Sidelined. Visual metaphor for the continuing marginalisation of disabled citizens even when we insist on being part of the big picture.
Bad enough inaccessible buses meant wheelchair users couldn't test the #Nirbhaya panic button @chennaicorp, but why no inclusion in awareness?
We were asked for id @GSBediIAS . Simply for being there and perceived as being potentially 'disruptive'.
Are disabled women not women?
Are we so asexual in the mainstream's mindspace that violence against us doesn't merit acknowledgement? Or thought? Or design considerations?
Speaking of steps and buses, since thinking is not inclusive by default, please ensure on the day when we are finally able to enter a step-free low floor level boarding bus, safely and with dignity, that the panic button is not located in rear step area (in case low entry bus)!
Some thoughts since we were unable to test this out ourselves :
Would a person with arthritis be able to press the button with ease (how many newtons force does it take to activate)
Does blind passenger know location of emergency button?
Signed awareness video made for deaf?
While we're on buttons, hope low floor buses tendered recently also include long stop button at the wheelchair docking space in addition to a lower panic button @CumtaOfficial.
And a boarding assistance required button on bus exterior near foldover ramp entrance as per AIS 153.
2 cities were mandated by court to provide universal access in public transport buses. 1 has complied, the other is a repeat / serial offender for 17+ years.
If Delhi could go low floor with universally designed city buses after 2019, why not Chennai ?
We need to recognise public transport's role in determining social equity.
For STU, pressure for profit needs to be evaluated from a macro POV of overall social impact and gains in pollution, wellbeing via decommodification.
For PwD user, what provides least monetary pressure?
For example, @meenakshibalu had to travel from Perumbakkam to Perambur yesterday on work. Due to public transport being disability-hostile and inaccessible by design (and TN Transport Dept's choice) she had to pay Rs 2000 for what should have cost her 0 / @RajivSpeaks Rs 25-50!
🪡 India's NLEM is out. "Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence and public health relevance, evidence of efficacy and safety and comparative cost-effectiveness" says @WHO .
But where do disabled people and those living with chronic medical conditions fit in? There's no acknowledgement of the priority of life-saving and life-sustaining pharma needs of 15% of the population in the Essential Medicine List of either WHO / NLEM. Do minorities not matter?
Let's take #Desferal. This is included in the NLEM, (always has at a secondary and tertiary level), but presumably for mainstream medical cases of iron poisoning. What about iron chelation therapy for those who have transfusion dependent thalassemia with reaction to oral version
Good intentions, yes. Enthusiasm, yes. Awareness of law, no.
@policecbecity citywide clean sweeps seem more efficient but are in reality dehumanising. The police has traditionally held responsibility wrt wandering mentally ill destitute persons, but a mass approach is wrong ...
We urge you @ipspolicetn@sameerangs@CollectorCbe to instead refer the @NHM_TN draft policy for homeless mentally ill and work towards a community based, individualised approach that is in compliance with current mental health, disability & privacy law.
16. Every person wandering on the street is not mentally ill. The police should not "round up" people as if they were stray cattle and deal with them as such...
"The States/UTs were advised to assess public buildings by 31-7-22 & submit the proposal seeking extension of time, if needed, with justification & detailed action plan." #15June2022
Are you supposed to uphold the rights and participation of disabled Indian citizens or are you Personal Assistant to Central Govt & States of the Union?
When a statute provides for a time limit, then the basic rule of statutory interpretation is that the deadline must be observed
"If provision for extension is made then logically the extension has to be sought by the party who has failed to meet the deadline. It is ironical that instead of issuing notice to the states asking them to explain why they have failed to meet the time limit..." @Drvirendrakum13
Non-compliance with the Harmonised Guidelines on accessibility for disabled citizens is not only a building violation but a violation of our right to freedom of movement & access. And RPwD Act.
Not one public facility in India will pass the AIC audit checklist! #WhereIsOurAzadi
Please issue Stop Work notice on TN Govt till attitude towards accessibility requirements in respected and rectified @CMDA_Official@chennaicorp !
You have an active and vibrant disability presence in the State, activists have been non-adversarial for decades and input pro bono.
Why then has the Tamil Nadu Government shamefully sought extra time of a year from Central Govt to make existing infrastructure accessible as per the time limit of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016?
What were you doing for 5 years after passage of the RPwD Rules?
So @DGCAIndia has proposed an addition to the CAR (Civil Aviation Rules) related to air travel passengers with disabilities after the #IndigoIncident at @aaiRanchiApt - comments by 2nd July to rthakur.dgca@nic.in
First off, thanks to @DGCAIndia for obliging with a month for comments as per the PLCP (pre legislative consultation process) guidelines - some 100+ pages policy documents give barely a week.
But as a policy on disability, the amendment formatting can't be read by blind citizens!
Strikethrough formatting can be interpreted as cancelled text only by sighted. And grey highlighted text (signifying new clause here) isn't distinguished by default by screenreading software used by blind to access electronic text.