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Essay on “International Day of Disabled Persons – December 3” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

International Day of Disabled Persons – December 3

 

On the 3rd December 1982, the UN General Assembly decided on the World Programme of Action for Disabled People. The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December, aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political,  social, economic and cultural life.

The United Nations declared 1983-92 as “United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons” which aimed at development of societies enabling disabled persons live and enjoy equal share in the improvement of living condition,s, resulting from social and economic development.

A welfare society is judged by how effectively it deals with the three groups of population at their time of needs. A society is constituted by three categories of people namely, those in the dawn of life, its young; those in the twilight of life, “elderly; and those who are in their shadows of life, the disabled. Among these three groups of population, disabled are the most neglected and the worst sufferers. They deserve special attention in order to enable them to, participate in the mainstream of development and lead a life with to dignity and self-esteem.

How can the Day be observed?

  • Involve: Observance of the interested provides opportunities for participation by all interested communities governmental, non-governmental and the private sector  to focus on catalytic and innovative measures to further the implementation of international norms and standards related to persons with disabilities. Schools, universities and similar institutions can make particular contributions with regard to promoting greater interest and awareness among interested parties of the social, cultural, economic, civil and political rights of persons with disabilities.
  • Organize: Hold forums, public discussions and information campaigns in support of the Day, focusing on disability issues and ways and means by which persons with disabilities and their families are pursuing independent life styles, sustainable livelihoods and financial security.
  • Celebrate: Plan and organize performances everywhere to showcase – and celebrate – the contributions by persons with disabilities, to the societies in which they live and convene exchanges and dialogues focusing on the rich and varied skills, interests and aspirations of persons with disabilities.
  • Take Action: A major focus of the Day is practical action to further implement international norms and standards concerning persons with disabilities and to further their participation in social life and development, on the basis of equality. The media have especially important contributions to make in support of the observance of the Day – and throughout the year – regarding appropriate presentation of progress and obstacles implementing disability-sensitive policies, programmes and projects and to promote public awareness of the contributions by persons with disabilities.

Themes of the Day

2007 Decent Work for Person with Disabilities –

2006: “E-Accessibility”

2005: “Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Action in Development”

2004: “Nothing about Us without Us” 2003: “A voice of our own”

2002: “Independent Living and Sustainable Livelihoods”

2001: “Full participation and equality: The call for new approaches to assess progress and evaluate outcome”

2000: “Making information technologies work for all”

1999: “Accessibility for all for the new Millennium”

1998: “Arts, Culture and Independent Living”

The World Health Organization estimates that there are 600 million disabled people worldwide, about 10% of the world population. It is also estimated that about 80% of all disabled people worldwide live in developing countries.

Increasingly, disability is seen as a social issue that is not only based on medical reasons. The organization “Disabled Peoples’ International” defines disability as the interaction between the person with impairment and environmental and attitudinal barriers he or she may face. Therefore, the reasons for disability are always complex and can only be understood within the context of societies and cultures.

Equal Opportunity for the Disabled It is estimated that nearly 610 million people exist with disabilities across the world. In India alone, nearly 60 million people suffer disabilities. ‘International Day of Disabled Persons’ is a yearly reminder of what each nation, community, group, and individual can offer to improve the conditions for the disabled as well as muster world-wide assistance and support, to champion the rights of people living with disabilities.

`E-Accessibility’, was the theme of the International Day of Disabled, for the year 2006. People with disabilities often find it difficult to access information and communication technologies simply because information that is presently available is not designed to suit the needs of disabled people. Even the World Wide Web that should be universal is often difficult to navigate for the disabled. In spite of access to information technology that has created new vistas for many, the disabled are simply at a loss to draw the benefits from these technological advances, because of inaccessible formats and design that hamper their active-participation. Many of the websites are also inaccessible to the visually impaired.

On this day, several groups and initiatives around the world will seek to raise the awareness on the rights of persons suffering from disabilities. The objective of this day will revolve around exploring better ways of accessing information and communication technologies that are as much a right to the disabled, as it is to the rest of the population. Significantly, it will be a day to help the disabled integrate into society by ironing out the impediments in their lives.

Better Deal for Disabled in India

The Government of India is committed to the cause of ensuring equal opportunity for people with disabilities. It is reflected in her policies, programmes and legislative initiatives. The National Health Policy (1983) stated that special, well coordinated programmes should be launched to provide mental health care as well as medical care and the physical and social rehabilitation of those who are mentally retarded, deaf, dumb, blind, physically disabled, infirm and the aged.

The full spectrum of disability is prevalent all over the country and it is estimated that 50 million persons suffer from some disability or the other. There has been a range of international initiatives that have helped shape the approach to addressing persons with disabilities. The Decade of Disabled Persons (1982-1993) followed The International Year of Disabled Persons (1981). The years 1993-2002 were declared as the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons.

National Institutes

Govt. of India has constituted the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), – national level statutory body to enforce uniform standards in the training of professionals in the field of rehabilitation of the disabled. The four national level apex institutions functioning in four categories of disabilities are:

National Institute for the Visually Handicapped – Dehradun National Institute for Orthopedically Handicapped- Kolkatha National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped – Mumbai National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped – Secunderabad

Besides, two other apex level institutions such as

Institute for the Physically Handicapped – New Delhi National Institute for Rehabilitation, Training and Research — Cuttack

have also been established. These apex institutions are providing training, research, documentation, rehabilitation and other services.

Five Composite regional centers have been setup at Sunder Nagar (HP), Srinagar (J&K), Bhoal, Guwahati and Lucknow. In addition to improved availability of rehabilitation services for persons with spinal injuries, four regional centers have been set up at Jabalpur, Bareilly, Cuttack and Ropar in Punjab.

A question on disability was included in Census of India 2001 and the data is being compiled. Besides, the National Samples Survey Organization (NSSO) has collected data on disability.

For providing rehabilitation services to the handicapped, disability have been classified into four categories i.e. (i) Visual Handicaps; (ii) Locomotor Handicaps; (iii) Speech and Hearing Handicaps; and (iv) Mentally Handicaps. In order to provide interventional and rehabilitation services, each of the above category is again divided into four groups, such as (i) Mild; (ii) Moderate; (iii) Severe and (iv) Profound, Total.

Rights of the Disabled

The traditional approaches of tackling problems associated Rights of the Disabled with disability have ranged from elimination to indifference. In the present scenario, the disabled are viewed as individuals with a wide rage of abilities and each one of them is capable of utilizing his/her The Indian Disability law treats disability as a civil right rather potential. than a health and welfare issue. The law recognizes that the primary issue facing disabled people is their exclusion from the mainstream activities of the society and hence the emphasis in the law is on full integration and participation.

Educational Laws

Article 29 of the Constitution guarantees the admission of every citizen including disabled into any educational institution maintained by the state or receiving aid out of state funds, irrespective of grounds of religion, race, caste, language, or any of them.

Family Laws

The laws relating to marriage are uniform to disabled and non-disabled class. There is no bar in respect of a disabled person having relation with non-disabled person, provided both are of marriageable age and do not suffer from mental illness. Marriage has to be performed with free consent of the two parties.

The Succession Law

The physical inability or physical deformity would not prevent a person from inheriting ancestral property.

Labour Laws

A worker who meets with an accident during the course of his employment  to can ask for such compensation provided in Workmen Compensation Act and is entitled for treatment under the Employees State Insurance Act. The service rule of the Government  provide that employees who become disabled should be adjusted in a post where his disability will not prevent him for rendering the work.

Society also needs to know that the disabled are citizens of this country and that their rights have to be respected and ensured. In the new scenario of awareness, the disabled have learnt to move from an environment of expectation to an environment of rights. This has resulted in the institution of three Acts promulgated by the Govt. of India. The acts were passed in order to create harmony between disabled and non-disabled class.

(1) The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992

The act was passed for monitoring the training of professionals and personnel, promoting research in rehabilitation and special education as additional objectives of the Act.

(2) Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995

The Indian Parliament, for the first time has legally endorsed the right to access for the disabled people to education and vocational training, employment practices, travel on public transport and mobility schemes, barrier free environment and integrated living, information and communication strategies, independence and dignity.

(3) The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with autism, cerebral palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999

The Central Government is obliged to setup, in accordance with this Act and for the benefit of disabled class, a National Trust for welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities at New Delhi.

Persons with disabilities and their families, especially parents are often the victims of non-information. Parents are not always told the truth about their children’s disabilities; not told early enough for timely intervention; not told with sensitivity and are not informed about appropriate referral services. There is strong need to provide these information, opportunities and special services. This will help us to make disable friendly environment providing them equal opportunities and rights.

Promotion of Volunteerism Volunteers can play a major role in building awareness on issues related ‘to differently-abled people. Increasing the number of trained volunteers in the disabilities sector would contribute towards changing the attitude of our society towards disabled people and creating a supportive environment for the protection of the rights of the disabled.

The role of media persons and press coverage is very important and volunteers from media can work as a catalyst in sensitizing people and organizations about the needs of the disabled. The media can also contribute to create awareness about various Acts. Volunteering opens up avenues through which persons with disability can get an opportunity to learn marketable skills and develop meaningful social connections.

To mobilize volunteers to work on disabilities the agencies such as NSS, NYK, NCC, Bharat Scouts and Guides etc. can be involved and some recognition in the form of awards to meritorious volunteers can be introduced. Volunteerism should be a people’s programme and a state programme. The disabled need respect not pity, integration not segregation.

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