/resources-tools/disability-indicators-sdg-advocacy-toolkit
9. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Information sought under RTI Act, 2005. F.No.32-1/2015-DD-III(Pt.VII) dated 23 October 2015.
10. Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation.Survey Design and Research Division. Information sought under RTI Act, 2005. No.A.12034/2/2015-SDRD(Admn.) dated 29 October 2015.
11. Draft code exempts 14 places from having toilets for disabled. The Times of India [Internet]. [cited 2015 Dec 22]. Available from:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Draft-code-exempts-14-places-from-having-toilets-for-disabled/articleshow/50156550.cms
12. ‘Make hospital websites disabled-friendly’. The Hindu [Internet]. [cited 2015 Dec 22]. Available from:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/make-hospital-websites-disabledfriendly/article7798439.ece
13. Tongsiri S, &Hawsutisima, K. The Application of ICF-based Functioning Data on Home Environment Adaptation for Persons with Disabilities. Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development, 2013;24(2): 40-53.

#SDGs #globalgoals #Agenda2030 #Disability #LeaveNoOneBehind #InclusionMatters

No national data on HIV/AIDS among disabled, reveals RTI

I earlier shared my article published in RHiME highlighting people with disabilities living with HIV/AIDS as the missing voices in National AIDS response. I backed it up with RTI's and than complained to the Court of Commissioner, Disabilities GNCTD. The Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) took my suggestions in positive light and now has written to NACO. The later, however, doesn't have any national data on people with disabilities living with HIV/AIDS.

No national data on HIV/AIDS among differently-abled, reveals RTI

THE HINDU, NEW DELHI, May 10, 2015

The Capital has nine antiretroviral treatment centres, but none of them has information on the alternate format for blind or sign language interpreters for deaf people, who are living with HIV.

This is as per a Right to Information reply obtained by disability rights activist Satendra Singh from University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi.

Stating that persons with disabilities are the missing voices in India’s national AIDS response, the physician noted that in the first report of its kind, UNAIDS Gap report 2014 had identified 12 populations at higher risk of HIV (of which people with physical disability is one) and emphasised covering these to close the gap.

This Gap report estimates that India has the third largest number of people living with HIV in the world and accounts for about 4 out of 10 people living with HIV in the region.

“The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in its response to an RTI had noted that they do not have any national data on HIV/AIDS prevalence among people with disabilities,’’ said Dr. Singh.

He added that the NACO annual report of 2013-14 too does not feature a single word with ‘disability’ or ‘persons with disabilities’. Disability is also not mentioned in the HIV/AIDS (Prevention & Control) Bill 2014 as introduced in the Rajya Sabha.

“The Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) has accepted the lacunae and responded stating that suggestions have been conveyed to NACO to include people with disabilities living with HIV in national response, convert all info on sexual and reproductive services AIDS/HIV in accessible format, prevalence among disabled to be included in next survey, disability questions to be used in existing survey,” said Dr. Singh.

“We have also suggested that State Commissioner of Disabilities be part of State AIDS Control & Prevention Societies. Also, the Medical Council of India has written to include disability studies to be part of the MBBS curriculum and Delhi Medical Council to issue instructions to Hospitals and Clinics to be disabled friendly,” he added.

People living with disability (PWD) are world’s largest minority and hence part of every social group included as vulnerable and risk group in UNAIDS Gap report.

“There is also low awareness of HIV among PWDs. The 2007 survey done in rural areas of India revealed the fact that one-fifth of people interviewed had never heard of HIV and is a cause for great concern. People with mental or developmental disabilities generally lack the ability to develop the social skills to recognise predatory behaviour and avoid vulnerable situation. The situation is same for wheelchair users isolated in homes and restricted from communicating with society,” noted Dr. Singh.

Singh S. India’s AIDS response: the missing voices of persons with disabilities. RHiME [Internet]. 2015 Jan 12 [cited 2015 Feb 14];1:[about 8p.].

People with disabilities: The missing voices in India's HIV/AIDS response

The open access, peer reviewed online journal 'Research & Humanities in Medical Education' (RHiME) published my review article on people with disabilities and India's HIV response. Here's the abstract:

India has the third largest number of people living with HIV in the world. The UNAIDS Gap report has identified twelve risk groups that are especially vulnerable and have been left behind from the national AIDS response. Of these twelve, one is persons with disabilities. Disability is both a public health issue and a human rights issue; persons with disabilities are the world’s largest minority. Low awareness, sexual abuse, and lack of access to health services are the major reasons for people with disabilities being vulnerable. While the gap report is a landmark report, in that it compartmentalizes the risk groups, disability cannot be looked at in isolation. Since any of the other risk groups may include persons with disabilities, the issue is a complex one meriting greater attention. The National AIDS Control Organization has completely ignored this group of persons. To efficiently close the gap, an integrated and disability-inclusive HIV response is needed so that people with different types of disabilities, their caretakers, healthcare professionals and society are empowered to fight the collective battle against HIV/AIDS.

Full article can be read at the following link:

Singh S. India’s AIDS response: the missing voices of persons with disabilities. RHiME [Internet]. 2015 Jan 12 [cited 2015 Feb 14];1:[about 8p.].

An Open letter to Chief Justice of India requesting Supreme Court to intervene and allow disabled voters to vote again in Delhi Elections

An Open letter to Hon’able Chief Justice of India requesting Supreme Court to intervene and allow disabled voters to vote again in Delhi Elections

Dear Sir,

I wish to write to you on an issue of national importance. The recently concluded Delhi Elections prevented a sizeable number of voters with disability to vote. This was publicized as the most high-tech polls ever but for disabled voters, it was like ostracizing in their own country. Live webcast notwithstanding, architectural, attitudinal and technological barriers confronted voters with disabilities while exercising their right to vote:  no Braille signs or ramps, an absence of Sign Language interpreters, no automatic door openers, narrow doorways and inaccessible voting machines.

On what basis does the capital of world’s largest democracy legally deprive an estimated 80,000 voters with disability of this fundamental civic right?  Despite Supreme Court orders, publicity towards disabled friendly polling booths was nil. On International Day of Persons with Disabilities (just a day before the elections), the issues were raised in media but false assurances were given. No efforts were made by the Election Commission to raise the awareness even on World Disability Day. Despite PMO orders, CCPD orders, NIC guidelines, the website of Election Commission of India is inaccessible to voters with visual impairments.

On the D-day itself many voters with disability could not vote. Not only this was highlighted in the media but a complaint was sent by me to the Election Commissioner which is still not acknowledged. Shivani Gupta, an access consultant and a wheelchair user is regularly nominated by the Government of India as a subject expert to advice on issues and policies relating to accessibility. The recipient of National (Role Model) Award given by the President of India (2004) could not vote because of the insensitivity.

As per a media report there are 80,000 voters with disability in India. Since the results are not yet out and there was widespread deprivation of the rights of disabled voters, I request you to take suo moto cognizance of this and as a special case, stop declaration of result till disabled voters are called again and allowed to vote. The ink marking will easily allow identifying voters with disability who could not vote. This may seem a tedious exercise but it will respect the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities.

The voters with disabilities (around 80,000 in Delhi and 4.5 crore in India); capital of India; whole of India as well as the world can get a stronger message if the highest apex body in India can uphold the rights of world’s largest minority (persons with disabilities). We take pride in being world’s largest democracy and we look up to you respect the voting rights of persons with disabilities.

With regards,

Dr Satendra Singh (disabled and proud)

6 December 2013

New Disability Law Intensive Program at Osgoode

York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School, which has been a leader in “law in action” for several decades, has approved the creation of a new experiential education program to assist law students in understanding the issues of people with disabilities. 

The Disability Law Intensive Program, the first of its kind in Canada, will provide second and third-year Osgoode Juris Doctor (JD) students with a unique opportunity to learn about a vast scope of law that mostly affects people with disabilities.

In partnership with ARCH Disability Law Centre, a specialty community legal aid clinic dedicated to defending and advancing the equality rights of people with disabilities in Ontario, the students will engage in the practice of disability law through involvement in individual client advocacy and systemic policy-based advocacy.

Starting next September, up to 12 students will participate in the program throughout the 2013-14 academic year. A skills training week will be held in August at ARCH after which the students will begin their clinical placement. Every two weeks throughout the academic year, the students will participate in an academic seminar at Osgoode and they will also be required to complete a major research paper as part of the 15-credit program.

“The Disability Law Intensive Program is a wonderful opportunity for Osgoode, and its students, to make a positive difference within the disability community,” said Osgoode Dean Lorne Sossin. “We are grateful for collaborative partnerships with organizations such as ARCH because they expose our students to law in action.”

The program, which was approved by Osgoode Faculty Council on the International Day of Disabled Persons (December 3, 2012), will be co-directed in 2013-14 by Osgoode Professor Roxanne Mykitiuk, an internationally recognized expert in disability rights, and Marian MacGregor, an adjunct faculty member and director of Osgoode’s Community and Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP). 

MacGregor was awarded a Community Leadership in Justice Fellowship in 2011 from the Law Foundation of Ontario that allowed her to take an eight-month leave of absence from CLASP to help develop the Disability Law Intensive Program.
"The impact of disability, often combined with poverty, can create serious access to justice barriers," said MacGregor, who has practised extensively in the area of poverty law. "This new program will produce lawyers who are better equipped to meet the distinct needs of clients with disabilities, as well as involve students in the systemic change that needs to take place."

Mykitiuk added that the Disability Law Intensive Program, which was designed with student consultation and input, will provide a first-hand opportunity to see “how law applies in concrete ways to people, problems and issues and how the practice of law can be very different than the study of law.” 

The Disability Law Intensive Program is the latest in a growing number of clinical and intensive programs that form part of Osgoode Hall Law School’s celebrated experiential education offerings. 

Osgoode is the first law school in Canada to introduce an experiential education requirement – referred to as a “praxicum” – into its JD curriculum. Commencing with the Class of 2015, which arrived in September 2012, every Osgoode JD student will be exposed to law in action through an experiential course or program as part of their legal education. 

In addition, Osgoode has opened an Office of Experiential Education to serve as a catalyst for the development of new courses, programs and clinics, and provide support to the faculty, students and staff. 

Source: yFile

Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Intellectual Disability

On the eve of 64th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I reproduce declaration on the Rights of Persons with Intellectual Disability given on the website of O/o the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The article has used the word 'mentally retarded' which I don't find appropriate and accordingly replaced with 'Intellectual Disability' in the title. However I shall use the original source below.

Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons

Proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 2856 (XXVI) of 20 December 1971

The General Assembly ,

Mindful of the pledge of the States Members of the United Nations under the Charter to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization to promote higher standards of living, full employment and conditions of economic and social progress and development,

Reaffirming faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms and in the principles of peace, of the dignity and worth of the human person and of social justice proclaimed in the Charter,

Recalling the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the standards already set for social progress in the constitutions, conventions, recommendations and resolutions of the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and other organizations concerned,

Emphasizing that the Declaration on Social Progress and Development has proclaimed the necessity of protecting the rights and assuring the welfare and rehabilitation of the physically and mentally disadvantaged,

Bearing in mind the necessity of assisting mentally retarded persons to develop their abilities in various fields of activities and of promoting their integration as far as possible in normal life,

Aware that certain countries, at their present stage of development, can devote only limited efforts to this end,

Proclaims this Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons and calls for national and international action to en sure that it will be used as a common basis and frame of reference for the protection of these rights:

1. The mentally retarded person has, to the maximum degree of feasibility, the same rights as other human beings.

2. The mentally retarded person has a right to proper medical care and physical therapy and to such education, training, rehabilitation and guidance as will enable him to develop his ability and maximum potential.

3. The mentally retarded person has a right to economic security and to a decent standard of living. He has a right to perform productive work or to engage in any other meaningful occupation to the fullest possible extent of his capabilities.

4. Whenever possible, the mentally retarded person should live with his own family or with foster parents and participate in different forms of community life. The family with which he lives should receive assistance. If care in an institution becomes necessary, it should be provided in surroundings and other circumstances as close as possible to those of normal life.

5. The mentally retarded person has a right to a qualified guardian when this is required to protect his personal well-being and interests.

6. The mentally retarded person has a right to protection from exploitation, abuse and degrading treatment. If prosecuted for any offence, he shall have a right to due process of law with full recognition being given to his degree of mental responsibility.

7. Whenever mentally retarded persons are unable, because of the severity of their handicap, to exercise all their rights in a meaningful way or it should become necessary to restrict or deny some or all of these rights, the procedure used for that restriction or denial of rights must contain proper legal safeguards against every form of abuse. This procedure must be based on an evaluation of the social capability of the mentally retarded person by qualified experts and must be subject to periodic review and to the right of appeal to higher authorities.

Principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and the improvement of mental health care

Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons

On the eve of 64th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I reproduce declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons given on the website of O/o the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons

Proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 3447 (XXX) of 9 December 1975

The General Assembly ,

Mindful of the pledge made by Member States, under the Charter of the United Nations to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization to promote higher standards of living, full employment and conditions of economic and social progress and development,

Reaffirming its faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms and in the principles of peace, of the dignity and worth of the human person and of social justice proclaimed in the Charter,

Recalling the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, as well as the standards already set for social progress in the constitutions, conventions, recommendations and resolutions of the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and other organizations concerned,

Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1921 (LVIII) of 6 May 1975 on the prevention of disability and the rehabilitation of disabled persons,

Emphasizing that the Declaration on Social Progress and Development has proclaimed the necessity of protecting the rights and assuring the welfare and rehabilitation of the physically and mentally disadvantaged,

Bearing in mind the necessity of preventing physical and mental disabilities and of assisting disabled persons to develop their abilities in the most varied fields of activities and of promoting their integration as far as possible in normal life,

Aware that certain countries, at their present stage of development, can devote only limited efforts to this end,

Proclaims this Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons and calls for national and international action to ensure that it will be used as a common basis and frame of reference for the protection of these rights:

1. The term "disabled person" means any person unable to ensure by himself or herself, wholly or partly, the necessities of a normal individual and/or social life, as a result of deficiency, either congenital or not, in his or her physical or mental capabilities.

2. Disabled persons shall enjoy all the rights set forth in this Declaration. These rights shall be granted to all disabled persons without any exception whatsoever and without distinction or discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, state of wealth, birth or any other situation applying either to the disabled person himself or herself or to his or her family.

3. Disabled persons have the inherent right to respect for their human dignity. Disabled persons, whatever the origin, nature and seriousness of their handicaps and disabilities, have the same fundamental rights as their fellow-citizens of the same age, which implies first and foremost the right to enjoy a decent life, as normal and full as possible.

4. Disabled persons have the same civil and political rights as other human beings; paragraph 7 of the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons applies to any possible limitation or suppression of those rights for mentally disabled persons.

5. Disabled persons are entitled to the measures designed to enable them to become as self-reliant as possible.

6. Disabled persons have the right to medical, psychological and functional treatment, including prosthetic and orthetic appliances, to medical and social rehabilitation, education, vocational training and rehabilitation, aid, counselling, placement services and other services which will enable them to develop their capabilities and skills to the maximum and will hasten the processes of their social integration or reintegration.

7. Disabled persons have the right to economic and social security and to a decent level of living. They have the right, according to their capabilities, to secure and retain employment or to engage in a useful, productive and remunerative occupation and to join trade unions.

8. Disabled persons are entitled to have their special needs taken into consideration at all stages of economic and social planning.

9. Disabled persons have the right to live with their families or with foster parents and to participate in all social, creative or recreational activities. No disabled person shall be subjected, as far as his or her residence is concerned, to differential treatment other than that required by his or her condition or by the improvement which he or she may derive therefrom. If the stay of a disabled person in a specialized establishment is indispensable, the environment and living conditions therein shall be as close as possible to those of the normal life of a person of his or her age.

10. Disabled persons shall be protected against all exploitation, all regulations and all treatment of a discriminatory, abusive or degrading nature.

11. Disabled persons shall be able to avail themselves of qualified legal aid when such aid proves indispensable for the protection of their persons and property. If judicial proceedings are instituted against them, the legal procedure applied shall take their physical and mental condition fully into account.

12. Organizations of disabled persons may be usefully consulted in all matters regarding the rights of disabled persons.

13. Disabled persons, their families and communities shall be fully informed, by all appropriate means, of the rights contained in this Declaration.

Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

IDPD: the struggle continues

So, it's finally over. International Day of Persons with Disabilities came and went. None of the TV channels highlighted the theme for this year-“Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.’ We are the world’s largest minority and rightly we remained invisible this year too.

Sharing with the readers, my little effort where my RTI expose/interview got published in various print/electronic media on 3^rd and 4^th December.

We need to continue this fight. Let’s join hands.

Happy to be alive

Deccan Herald, 4 Dec:  Impossible is nothing when it comes to the specially abled

The Times of India, 3 Dec 2012 - Few ATMs disabled-friendly

Hindustan Times,  3 Dec 2012- Access denied: Delhi not for disabled

Health India, 3 Dec 2012 - IDPwD: How inclusive and accessible is our society?

Millennium Post,  4 Dec 2012 - Black armband silent protest against GTB Hospital

The Asian Age, 3 Dec 2012 - 33% of students with learning disability are gifted

Cross The Hurdle Magazine - TravelAbility: Inaccessible Sim's Park

A black armband silent protest on IDPD

A black armband silent protest against Medical Superintendent, GTB Hospital, Delhi

Issued on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December 2012

Protesting for a cause

As the world celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) today, I as a Coordinator, Enabling Unit (for PwD) & Equal Opportunity Cell; Chairperson, Equality & Diversity Committee; founder, Infinite Ability; and a faculty member at UCMS & GTB Hospital sit quite gloomy while trying to find out reasons to celebrate.

University College of Medical Sciences is a premiere medical institution of Delhi and constituent college of University of Delhi. The associated teaching hospital is GTB Hospital which comes under NCT of Delhi. We are perhaps the only medical institute in India having a dedicated Enabling Unit for persons with disabilities (PwDs) as per UGC guidelines. We are committed to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all PwD, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Till now, I have enjoyed support of Principal, UCMS and we have done some good work as well. However, a lot needs to be done and I cannot reciprocate the same support coming from Medical Superintendent (MS) of GTB Hospital. The theme for IDPwD today is “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.” We, the PwDs, are world’s largest minority and faces barriers in the form of physical, e-inaccessibility and attitudinal barriers. The legally binding UNCRPD protects our rights since India has ratified the convention in 2007.

Under my chairmanship, I formed an Equality & Diversity Committee consisting of faculty, students and non-teaching members, all being PwDs in line with the mantra ‘Nothing for us, without us.’  My students raised the issue of inaccessible conditions prevailing in GTBH campus and I circulated the minutes to higher authorities for immediate action. That was May 2012 and its 3^rd December now. My repeated requests and reminders to MS GTBH have fallen in deaf ears.

The new MCH block at GTBH has a dedicated ramp as well as accessible toilet but it is not yet functional.

The CRPD requires States to ensure “reasonable accommodation” of the rights of PwDs. The library, Conference Hall and MEU is without any lift and it therefore violates the right to education (article 24). Accessibility is essential to enable PwDs to live independently and participate fully in life-it is therefore an end in itself as well as a means to enjoy other rights. The inaccessible Post Office and Canara Bank in the campus defies article 19 and 27 of CRPD. I myself arranged a meeting of AGM, Canara Bank with MS in July where the former showed his willingness to shift the Bank branch on the ground floor. However, I am still awaiting for the minutes of that meeting.

It gives me great pain to know each day my students with disabilities have to encounter herculean task at the hostel which has a steep ramp without hand-railings. PwDs are not objects of charity; we are rather subjects with human rights. Government of India gives Rs50 lakhs under SIPDA to make a building barrier free. The complete apathy from Public Works Department, GTBH failed our proposal. I have requested many times to Hon’ble MS to look into these matters and I am still awaiting a response.

I take great pride in associating with UCMS & GTBH. I feel privileged and proud to be part of this great institution and hospital. I am however deeply distressed about the inaccessible issues prevailing in GTB campus and do not feel that I can start my day today at GTBH without indicating my feelings in a dignified manner on IDPwD.

I cannot in good conscience carry out my work today and ignore the fact that my disabled fraternity is feeling oppressed. It is impossible to ignore that nothing has happened since I started accessibility advocacy in April 2012. Although I am just another professional employee, I do have a conscience and feelings. I believe that if I, as Coordinator of Enabling Unit, remain silent today than it will be taken as a sign that either I do not care or I condone the inaccessible conditions prevailing in GTBH. I believe that it is important to stand up for what is right. Disability does not mean that I cannot stand up for our rights.

The harsh reality

I have struggled to think of an action that would be appropriate and that would not demean the official procedures. I would like to stress that I greatly respect the Hon’ble MS and all the hard work he is doing at GTBH.  However, the amount of communication sent to him is too much for comfort now.

On this special day and under the present circumstances I have decided that I will wear a black armband to mark my silent protest. In doing so I am highlighting the apathy towards PwDs. In doing so I am making a silent plea to Hon’ble MS to protect basic human rights of PwDs and show social accountability. In doing so I pray that my small action may help to expedite the process of making UCMS & GTBH a truly inclusive and accessible campus for one all.

Dr Satendra Singh

Disability Related Calls for Proposals

1. "Eighteenth-Century Disability Studies: Past, Present and Future (Roundtable)" at the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies
   Abstract Submission Due: September 15, 2012
   http://www.researchraven.com/call-for-papers-conference/2012/9/15/call-for-papers-for-a-session-entitled-eighteenth-century-disability-studies-past-present-and-future-roundtable-at-the-44th-annual-meeting-of-the-american-society-for-eighteenth-century-studies-asecs.aspx
2. Disability and its Discontents
   Abstract Submission Deadline: September 30, 2012
   http://www.researchraven.com/call-for-papers-conference/2012/9/30/call-for-papers-disability-and-its-discontents-seminar.aspx
3. Ethics and Information Technology: Ethics of Social Networks for Special Needs Users
   Abstract Submission Deadline: September 30, 2012
   http://ethicalpait.blogspot.com/2012/06/call-for-papers-ethics-of-social.html
4. 2013 Third International Conference on Health, Wellness and Society
   Abstract Submission Due: October 11, 2012
   http://healthandsociety.com/conference-2013/call-for-papers/
5. Journal of Interpersonal Violence: Violence and Disability
   Abstract Submission Due: November 2, 2012
   http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/media/news/2012/26_06/en/index.html
6. Commemorating the Disabled Soldier: Comparative Approaches to the History of War, Disability and Remembrance, 1914-1940
   Abstract Submission Due: December 1, 2012
   http://h-net.msu.edu/cgi-bin/logbrowse.pl?trx=vx&list=H-Disability&month=1207&week=c&msg=7IT5zkoLZkO2M3XYqrGocw
7. Eighth International Conference on Higher Education and Disability
   Abstract Submission Due: December 1, 2012
   http://www.trac.uno.edu/conf/
8. Family Relations: Families and Disabilities: Implications for Policy and Practice
   Abstract Submission Due: December 15, 2012
   http://www.researchraven.com/call-for-papers-publication/2012/12/15/call-for-papers-for-a-special-edition-of-family-relations-families-and-disabilities-implications-for-policy-and-practice.aspx
9. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics: Human Rights and Disability
   Abstract Submission Due: April 1, 2013
   http://blog.johnstewartgordon.com/human-rights-and-disability/