International day of persons with disabilities – 3rd December 2011

Did you know that according to the new report there are more 1 billion people across the globe face substantial  barriers in their daily lives.The day 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 inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect of life.

Lets see which countries are user friendly for people who suffer from disabilities .One of the main concern that I always felt was how people with disabilities travel ? With the growing modernization and the population explosion in  countries like India ,China etc .Here modern infrastructure is being built but in India I have seen minimal thought given to the disabled people.

When I travel by the local train to reach the platform from where the train leaves its just impossible for a wheelchair bound person to access this service.Now since few years there is a small compartment which is specially for the disabled and also for the cancer patients.This is a good initiative by the government .

The public transport buses have 4 -5 seats reserved for the disabled but here also there is no facility for a wheel chair bound person.Last week when I was traveling in the BEST bus there was a heart breaking incident a mother was sitting with her son who was suffering from cerebral palsy and was also blind and a person came who was also little disabled he started fighting with that lady that she should vacate the seat .The lady explained that it will be impossible to leave the child sit alone but the other person didn’t understand the complex disease the child was suffering from .

Looking at this whole thing a fellow passenger offered his seat.The point is there has to be awareness campaigns where people understand how to deal with disabilities and also a board has to be put where care takers can seat with the disabled people.

Some of the best practices that I have encountered in India where disabled people are concerned is the outlook of the general people.Indian people are very helpful when they see a disabled person who needs any help like while crossing streets, some organizations are doing tremendous work,also the students from schools and colleges are very friendly and helpful.

Did you know ? 

http://www.specialolympics.org/#

Special Olympics is a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability. We are helping to make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place -- one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time.You can do your bit by donating for the cause

http://www.paralympic.org/Paralympic_Games/

The Paralympics are elite sport events for athletes with a disability. They emphasize, however, the participants' athletic achievements rather than their disability. The movement has grown dramatically since its first days. The number of athletes participating in Summer Paralympic Games has increased from 400 athletes from 23 countries in Rome in 1960 to 3,951 athletes from 146 countries in Beijing in 2008.

http://www.deaflympics.com/about/

The Summer and Winter Deaflympics are among the world's fastest growing sports events. More than 4,000 deaf athletes and officials from 77 nations participated in the 21st Summer Deaflympics in Taipei, Chinese Taipei, in September 2009. Over 600 athletes and officials participated in the 16th Winter Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, United States in February 2007.

Some of the famous people

Albert Einstein
The Mathematician/Physicist who had a learning disability and did not speak until age 3. He had a very difficult time doing maths in school. It was also very hard for him to express himself through writing. 

Alexander Graham Bell
Had a learning disability 

Cher
Has dyslexia 

Christopher Reeve
Never has a person with a disability commanded so much media attention in recent history. Christopher Reeve, crippled after a horse-riding injury, wants to be up on his feet & wants to help others stand confident too. His life is now dedicated to harnessing the power of medical research to get up & ride again. 

Thomas Edison
Edison had a learning disability. He couldn't read until he was twelve years old and had a very difficult time writing even when he was older. 

Francsico de Goya
Spanish painter (1746-1828): At age 46, an illness left him deaf. He went on to create the most famous Spanish art of the 19th century. 

Helen Keller
She was Blind, Deaf, and Mute .Devoted her Life to Persons with Disabilities

Ludwig van Beethoven
Known to be deaf one of the famous musicians

Robin Williams
was diagnosed to be suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) as a child. He never refuses a role related to medicine e.g Awakenings, Patch Adams. 

Sarah Bernhardt
French actress (1844-1923) Disabled by a knee injury, her leg amputated in 1914, she continued starring on stage until just before her death. She is regarded as France's greatest actress -- "The Divine Sarah". 

Stephen Hawkings
Physicist/mathematician has Lou Gehrigs Disease and is in a wheelchair. He needs a computer to speak. 

Sudha Chandran
Indian actress and classical dancer. This brave lady dances with a Jaipur foot. She has acted in a movie on classical dance called "Nache Mayuri" & today acts in a variety of TV serials. 

Walt Disney
Had a learning disability

These are few of the points that I have put in this article.There is lot that needs to be done and if each of us does our bit we will definitely achieve the desired outcome…

Article written by,

We bring health to you….

Dr.Santosh Joshi

Classical Homeopath

Call us on : +91 9819155780

Email : tosh116@gmail.com

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