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Dr Satendra Singh selected for the 4th NCPEDP MphasiS Universal Design Awards 2013

List of Awardees: NCPEDP MPHASIS UNIVERSAL DESIGN AWARDS 2013

CATEGORY A: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Awards in this category are given to people with disabilities who have created an impact in accessibility and universal design in any of the areas such as built environment, transport infrastructure, service provision, information and communication technology (ICT), universally designed consumer products, mobility & independent living aids, or assistive technology in their personal/professional capacity.

AWARDEES

1. Mr. Nekram Upadhyay, Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist & Head, Department of Assistive Technology, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Delhi.
2. Dr. Satendra Singh, Assistant Professor, University College of Medical Sciences and Coordinator, Enabling Unit, Delhi.
3. Mr. Srinivasu Chakravarthula, Senior Accessibility Program Lead, Consumer Quality & Engineering Services, PayPal .

CATEGORY B: WORKING PROFESSIONALS

Awards in this category are given to people who work for the cause of accessibility and universal design in any of the areas such as built environment, transport infrastructure, service provision, information & communication technology (ICT), universally designed consumer products, mobility & independent living aids, or assistive technology.

AWARDEES

1. Ms. Arathi Abraham, Principal Designer, 99 and 1 Design, Chennai.
2. Dr. Arun Mehta, President, Bidirectional Access Promotion Society, Delhi.
3. Mr. Bhushan Verma, CEO, GearCraftSolutions, Delhi.

CATEGORY C: COMPANIES/ORGANISATIONS

Awards in this category are given to those companies or organisations who have taken up the cause of accessibility and universal design in any of the areas such as built environment, transport infrastructure, service provision, information and communication technology (ICT), universally designed consumer products, mobility & independent living aids, or assistive technology.

AWARDEES

1. HANDICARE - Indian Association of Persons with Disabilities, Lucknow.
2. Kriyate Design Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Delhi.
3. NCR Corporation India Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai.
4. School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal

Source: DNIS

TOI Heart of Gold: Man of Infinite Ability

A new initiative from The Times of India in association with Britannia Good Day called Heart of Gold features stories of individuals who have made a difference to society and transformed lives with their acts of compassion and goodwill. These stories will inspire you to do your bit in spreading happiness and cheer to people around you. Here's the story of Coordinator of Enabling Unit, UCMS featured in this TOI initiative.

Man of Infinite Ability

Dr Satendra Singh, assistant professor of Physiology was entering into his room when he saw Poonam, a 5th semester medical student with locomotor disability, standing outside lecture theatre-I. This was the third instance in the past week. He called her into the room and enquired. She said, Sir, our clinical posting in the hospital ended at exactly 12 and the teacher except me toright here in the class at 12. Poonam is a bright student but she has to cross numerous barriers from hospital building to college building owing to polio. Her impairment was made disability because of attitudinal barriers of few faculty members. 

Dr Singh is the Coordinator of Enabling Unit for persons with disability at Delhi's University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital. Dr Singh immediately wrote to Principal and a circular was issued to exhibit leniency in case of students with disabilities. The Enabling Unit was founded by Dr Singh as per UGC guidelines and is a first in any medical college in India. Right after being appointed Coordinator, he appointed a honorary counselor for students with disabilities in 2011. 

Not only this, he constituted an 'Equality and Diversity Committee' where the members were from all walks (faculty, students, non-teaching staff). It was in line with the motto 'nothing foeus, without us' since all members are persons with disabilities including Dr Singh who is the Chairman. He also founded 'Infinite Ability' a disability subgroup working on medical humanities principles. The group organized 'Theatre of the Oppressed' and 'Blind with Camera' workshops (published in TOI) in 2011 and 2012. 

Dr Singh came to know about the steep ramp without side railing in boys hostel. He requested PWD and Medical Superintendent to do the needful but despite repeated reminders nothing happened for 7 months. Finally, for the sake of students, he protested by wearing a black armband on world disability day. The very next day, he got sanctioning of a large amount from MS office for renovation of all the hostels. 

Both the Post office and Canara Bank in the campus are on first floor without lift. He filed RTI's to know the accessibility of post offices and ATM's in Delhi. The results were shocking and were published in Times of India. The AGM of Canara Bank has now agreed to shift down to ground floor and Superintendent of Post Offices, East Delhi has written thrice to MS, GTBH to make it accessible to disabled persons. 

To address inaccessibility, he has written to Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, to instruct Medical Council of India to include mandatory 'accessibility audits' of hospitals during inspections. This will largely address the inaccessibility concerns and fulfill the social accountability of higher institutions as well. Dr Singh is a fresh voice in disability activism. 

Source: Times of India Heart of Gold

Impossible is nothing when it comes to the specially abled

Deccan Herald MetroLife, NewDelhi
Neha Das, Dec 4, 2012

According to UN statistics, over one billion people, or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population live with some form of disability or physical impairments. And it is not unknown that ‘the world’s largest minority’, often faces discrimination. 

With December 3 being the ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities’ Metrolife spoke to a few who have made it big in life, past all hurdles.

Working against all odds, Major HPS Ahluwalia is one such example. A mountaineer who suffered a gun-shot wound in his neck during the Indo-Pak war in 1965, left him paralysed below the waist and confined to a wheelchair. But, that did not stop him from achieving his potential.

Apart from authoring several books Maj. Ahl­u­w­a­lia also founded the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in 1995 and became the Chairman of The Indian Mountai­ne­ering Foundation. Says Ahluwalia in a comment on his website, “People often ask me from where I get my strength. I tell them, from the mountains.

Today a painting of the Himal­a­yas greets every visitor to the centre and inspires everyone to reach higher, to seek the strength within themsel­v­es and to know that they can conquer any fear, surmo­unt any challenge! When your spirit is strong, nothing in the world can stop you.”

Another hero, Dr. Satendra Singh, a polio survivor, is now a Coordinator of Enabling Unit (for students with disabilities), Equal Opportunity Cell at College of Medical Sciences (DU) and GTB Hospital. The founder of ‘Infinite Ability’ – a group on disability, his RTI’s have exposed inaccessible status of India Post and lack of disability policy.

He is also the Chairperson of the Equality and Diversity Committee, Enabling Unit, UCMS constituted for students with disabilities. “India or Delhi is not at all disabled friendly. Even to get a disability certificate, a disabled pers­on has to make rounds of hospitals and offices. We need a sensitisation drive to make people understand that even we are ‘normal’ hu­m­an beings and need to be treated equally. We are not luggage, but part of the society.”


Fighting all odds is Sheela Sharma, an artist from Lucknow. She lost both her arms in a train accident, when she was a child. But she went on to complete her BA in Fine Arts. Now, she paints with the help of her left foot. Talking about India’s role for the development of disabled persons, She­e­la says, “The development are only for the rich and not for us. There are provisions but we never get any help.”

India lacks awareness and understanding of the basic needs of the physically impaired people. Even ATMs’, banks and post offices, which are regularly used avenues are not disabled-friendly.

Joginder Singh Saluja, a wheelchair-bound weightlifter a seven time winner of Mr. India Para Power Lifting inspires many. “I have proved my mettle and that is why the CRPF has chosen me as a health consultant. I am also the head councillor for disabled students in DU. Jis din mera peheli baar mazaak udaya gaya tha, maine usi din thaan liya ki kuch karne ka hai jo aam aadmi naa kar paaye.”

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

India Post: “Paper Tigers” in “ease of access for the disabled”

Minister of Communications & IT while unveiling the new logo of India Post said, “The government is taking steps to make India Post a parcel and logistics giant, in the domestic as well as international sector.” The new logo was termed as a synthesis between service proposition and modernity and the launch was heralded as a landmark with the promise that the new corporate identity will unfold higher level of customer services. That was 4 years ago.

Sitting in my office in one of the premier institutes of India, I try to accomplish majority of work via emails. It’s not that I am against snail mail but I dread at the thought of visiting Post Offices (PO). The reason – I have mobility impairment. Post Polio Residual Paralysis to be precise. With my abilities, I did my MBBS and then MD. I am also a guest speaker for many medical education workshops within Delhi as well as outside it. No mental obstacle came in my way but I can’t fight out physical barriers. The post office in my hospital campus is on the first floor without provision of any lift. The nearby post offices have the same inaccessibility issues. Those who are on ground floor’s are without hand railings or ramps.

Let’s look it in a larger perspective. Persons with disabilities (PwD’s) constitute more than 15% of the world’s population and is  the “world’s largest minority.”For us, the lack of access to essential services (like postal services) remains a source of discrimination and lost opportunities. In March, I filed my first complaint to the local post office to make it accessible to PwD’s. It was followed by reminders, than emails to higher authorities as well as to India Post’s nodal officers. Nothing happened except acknowledgment of receipt of complaints. Being an independent citizen of this country, it’s my human right to visit any public building and to avail all public services. This, along with the continued indifference of India Post prompted me to lock horns directly with them and I finally filed RTI application under the Right To Information Act to know the accessibility status of all post offices in the capital of India, Delhi towards PwD’s.

India Post didn’t disappoint me with their traditional indifferent attitude. Nothing happened in the mandatory one month period where it is legally bound on them to furnish the info. Undeterred, I filed first appeal. Not surprisingly, both my RTI and first appeal, which were sent via speed posts, took more than 7 days to reach Delhi from NCR. (I caution the readers to always track their consignment details as what is promised is not always delivered). The first appeal lead to a flurry of responses from all divisional PO’s in Delhi.

Delhi East division stated, “no post office under this division is with the facility of lift.” Central division replied, “no separate arrangement for the PwD has been made so far to access the PO.” North division reiterates “no facility for barrier free access.” West division blatantly claims that “all are easily accessible & barrier free” despite 3 PO’s on first floor without lift. South West division’s reply implies that 77% of PO’s are without ramp for wheelchair users. 65% of this number is in government buildings.

South division considers Gulmohar Park in South Delhi as ‘barrier free’ but a wheelchair user can only look down in despair at this basement located inaccessible PO. The office of Director, GPO, New Delhi in response to my question, “accessible status to persons with disabilities” writes- “New Delhi GPO is centrally located hence it is therefore accessible for all.” This attitudinal barrier is just a tip of the iceberg. Visually impaired are completely delineated from “disabled” category as I have yet to see a PO with tactile markings or guided assistance and a lift with audio system.

The construct of India Post’s new logo (see image) four years back was inspired by the fact that India Post carries emotion across physical distance. At first glance, it is an envelope and at the next glance, it is a bird in flight, unhindered and unrestricted. The following bold strokes convey free flight. The reality exhibits barriers, hindrances and restriction of our basic humanrights.

It has been said that the red colour in the logo embodies passion, power and commitment. Yellow communicates hope, joy and happiness. Evidence of the lacking of this commitment and joy can be found right across the capital. India Post violates and undermines the dignity of PwD’s which is so manifestly against the spirit of the Constitution of India and the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

In the wake of India ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities  (UNCRPD) in October,2007, it has become incumbent on India’s part, under the established and recognized international human right norms,to harmonise all its relevant domestic laws and policies with this international treaty.

Gloria Steinem famously said- “If the shoe doesn’t fit, must we change the foot?”

The PwD’s are not the unfit shoe here. We are not asking something out of reach for us rather we are pleading for universal access. A universal design will allow a senior citizen, a pregnant female, an unsteady toddler as well as persons with disabilities all to access the same public building with dignity and pride. Am I asking for too much?

This was a Guest Editorial post authored by me for www.soumyadeepb.wordpress.com where it first appeared.

Dr Satendra Singh, MD, FSS, is an assistant professor and the  Coordinator of Enabling Unit(for students with disabilities), at University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi. He is founder of ‘Infinite Ability’ – a special interest group on disability within Medical Humanities Group of Medical Education Unit. He is 2011 fellow of CMC Ludhiana FAIMER (Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education Research) fellowship and teaches Physiology to medical stu­dents. He is currently working on incorporating disability studies into medical cur­riculum. He blogs at : ‘The Enablist’

Also read: RTI expose of inaccessible Delhi Post Offices

Birthday Wishes to Polio Pioneer

28th October, New Delhi. 

Today is Jonas Salk's birthday-the polio pioneer. Rotary International may have celebrating his birthday wrongly on 24th October as World Polio Day but the fact remains that he was born on this day. To pay tribute to this legend I am covering a 10-photo-cum-quotes of Dr Salk. 

Please also see "Polio comic as part of graphic medicine". The source is Feb 2009 Rotarian Magazine and the artist is Steve Buccellato. This comic has been linked at 'Infinite Ability.'

Also read: World Polio Day - 24th or 28th October?
                   Polio survivor's fight to correct date of Salk's b'day

                  We are almost there, however...[Post Polio Syndrome] 

They capture the world in their mind’s eye

Shreya Roy Chowdhury TNN | Oct 8, 2012.

NEW DELHI: "Ek cycle bana rakhi hai," says Naresh, unimpressed. He studies the tactile image of a boy cycling by the sea in Mumbai, the description in Braille, then hears the audio description. That's the only way, Naresh, blinded at age two, can enjoy a photo exhibition. "I could take this photo too," he declares finally, adding after a pause, "If the road is clear." 

 FOLLOWING SOUNDS: Audio descriptions call images to their mind

The third-year student was part of a batch of visually-impaired DU students to participate in a workshop meant to draw out "the images in their minds." The workshop was organized by ‘Infinite Ability’ (disability group at University College of Medical Sciences) and Beyond Sight Foundation.

Partho Bhowmick, founder of Mumbai-based Beyond Sight, can handle 15-20 participants at a time and typically works with a student for a year before they acquire the skills to photograph by following the sense they still retain. He trained about a dozen DU students at Friday's workshop; another batch on Saturday and NGO employees on Sunday.

He starts by handing out cameras to groups of two or three and left the students to get a feel of them — find the buttons, lens, screens. They also set out to get familiar with the location — Alliance Francaise in Lodhi Estate. An exhibition of 42 photographs taken by similar workshop participants over the past six years will be on display at AF till October 18. There is a manual of tactile images and multimedia audio-descriptions for about 20 of them to make the show disabled-friendly.

The photo Naresh had studied so closely was taken in 2009, by Ravi Thakur, born blind. He had heard the cycle coming, was confused by the crash of the waves, but was able to capture the image of the cycling boy all the same. Naresh had tried working his mobile phone camera once. "I tried taking my uncle's photo. Usme kaan hi kaan aye (I captured only an ear)," he says.

The students were asked to follow sounds, locate subjects through touch and hold a camera steady and straight. Satendra Singh of UCMS flit about helping students find their shutter-release buttons.

Those born blind follow sound and touch, the late-blind (those who lose vision later) use touch and sound, and that's supplemented by the memory of sighted life, and those with low-vision have "residual sight". The late-blind have "memories of a sighted life", as Bhowmick puts it, but the faces "erode first". "It's because in our sighted life, we see faces the most." Mahesh Umrannia heard the rustle of leaves, felt the warmth of the sun and called up from memory the pattern of leaves on trees. He photographs the reflections of leaves on a pavement. 

TOUCHING SHOW: An exhibition of photographs taken by visually impaired participants is on till October 18

The low-visioned have "residual sight" and photos produced by them are very close to pictures clicked by the sighted. Satvir Jagi, in 2009, clicked a photo of a spiral-staircase from bottom. When I showed him the print, he told me it looks like a cycle's wheel," says Bhowmick.

A photo clicked on digital cameras, in fact, makes visible elements of the photographed subject that those with low-vision can't see with the naked eye. Raju Singh, in 2006, had photographed a series of pillars and a man sitting at the base of one close to the photograper.

"People with low vision have depth-of-field issues. They can see things close to them. But digital cameras come with LCD screens and on the screen - as also in the photograph - every part of the part of the photograph is at the same distance from the eye," explains Bhowmick, "Raju Singh, therefore, could see in the photograph what he couldn't see in real life." Raju supposedly commented, "Photography helps me see." And Bhowmick used this to wrangle digital cameras from two companies for the workshops.

Till 2006, Bhowmick's engagement with the visually impaired was limited to helping them cross the road. He was another corporate man - his day job is in adhesives - but with an interest in photography.

Unlike many who enter the 'disability sector', he had no prior experience in dealing with the differently-abled. In 2004, he'd bought a book - a bargain at 10 bucks - containing an article on French blind photographer, Evgan Bavcer. With some difficulty, he got in touch with Bavcer and through him, a global consortium called Art Beyond Sight. Till 2005, he carried out "independent research on visual art and blindness." In 2006, he launched his project with one student, Sunil Bhavsar, who photographed the Victoria Memorial School for the Blind from the front. The work's titled, "My School." 

Source: TOI 

 

The Enablist’s view: While waiting for the students to come from DU, I got a phone call, “Is it Satendra Sir? I have reached France cultural centre. Where exactly is the venue?” It was Naresh, a visually impaired student from DAV College. He was the first person to come for the workshop. His colleagues were coming from the Equal Opportunity Cell’s special bus. As Shreya points out in the above piece, Naresh was the most enthusiastic. Partho gave him full time to answer his queries.

 

Soon the EOC bus arrived and we had visually impaired students from colleges like Dyal Singh, Mahrshi Valmiki, Lakshmi Bai, IP, Shivaji College and Ramjas College. Due to paucity of time we could not do sensory blind-folded workshops for the sighted but this experience was something beyond imagination. Thanks Partho!

Related Posts:

'Wide Eye Open' exhibition and 'Blind With Camera' workshop