A Panel Discussion by FICCI Flo and US Consulate General, Mumbai
The session opened with a keynote address by Consul General H.E. Mike Hankey. He spoke about the US Mission’s commitment to concerted action towards inclusion in collaboration with partner institutions in India.
US Ambassador appreciated Cafe Arpan who provided for buffet for incoming guests. She cheered for their policy to pay fair wages to people with developmental disability. She pointed out that its inspirng that despite their physical challenges, the employees wake up every morning with zeal and work for eight hours to do their job right.
Charlotte, disability officer at World Bank asserted that government and private sector in collaboration need to come up with more innovative solutions for a world that is not only accessible but equitable.
People with disability face problem with healthcare services but also information about healthcare. This situation points towards sharp disparity of health equity. For instance, children with disability are less likely to go to school. Women with disability are less likely to be employed.
Even if necessary knowledge is present, we need to take necessary steps to implement, monitor, evaluate and repeat.
Women with disabilities experience combined disadvantages related to gender plus disability in housing, health, vocational training and many other avenues.
For the disable to thrive in mainstream society, our action steps should be intentional. There should be deliberate allocation of financial and human resources. Coupled with a continuous process for knowledge creation co-created for persons with disabilities in conjunction with policy and laws. We need to pivot from a world of disability inclusion to disability equity.
Amba Salelkar from Chennai rightly said that disability is not plain diagnostic. That that concept includes an experience of discrimination propelled by socio-cultural barriers for disability.Disability is not only physical or environmental but also based on attitudes.
I personally experienced a 360 degree mental shift about the phenomenon of disability.
It was accelerating to see creative ways in which the world of the disabled was perceived. It was quite unique to see people coming together to offer an intellectual edge to a subject often digressed from mainstream understanding.
The discussions around equity literally blurred lines I formerly saw between the world of able and (dis)abled.
The remarks by distinguished speakers taught me to see the so-called disabilities as physical characteristics.
Towards the end, before the floor opened for questions, one of the panelists offered a strong recommendation to watch ‘I Am Sam’ a movie centered around a man with a developmental disorder fighting for the custody of his seven year old daughter abandoned by her homeless mother. The movie shows role of human race as a family, friend and community builders.
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