Issues faced
- day to day
- inaccessible roads, footpath, buildings, toilets, public transport
- assisstive devices
- social stigma, stereotype, paternalistic attitude
- dependence on caregiver
- risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation
- limited access to recreation, sports, cultural activities
- e-govarnence
- websites / apps not compatible with screen readers
- lack of captions in audio description
- sign language interpretation
- poor PDF accessibility, online forms
- CAPTCHA / auth systems create barriers
- lack of universal design principles
- Education
- inaccessible schools, classrooms, laboratories, toilets
- shortage of special educators, sign language interpretors, trained teachers
- lack of accessible textbooks
- delayed identification & intervention
- high dropout rates
- difficulties in examination & assessment
- social isolation, bullying, discrimination
- Workplace
- discrimination during recruitment, promotion
- stereotype regd. productivity, capability
- inaccessible workplaces, transprot
- lack of reasonable accomodation
- concentration in low paid / informal employment
- wage disparities
- difficulties in adaptation and limited career progression
- healthcare
- physically inaccessible hospitals
- communication barriers w/ docs/staff
- high OOPE for specialized care
- expensive assistive devices, rehabilitation
- insufficient specialized rehab in rural areas
- neglect of sexual & reproductive health needs
- mobility
- inaccessible buses, railway, airports, metro
- poorly designed foothpaths, crossings
- lack of last mile connectivity
- justice
- courts, police station not physically accessible
- dependence on intermediaries compromises autonomy
- lack of accessible legal documents
- political
- inaccessible polling stations
- innaccessible election info
- limited decision making representation
- pol info not available in accessible formats
- Economic
- HCoL due to assistive devices
- high insurance premium
- high recurring healthcare OOPE
- poverty and disability reinforce each other
- lower labour force participation
- difficulty obtaining credit, financial services
- disaster/emergency
- evacuation plans ignore mobility of disabled
- emergency warnings not accessible
- shelters lack ramp, accessible toilet, suitable facilities
- PWD face greater risk during disasters, displacement
Govt measures
What can be done
- move from retrofitted accessibility → accessibility by design
- strengthen enforcement of RPwD Act
- fix clear accountability for accessibility violations
- involve PwD in policy formulation
- digital:
- WCAG compliant website/app
- screen reader compatible govt portals
- captions / transcripts for govt vids
- sign language interpretation, accessible PDF
- voice based interaction
edu
- train teachers in disability inclusive pedagogy
- inc special educatiors, braille textbooks, assistive tech in clasrooms
- flexible assessment methods
- healthcare
- integrate disability rehab into primary healthcare
- district level rehab teams
- train ASHA Workers in early identification
- accessible sexual & reproductive healthcare
- social security
- DBT w/ accessible banking
- portability of benefits across states
- improve coverage & adequacy