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

Notice served to DU after protests

The office of deputy chief commissioner for persons with disabilities has asked Delhi University to look into the demands raised by disabled students, teachers and non-teaching staff and submit an action taken report within a month.

The differently abled students and teachers of the university have protested twice this month (see previous post). These demonstrations were led by teachers and students forum sambhavana. The protesters have some grievances, which they want to be addressed by the university authorities, said the January 16 letter by deputy chief commissioner S S Sinha.

They have been demanding to constitute an empowered committee for drafting a time-bound action plan to resolve the issues. Also, a date to organise a “disability summit” where the differently abled can voice their concerns.

Sinha said the demonstrators alleged that DU authorities have been intimidating those who have been part in protests.

Sinha added that the United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities includes non-discrimination, respect for inherent dignity and individual autonomy. Also, the freedom to make one’s own choices and equal opportunity.

“The chief commissioner for persons with disabilities (PWD) has advised that the matter be looked into with a sense of urgency in order to ensure that rights of persons with disabilities are not infringed or violated in any manner,” the letter said. Bipin Tiwari, in-charge of equal opportunity cell (EOC) of the university said constant measures are being taken by authorities to provide facilities to the disabled.

“What the protesters are demanding is not something which could be done overnight. In the recent summit organised by EOC, the vice chancellor took the pain of meeting each PWD student,” said Tiwari. 

“We have waived off tuition fees and hostel fees, increased reserved seats, took PWD students for the Gyanoday educational train trip.” “We have distributed Aakash tablets and the VC has also announced a foreign visit for 100 PWD students,” added Tiwari.

A senior official said members from sambhavana have to contest the upcoming academic and executive council elections and are thus trying to create issues.“It is very disheartening to know despite constructive measures taken in a holistic way to empower PWD students such actions (protests) are been taken which badly disrupts our measures. For motives and reasons best known to them (protesters),” said Tiwari.

Source-Deccan Herald

Nobody cares about us, say disabled students

Twenty-seven students with disabilities and teachers from Delhi University observed a one-day hunger strike outside the vice chancellor’s office on Friday. 
Since they were not allowed to put up tents, they were drenched in heavy rain in morning.

Sambhavana, a forum of DU teachers and students working for disability issues, had organised the strike. DUTA members too joined the protest to show solidarity with their cause.

“We had protested earlier in the month, following which DU officials intimidated students who participated in the protest. On Friday, the chief of security threatened an escort of a visually challenged teacher,” said Nikhil Jain, a Sambhavana member.

“We have to file an FIR against him. Apart from harassing and intimidating us, we have not got any constructive response on our genuine demands,” he said.

Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) president in a letter requested for providing an alternate accommodation to a disabled teacher with 90 per cent orthopaedic disability, who was recently given an eviction notice from DU hostel. 

“G N Saibaba’s appeal against eviction is still pending in the court of the chief commissioner on persons with disability. The university had no legal right to insist on eviction. This is illustrative of the extremely insensitive manner in which the university has continued to deal with its disabled employees,” said DUTA president Amar Deo Sharma.

The protesters demand that an empowered committee be formed to prepare a time-bound action plan to address the grievances of differently abled students, teachers and non-teaching staff in the varsity. They also want that the date for a disability summit be announced where they can voice their grievances.

“The higher authorities are unwilling to meet and give concrete assurance on anything,” said Jain.

Students with disabilities have been complaining about not having even basic facilities for a long time now. They condemned the recent press statement by the Equal Opportunity 
Cell (EOC) officer on the facilities provided by the university.

 “It is a hogwash. They claim that they have waived off full tuition fee, which was quietly followed by another circular regarding no fee waiver for students with fellowships, employed or getting any other financial assistance,” said Kapil, a visually challenged postgraduate student.

“We don’t get fellowships of thousands of rupees a month. It is of a few hundred rupees. And disabled students usually are from financially weaker sections,” he said, adding that the circular applies to the “tall claims” of 50 per cent hostel fee and mess waiver also.

“And the hostel fee waiver is only for university hostels and not college hostels, where the bulk of students with disability live,” he added.
Students said the university has turned a blind eye to their real issues.

“Maybe overhauling the graduation system is more important for them as the rich and powerful have demanded it. Why would they bother about our issues, our future or how we are coping with our everyday struggle and still trying to study? This shows how much they care, so they might as well end the hypocrisy,” said a student.

They plan to march to the Union human resource development ministry’s office on February 18 to voice their concerns.

Source-Deccan Herald

Polio vaccinators killed in Pakistan

Late last night we received the heart-breaking news that five polio vaccinators had been killed in Karachi, Pakistan. 

 

Our sympathy goes out to the victims' families today, but also to the thousands of children who will now miss out on some of the most basic of health services.

 

The vaccinators, all female, had been working to protect children against polio as part of a three-day vaccination round. It follows a similar incident on Monday, in which a male polio vaccinator, also in Karachi, was killed.

 

These vaccinators were some of the true heroes of polio eradication. 

 

We are all in awe of the dedication and bravery of those who risk their own lives to protect children against this devastating disease. The best way to honour their sacrifice is to ensure that all Pakistani children receive basic health services and that polio is finally eradicated from their country, once and for all.
 

Show your support by sharing this image on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest orGoogle+.

 

WHO, UNICEF and the other partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are committed to supporting the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistani people in their efforts to rid their country of polio - and so are we! This tragedy will not stop eradication efforts and only heightens our resolve to deliver a polio-free Pakistan.

Thank you for standing shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistani people in their commitment to free their country from this disease.

Source: The End of Polio; The Global Poverty Project

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

Enablist Impact: From blog to a prestigious journal

On the eve of ‘World Polio Day’, I wrote a post on this blog World Polio Day - 24th or 28th October? It was an attempt to challenge the erroneous belief that Polio day is celebrated to mark the inventor Jonas Salk’s birthday, which is not true. The websites, media reports and even the WHO and UN sites claimed the same on 24^th October which is celebrated as Polio day. I had already done my Sherlock Holmes investigation in the said post.

I then decided to write ‘letter to the editor’ to the ‘Vaccine’ journal. 17 years earlier the journal carried an article on Jonas Salk clearly stating 28 October as his birth date. ‘Vaccine’ is the official journal of: The Edward Jenner Society, The International Society for Vaccines and The Japanese Society for Vaccinology. The prestigious journal has a 5-Year Impact Factor of 3.7. The journal immediately accepted my letter titled ‘It’s time to correct the literature’ and it has been published online now here.

Why then, for years, we are perpetuating the wrong thing by misquoting a legend’s birth, time and again. If Rotary International has faltered here by choosing the wrong day, isn’t it our duty to correct the same? 24th October is not yet an United Nation observance, but even if it has become synonym with polio day can’t we celebrate the whole week as a Polio week to satisfy all parties?


Also read:
Polio survivor's fight to correct date of Salk's b'day

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