Thannk you for sending this! its one of the most eloquent and articulate piece describing our challenges. Havent come across such well put together thoughts in a long while. anyone knows the writer? divyanshu
On 11/25/14, Nilesh Bendre <nileshbendr...@gmail.com> wrote: > Article from Mumbai Mirror > > What does it mean to be 'differently abled'? > > Nov 25, 2014, 01.48 AM IST > > By Rustom Irani > > MUMBAI ON WHEELS - A five-part series on navigating Mumbai as a > handicapped > person > > > > If I know something about myself with the utmost certainty, it is that I am > not "differently abled". I am definitely handicapped (US), disabled (UK), > > a person confined to a wheelchair, a quadriparetic, an individual with a > degenerative motor-neuron, but yes, I'm not differently abled. > > > > I'm also not physically challenged! I try and avoid challenges which might > put my disability to the test, and let's be honest, isn't the most stoic > Mumbaikar > > also physically challenged by his/her daily commute and consistent struggle > to survive in this city? The last time I was physically challenged by a > flight > > of stairs - a dire obstacle for me and my wheelchair - it had a very > dramatic end, involved seven strong men lifting me to overcome those odds. > I'm sure > > this exercise left them physically challenged too. > > > > Some people hear me out with a sympathetic smile and then say, "But that > proves you were able to achieve the simple act of stair climbing > differently. > > You are differently abled. Not handicapped or disabled. What an > inspirational story." > > > > No! Please seek inspiration elsewhere. Physically challenged has just slyly > evolved to differently abled as a means to be sensitive to any and all > disabilities > > by grouping them as one. In the process, it has become a generic euphemism > to quickly and painlessly state the obvious in a total nonobvious manner. > As > > many euphemisms, by degrees the word becomes an evasion of the very reality > is describes. > > > > The term differently abled, the internet tells me, was actually coined by > the United States National Democratic Committee in the early 80s to view > the > > handicapped in a more positive light - and a more politically correct one. > But I have yet to meet a handicapped person who finds the term truly > acceptable. > > The most vociferous arguments deem it too cutesy, providing the false > impression of sensitivity towards the disabled experience, throwing a soft > veil of > > language over issues of disability which need to be accepted and addressed. > > > > > I agree with those arguments. I will also add that even "differently abled" > has implications of a pre-set norm of being able, a normal set way of doing > > things. > > > > I've a wonderful little certified document from the All India Institute of > Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai, in conjunction with the > Ministry > > of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India, which clearly and quite > comfortingly announces my disability, gives it a median percentage score > and > entitles > > me to all concessions and privileges based on that score. There's nothing > wrong in being called disabled or handicapped. Do we need to be sensitive > towards > > the disabled and handicapped or is it because sympathy is a much easier > option that empathy? > > > > Most handicapped people accept the fact that there are certain things in > life which they can never achieve or do because of their disability. That's > not > > inspirational - the more truthful word is adaptability. It involves sheer > hard work, patience and perseverance just like any non-handicapped > individual > > might apply to reach his or her goal in life. Of course we need the help of > anyone and everyone at times to get through life. However, the apprehension > > of how to address us is the first major hurdle - and it's huge - often > sending us back to being special but feeling patronised. > > > > If you befriend a handicapped individual or are related to one, and have > difficulty trying to state our condition to non-handicapped acquaintances > without > > sounding offensive, relax. We've heard it all and actually find it pretty > hilarious. As a kid I've been referred to as a "langda", and devised the > reply > > of saying I had many other things in common with a species of mango. The > best tip though, is to leave the disability as an open-ended mystery by > bowling > > a googly like my parents, who sometimes say, "Rustom doesn't walk." It > creates all sorts of possibilities and questions in the minds of the > inquisitive, > > helps break the ice and makes us feel totally accepted. > > > > If we meet in person don't worry about what term or label might offend me, > instead tell me yours and we'll take the conversation from there, I > promise. > > > > > Source : > http://www.mumbaimirror.com/columns/columns/What-does-it-mean-to-be-differen > tly-abled/articleshow/45265206.cms? > > > > > > Thanks and Regards, > > Nilesh > > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
