About the Author
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Bupinder Zutshi, Ph. D., Center for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. Email: bzutshi@vsnl.com, Phone: 011-31067803 Currently teaching at Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal. Nehru University, New Delhi, has more than 25 years of teaching experience at post-graduate and research level. Has taught at Utkal University, Kashmir University and Jawaharlal Nehru University. His fields of interest include population studies, child labour, child education, gender studies and regional development. Has published four books and several research articles in journals of repute. Has completed several research and field action oriented projects on child education, child labour, Non-formal education, gender studies and disabled population. These projects were sponsored by the UNESCO (New Delhi), UNESCO:IBE (Geneva), United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (Geneva), International Labour Organization (New Delhi), the National Human Rights Commission of India, the Policy Science Center, Inc., funded by the Learning and Research Program on Culture and Poverty of the World Bank, the Ford Foundation and the Indian Council of Social Science Research. |
Research Associate:
P.K.Prasad
Aruna Rai
Research Assistants:
P.P. Tripathi,
A.K. Kapoor,
Computer Assistance:
Satyendra Kumar
Anish Kapoor
Cartographic Assistance
Acknowledgements
Puspahas Panigrahi
I wish to put on record my gratitude to the Ford Foundation of India, New Delhi for having given me an opportunity to conduct the research study on the DISABILITY STATUS IN INDIA- A CASE STUDY OF DELHI METROPLOLITAN REGION
My deep appreciation and sincere acknowledgements go to Professor K. Warikoo and Dr. Sharad. K. Soni from Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation, New Delhi and Dr. Deepa Nag Haksar, Secretary, DIVA-India for providing all possible academic and administrative support and guidance in solving many financial and administrative problems from time to time.
I am deeply indebted to the Project Coordinators of Project - Applied Ethics Institute of India, Governing Body members of the Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation and DIVA- India for making the necessary arrangements to carry out the research work. All members have been extremely cooperative, accommodative, and non-interfering throughout the period of study.
I am also grateful to members of Initiative for Social Change and Action, particularly to Professor C.J. Daswani, Professor Z. M. Shahid Siddiqui, Professor Tillottama Daswani, and Ms. Mariam Karim for their stimulating academic thoughts on disability sector in India. Dr. Mondira Dutta deserves a special thanks for being supportive at all stages including the organizing of the seminar and particularly drafting the proceedings of the seminar on Services for differently Abled Persons in India.
I am grateful to Justice Rajinder Sachhar (Ex-Chief Justice of Delhi High Court), Mr. Javed Abidi, Director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), staff and officials from Institute for Physically Handicapped and Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Disabilities in Delhi and representatives from Civil Society Organizations like National Association for the Blind (New Delhi), Amar Jyoti, Hemophilia Federation, Institute of Public Opinion, Institute of Research and Action Planning, Awaaz Special School, DLDAV, Association of Kashmiri Samiti, Indian Social Institute, Manzil Welfare Society, SAI Pragya Institute, ADDI (Spastic Society of India), Delhi Brotherhood Society, Sadhu Vaswani School, Family of Disabled, SPANDAN, Blue Bell School, Delhi Association of Deaf, TWMR Special Institute, DOON Research and Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped, Child Guidance Centre, ADHAAR, VIDYA, Spastic Society (Delhi) and Mass media, All India Radio and other print media for attending one day seminar organised by the AEII at India International Centre, New Delhi on 21st June 2003. .
I am grateful for the unrestrained support and cooperation showered upon my research team by the office staff of Rehabilitation Council of India, New Delhi, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, Department of Social Welfare, Government of NCT of Delhi, Office of the Chief Commissioner for persons with disability and NGOs associated with the services for disability sector in Delhi. I am thankful to the differently abled and challenged persons seeking services and support from different NGOs for enriching our knowledge about disability challenges and prospects during the course of our interviews with them. Their support and cooperation was valuable to prepare the report.
I am thankful to my entire team who has tried hard to help me complete this study. Special mention needs to be made about Mr. P.K.Prasad, Aruna Rai, Sumit Arora, Ashok Kapoor, Praveen Kumar Choudhari, Anish Kapoor, Puspahas, P.P. Tripathi and other office staff of AEII, who spent months together in the field supervising the survey work.
Last but not the least my sincere thanks go to my children Aneesh and Ipshita for constant help, support and inspiration and helping me in designing the lay out of the presentation of this report.
Dr. Bupinder Zutshi
Tables
| S. No. | Table No. | Table Name | Page No. |
| 1 | II.1.1 | Disabled Population in India- Magnitude | 33 |
| 2 | II.1.2 | Disabled Population in India - Gender Distribution | 34 |
| 3 | II.1.3 | Disabled Population in India - Rural/ Urban Distribution | 34 |
| 4 | II.1.4 | Disabled Population in India- Prevalence Rate | 35 |
| 5 | II.1.5 | Disabled Population in India- Prevalence Rate- Age Groups | 36 |
| 6 | II.1.6 | State wise Prevalence Rate - Males, Rural/ Urban -1991-2002 | 37 |
| 7 | II.1.7 | State wise Prevalence Rate - Females, Rural/ Urban -1991-2002 | 40 |
| 8 | II.1.8 | Disabled Population in India- Incidence Rate | 43 |
| 9 | II.1.9 | Disabled Population in India- Incidence Rate- Age Groups | 44 |
| 10 | II.1.10 | State wise Incidence Rate - Males, Rural/ Urban -1991-2002 | 45 |
| 11 | II.1.11 | State wise Incidence Rate - Females, Rural/ Urban -1991-2002 | 47 |
| 12 | II.1.12 | Number of Disabled Person in Disabled Households | 49 |
| 13 | II.1.13 | Onset of Disability Since Birth | 51 |
| 14 | II.1.14 | Severity of Disability | 51 |
| 15 | II.1.15 | Disabled Population in India - Age Distribution | 52 |
| 16 | II.1.16 | Disabled Population in India - Social Composition | 53 |
| 17 | II.1.17 | Disabled Population in India - Marital Status | 55 |
| 18 | II.1.18 | Disabled Population in India - Current Living Arrangements | 56 |
| 19 | II.1.19 | Disabled Population in India - Education Status | 59 |
| 20 | II.1.20 | Disabled Population in India - Usual Work Activity Status | 59 |
| 21 | II.1.21 | Disabled Population in India - Work Activity Status | 62 |
| 22 | II.1.22 | Disabled Population in India - Work Status Before and After Disability | 65 |
| 23 | II.2.1 | Disabled Population in India - Types and Magnitude | 68 |
| 24 | II.3.1 | Locomotor Impaired Persons - Magnitude | 71 |
| 25 | II.3.2 | Locomotor Impaired Persons - Prevalence Rate | 71 |
| 26 | II.3.3 | Locomotor Impaired Persons - State wise Prevalence Rate, Males | 73 |
| 27 | II.3.4 | Locomotor Impaired Persons - State wise Prevalence Rate, Females | 75 |
| 28 | II.3.5 | Locomotor Impaired Persons - Prevalence Rate- Age Groups | 78 |
| 29 | II.3.6 | Locomotor Impaired Persons - Incidence Rate | 80 |
| 30 | II.3.7 | Locomotor Impaired Persons - Incidence Rate- Age Groups | 81 |
| 31 | II.3.8 | Locomotor Impaired Persons- Age at Onset of Impairment | 82 |
| 32 | II.3.9 | Locomotor Impaired Persons- Degree of Impairment | 84 |
| 33 | II.3.10 | Locomotor Impaired Persons- Causes of Impairment | 85 |
| 34 | II.3.11 | Locomotor Impaired Persons- Education Status | 87 |
| 35 | II.3.12 | Locomotor Impaired Persons- Work Activity Status | 88 |
| 36 | II.3.13 | Locomotor Impaired Persons- Work Activity Status After Disability | 89 |
| 37 | II.4.1 | Hearing Impaired - Magnitude | 92 |
Preface
The present study examines the conceptual and theoretical aspects of disability sector in India with a special focus on magnitude, prevalence rates, incidence rates, characteristics and composition of disabled person in India. Special focus has been given to identify available services and facilities for disabled persons through government and non-government organizations with special reference to Delhi Metropolitan region. The report has been divided into six parts excluding the executive summary, which presents main conclusions of the report for each part and also presents major recommendation of the report. The lay out of the report is substantiated with the help of tables, maps, figures and diagrams for easy visual understanding.
Part-I examines the definitional and conceptual aspects of disability. It identifies various disability type groups based on specific physical, sensory and learning characteristics. It also attempts to trace and analyses international initiatives undertaken for the welfare of disability sector during last 50 years. The last section of this part examines national initiatives through legislation and other affirmative actions and initiatives to focus disability agenda for pro-active measures.
Part-II has been divided into seven sections. Each section examines magnitude, composition and characteristics of different types of disability / impairments. The disabilities/ impairments covered are all disabled, locomotor impaired, hearing impaired, vision impaired, speech impaired and mentally impaired. It examines the NSSO data collected for the disabled person through a sample surveys during 47th and 58th round in 1991 and 2002 respectively. The analysis includes state wise, gender wise and rural/ urban distribution of disabled persons depicting their magnitude, prevalence rates, incidence rate, degree of impairment, causes for impairment and a in depth analysis of demographic, social and economic characteristics of the disabled persons
Part-III has been divided into three sections. It examines government services for the disabled persons in terms of developing national and regional institutes to support and create conducive environment for equal opportunities for disabled persons. Part-III also examines services and facilities provided by these national and regional institutes to disabled persons in India. The budget allocations for the disability sector welfare have also been presented in this section. Last section examines the concessions and other benefits provided to disabled persons for creating equal opportunities for their integration. It also analyses the status of implementation of the PWD-Act 1995 provisions in the states in India and by the central government.
Part-IV examines services and other facilities available for disabled person in the Delhi Metropolitan region. The analysis has been attempted both though primary and secondary sources of information. A details field survey was conducted in Delhi selecting 83 NGOs and voluntary organizations and 63 beneficiaries. The respondents included NGOs, Government organization personnel as well as disabled/-impaired persons seeking support from these organizations. Detailed analysis of the existing services as well as required services has been attempted on the basis of the field survey. Last section of the part documents the 'Good Practice- Initiatives' of NGOs and government organizations providing support to disabled persons in Delhi region.
Part-V of the report presents the broad conclusions and recommendations of the report. The recommendations are suggested based on the field survey data analysis, discussions with target groups and stakeholders and from the deliberations of the seminar organised in Delhi, where a large number of NGOs, government officials, target groups and other stakeholders were present.
A detailed list of references, literature reviewed and bibliography scanned for the study purpose is given in Part-VI of the report. These references, disability data and bibliography has been identified in libraries visited in Delhi, web search engines through internet and material collected from government departments and NGOs offices located in Delhi.
Last Part of the report documents annexes detailing NGOs working for Disability welfare in Delhi, NGOs and beneficiaries selected for a detailed field survey, field questionnaires used for the survey and a report on the seminar entitled " Services for Differently Abled Persons in India". The seminar was organised as a part of the research report to provide insights about disability sector in India through wider participation from stakeholders and target groups.
Part-I
Disability - Definition, Types and International and National Initiatives
Defining Disability:
Defining disability is difficult to accommodate the expectations of all disabled groups. There are hundreds of different disabilities and there are, as many causes for these disabilities. Some people are born with disabilities; others become disabled later on in their lives. Some disabilities exhibit themselves only periodically like fits and seizures; others are constant conditions and are life-long. The severity of some stays the same, while others get progressively worse like muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis. Some are hidden and not obvious like epilepsy or haemophilia (impairment of blood clotting mechanism). Some disabilities can be controlled and cured while others still baffle the experts. Thus, finding a consensus on the different and frequently varying definitions of disabilities, whether sophisticated or practical, has never been easy. Some include total or partial impairment of senses and physical and intellectual capacities while defining disability. Others refer to a handicap or deviation of a social nature, injury or illness or incapacities to accomplish physiological functions or to obtain or keep employment. These definitions also reflect the consequences for the individual - cultural, social, economic and environmental- that stem from the disability.
Helander1: Helander gave the simplest and may be the initial definition of a disabled person. "A person who in his/her society is regarded as disabled, because of a difference in appearances and/or behaviour." In most instances, a disabled person has functional limitations and/or activity restrictions. A 'functional limitation' disability may be defined as 'specific reductions in bodily functions that are described at the level of the person'. While 'Activity restriction' disability may be defined as 'specific reductions in daily activities that are described at the level of the person'.
American Disability Act 1990 (ADA)2
ADA defines individuals with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity, individuals with a history of such impairment, and people who are regarded by others or perceived as having such impairment. This definition protect people with epilepsy, diabetes, mental health conditions, amputees, and others who are able to mitigate the effects of their impairments but nonetheless encounter discrimination in the workplace and other settings because of fears, myths and stereotypes of individual employers and other covered entities. ADA has categorised disability physical and mental disability groups:
Physical disability: It includes . . . "Having any physiological disease, disorder, condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss that . . . affects one or more of the following body systems: neurological, immunological, musculo-skeletal, special sense organs, respiratory, including speech organs, cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin, and endocrine [and] limits a major life activity . . .. Having a record or history of a disease, disorder, condition, cosmetic disfigurement, anatomical loss, or health impairment . . . which the employer knows . . .. Being regarded or treated . . . as having, or having had, any physical condition that makes achievement of a major life activity difficult. Being regarded or treated . . . as having, or having had, a disease, disorder, condition, cosmetic disfigurement, anatomical loss, or health impairment that has no present disabling effect but may become a physical disability"3.
Mental disability: It includes . . . "Having any mental or psychological disorder or condition, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, or specific learning disabilities, that limits a major life activity . . . . Having a record or history of a mental or psychological disorder or condition . . . which is known to the employer . . .. Being regarded or treated by the employer or other entity covered by this part as having, or having had, any mental condition that makes achievement of a major life activity difficult. Being regarded or treated . . . as having, or having had, a mental or psychological disorder or condition that has no present disabling effect, but that may become a mental disability . . ."4
Australia Disability Discrimination Act, (ADDA) 1972
Disability in relation to a person, means5
British Disability Discrimination Act (BDDA), 1995
Disability is a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. In order to apply durability test, the British Act uses three different terms: loss of faculty, disability and disablement. These are meant to be separate concepts.
Loss of Faculty-
Loss of faculty is any pathological condition or any loss or reduction of normal physical or mental functions of an organ or part of the body. A loss of faculty in itself may not be a disability but is an actual cause of one or more disabilities, e.g., the loss of one kidney.
Disability-
A 'disability' means an inability to perform a normal bodily or mental process. It could either be complete inability to do something (such as walking) or it can be partial inability to do something (such as one can lift weights but not heavy ones).
Disablement-
It is the sum total of all the separate disabilities an individual may suffer from. It means an overall inability to perform the normal activities of life and the loss of health, strength and power to enjoy a normal life. While assessing an individual his/her physical and mental condition, inconvenience, genuine embarrassment or anxieties are taken into account.
India: Persons with Disabilities Act 1995 (PWD-Equal opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation)
Disability is defined a person suffering from not less than forty per cent of any disability as certified by a medical authority. The disabilities identified are; blindness, low vision, cerebral palsy, leprosy, leprosy cured, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental illness and mental retardation as well as multiple disabilities.
The National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), India:
The NSSO that conducted survey of persons with disabilities in 1981, 1991 and 2002 in India, considered disability as " Any restriction or lack of abilities to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for human being". It excludes illness /injury of recent origin (morbidity) resulting into temporary loss of ability to see, hears, speak or move.
International Labour Organization (ILO):
The ILO in its Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention defines a disabled person as an individual whose prospects of securing, retaining and advancing a suitable employment are substantially reduced as a result of duly recognised physical or mental impairment. The Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, the term " Disabled Person" means, " Any person unable to ensure by himself or herself, wholly or partly, the necessities of a normal individual and / or social life as a result of deficiency, either congenital or not, in his or her physical or mental capabilities".
United Nations: Standard rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, 19948
'Disability' summarizes a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population in any country of the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness.
The term 'handicap' means the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the life of the community on an equal level with others. It describes the encounter between the persons with a disability and the environment. The purpose of this term is to emphasize the focus on the shortcomings in the environment and in many organised activities in society, e.g., information, communication and education, which prevent persons with disabilities from participating on equal terms.
World Health Organization (WHO): International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH) in 1980.9
The ICIDH provides a conceptual framework for disability with three parts:
World Health Organization: International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH) in 2001.
The document, referred to as the ICIDH-2, is officially titled the "International Classification of Functioning and Disability," or ICF . Under this new system, the three concepts of impairment, disability and handicap have been replaced by two concepts -
"Body functions and structures" (replacing "impairment"); and "Activities and participation" (replacing "handicap") - which are thoughts to extend the prior categories to permit the description of positive as well as negative experiences. The prior concept of "disability," or "functional" abilities or inabilities, is now conceived of as an umbrella concept applicable to either the body perspective, or to the individual and society perspective. The new system explicitly contemplates an assessment of "environmental factors," including the physical environment, the social environment and the impact of attitudes, and of "personal factors," which correspond to the personality and characteristic attributes of an individual.
Disability types:
Disabled people do not form a homogenous group. They may be, the physically disabled, mentally retarded, the visually, hearing and speech impaired, those with restricted mobility or with so-called "medical disabilities" and learning disabilities. They can broadly be classified as Physical and Communication, Mental, Learning and Medical disabilities.
Physical and Communication disabilities involve either loss of vision, physical movement, communication skills or a weakness or change in normal motor control. Some physical disabilities are present at birth (congenital) or are acquired due to illness, accident, or unknown causes. Loss of vision leads to complete blindness or low vision, loss of movement is often caused by spinal cord injury (damage to the nervous system) or by physical trauma such as severe fracture, burns or the amputation of a limb. One of the most common physical disabilities in young people is, cerebral palsy (CP). It produces disturbances of voluntary motor control ranging from clumsy and awkward movements to little or no coordinated movement. Individuals with CP can have related speech problems, as well as impaired hearing or vision. Other conditions such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, produce similar types of changes in physical functioning.
Person with low vision - A person with impairment of visual functioning even after treatment or standard refractive correction but who uses or is potentially capable of using vision for the planning or execution of a task with appropriate assistive device.
It is a disorder, which affects the basic psychological processes of understanding or using written or spoken language. This disorder affects development of language, speech, reading and associated communication skills needed for social interaction. These children have deviant activity level, average or above average intelligence with perceptual disorders, problems in reading, writing, spelling & arithmetic, delayed or slow development of speech articulation, short attention span, frequent changes in mood, low self esteem, low or below average social competence, impulsive, problems in motor activities and spatial organization, poor temporal concepts, passive, lacking strategies for tackling academic problems, having inadequate grasp of what strategies are available for problem solving and do not believe in their abilities.
Conditions such as brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia are examples of learning disabilities.
A combination of two or more disabilities as defined in clause (i) of section 2 of the Person with disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995 namely Blindness/low vision Speech and Hearing impairment Locomotor disability including leprosy cured Mental retardation and Mental illness.
A medical disability can be defined as a condition that requires intervention such as medical treatment, prescription drugs, and/or accommodation to help a person participate in life's activities. Medical disabilities may be acute or chronic, visible or invisible, and the type of support needed is diverse. The chronic health problems include fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, kidney disease, allergies, cardiovascular problems, cancer, diabetes, and HIV infections, as well as respiratory and gastro-intestinal disorders. Recognizing medical conditions may be difficult because many are "hidden". The primary diagnosis may be accompanied by secondary impairments in mobility, vision, hearing, speech, or coordination depending on the nature and/or progression of the condition. Medical disabilities can be classified into:
Autoimmune Illness: It includes fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and lupus. A lowered immunity can result in frequent illnesses. Patients can experience flare-ups, side effects of medication, or hospitalisation.
Blood serum disorders: It includes haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, HIV/AIDS, and other disorders. Blood serum disorders can be characterized by severe crisis periods with extreme pain and other complications, which may necessitate hospitalisation.
Epilepsy: It is a disorder of the central nervous system, which results in a seizure. For many adults, epileptic seizures are largely controlled by anti-convulsion medication. There are four major kinds of seizures, distinguished by the degree of convulsion and the extent to which the person is conscious. Grand mal epilepsy involves sudden and violent convulsions and loss of consciousness, whereas Petit mal epilepsy is milder and involves little or no loss of consciousness. The person may stop what he/she is doing and stare momentarily.
Cancers: It can occur in almost any organ system of the body, the systems and particular disabling effects will vary greatly from one person to another. People may experience visual problems, lack of balance and coordination, joint pain, backaches, headaches, abdominal pain, drowsiness, lethargy, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, weakness, bleeding, or anaemia. The primary treatments for cancer can cause additional effects such as violent nausea, drowsiness, and fatigue. Medical treatment can result in amputation, paralysis, sensory deficits, and language and memory problems.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF): It is a disease affecting the cells lining the pancreas, small intestines, sweat glands, and lungs. CF's respiratory symptoms are chronic and eventually lead to fatal lung infections.
Muscular Dystrophy: It refers to a group of hereditary, progressive disorders that most often occur with young people, producing degeneration of voluntary muscles of the trunk and extremities. Atrophying of muscles results in chronic weakness and fatigue and may cause respiratory or cardiac problems. Walking, if possible, is slow.
Multiple Sclerosis: is a progressive disease of the central nervous system, characterized by a decline of muscle control. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may include blurred vision, legal blindness, tremors, weakness or numbness in limbs, unsteady gait, paralysis, slurred speech, mood swings, or attention deficits. Periodic remissions are common and may last from a few days to several months as the disease continues to progress.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Persons who are in treatment programs experience psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem, as well as cognitive deficits such as impaired concentration or short-term memory.
International Initiatives for Disabled: From its early days the United Nations has sought to advance the status of disabled persons and to improve their lives. The concern of the United Nations for the well-being and rights of disabled persons is rooted in its founding principles, which are based on human rights, fundamental freedoms and equality of all human beings. As affirmed by the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenants on Human Rights and related human rights instruments, persons with disabilities are entitled to exercise their civil, political, social and cultural rights on an equal basis with non-disabled persons. The contribution of United Nations specialized agencies to advance the situation of disabled persons is noteworthy: the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by providing special education; the World Health Organization (WHO) by providing technical assistance in health and prevention; the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) by supporting childhood disability programmes and providing technical assistance in collaboration with Rehabilitation International (a non-governmental organization); the International Labour Organization (ILO) by improving access to the labour market and increasing economic integration through international labour standards and technical cooperation activities. The international initiatives have been identified in several phases in view of the changing approaches of understanding and measures undertaken for their inclusion in the society.
Phase- I, 1945-1955
In the 1940s and 1950s, the United Nations promoted Welfare perspective on disability, focusing on rights of disabled through a range of social welfare approaches. Advocating prevention and rehabilitation issues followed several measures vigorously. The Social Commission of the United Nations provided assistance to Governments in disability prevention and the rehabilitation of disabled persons through advisory missions, workshops for the training of technical personnel and the setting up of rehabilitation centres.
Phase- II, 1955-69
This phase witnessed a shift from a welfare perspective to one of social welfare. A re-evaluation of policy in the 1960s led to de-institutionalization and spurred a demand for fuller participation by disabled persons in an integrated society. Operational activities in the field of disability changed through implementation of various United Nations programmes on prevention and rehabilitation. The United Nations in its Article 19 addressed the provision of health, social security, and social welfare services for all persons, aiming at the rehabilitation of the mentally and physically disabled so as to facilitate their integration into society.
Phase- III, 1970-75
In the 1970s, the growing international concern with human rights for persons with disabilities was specifically addressed by the General Assembly in the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons. The Right of Mentally Retarded Persons Declaration stipulates that mentally retarded persons are accorded the same rights as other human beings, as well as specific rights corresponding to their needs in the medical, educational and social fields. Emphasis was put on the need to protect disabled persons from exploitation and provide them with proper legal procedures. In 1975 the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons proclaims the equal civil and political rights of disabled persons. This Declaration sets the standard for equal treatment and access to services, which help to develop capabilities of persons with disabilities and accelerate their social integration.
Phase- IV, 1976-1980
The General Assembly recommended that all Member States take into account the recommendations outlined in the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons when formulating policies, plans and programmes. It also proclaims 1981 as International Year for Disabled Persons, stressing that the Year should be devoted to fully integrating disabled persons into society and encouraging relevant study and research projects to educate the public on the rights of disabled persons. It called for a plan of action at the national, regional and international levels, with an emphasis on equalization of opportunities, rehabilitation and prevention of disabilities. In 1978 The Secretary-General establishes the intergovernmental Advisory Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons.
Phase - V, 1980-82
The International Year of Disabled Persons, 1981, was celebrated with numerous programmes, adopting recommendations of research projects, policy innovations and other rehabilitation programmes. Many conferences and symposiums were held during the Year, including the First Founding Congress of Disabled People International, held in Singapore from 30 November to 6 December. In 1982, the General Assembly took a major step towards ensuring effective follow-up to the International Year by adopting, on 3 December 1982, the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons. The World Programme transformed the disability issue from a "social welfare" issue to that of integrating the human rights of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development processes. The Programme restructured disability policy into three distinct areas:
In a broad sense, implementation would entail long-term strategies integrated into national policies for socio-economic development, preventive activities that would include development and use of technology for the prevention of disablement, and legislation eliminating discrimination regarding access to facilities, social security, education and employment. At the international level, Governments were requested to cooperate with each other, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations. Together, the Programme and the International Year had launched a new era--one that would seek to define "handicapped" as the relationship between persons with disabilities and their environment. It was imperative that the barriers created by society to full participation by persons with disabilities be removed.
Phase - VI 1983-92
The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities had included disabled persons in international human rights discourse since its establishment. In 1984, it appointed Leandro Despouy of Argentina as Special Rapporteur to study the connection between human rights violations, violations of fundamental human freedoms and disability. He biannual report to the Sub-Commission on the particular human rights situation of disabled persons recommended the establishment of an international ombudsman in 1991.
At this juncture, the General Assembly of the United Nations noted with concern the plight of disabled persons in some countries and asked member countries to ensure that persons with disabilities would enjoy the same rights to employment as all other qualified citizens and that the United Nations itself would declare employment opportunities open to all persons, regardless of sex, religion, ethnic origin or disability.
In August 1987, a mid-decade review of the United Nations Decade of Disabled persons was conducted at a global meeting of experts in Stockholm, Sweden. The meeting recommended the importance of recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities. Since the pace of progress during the first five years had not been as fast as initially expected, the experts agreed that the disability issues should be further addressed within a wider interdisciplinary context--namely, a comprehensive well-coordinated information and evaluation campaign; establishment of a data base on disability; and creation of technical cooperation programmes.
On 17 December 1991, the General Assembly adopted the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Health Care. The twenty-five principles define fundamental freedoms and basic rights for these people. They deal with, inter alia, the right to life in the community, the determination of mental illness, provisions for admission to treatment facilities, and the conditions of mental health facilities. They serve as a guide to Governments, specialized agencies and regional and international organizations, helping them facilitate investigation into problems affecting the application of fundamental freedoms and basic human rights for persons with mental illness.
On 16 December 1992, the General Assembly appealed to Governments to observe 3 December of each year as International Day of Disabled Persons. The Assembly further summarized the goals of the United Nations regarding disability and asked the Secretary-General to move from consciousness-raising to action, placing the Organization in a catalytic leadership role, which would place disability issues on the agendas of future world conferences.
A significant outcome of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992) was the adoption of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities by the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly in 1993. The Standard Rules are an international instrument with a human rights perspective for disability-sensitive policy design and evaluation as well as for technical and economic cooperation.
Phase - VII, 1993-2002
The United Nations conducted a comprehensive comparative study of global disability policies and programmes in 1997 and issued it as a Report of the Secretary-General, "Review and appraisal of implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons." This study indicated that a broad human rights framework must be further developed and established for disability policies and programmes to promote social, economic and cultural rights as well as the civil and political rights of persons with disabilities. Major international conferences and summits that were organized during the first half of the 1990s on a range of development agendas adopted action plans and programmes in which participation, inclusion and improved well being of persons with disabilities were accorded a special emphasis.
Most recently, the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 2000/51 of 25 April 2000, entitled "Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities." The resolution invites treaty bodies and their Special Rapporteurs to include the rights of persons with disabilities in the monitoring of the implementation of the relevant human rights instruments. The resolution also urges Governments to include the question of human rights of persons with disabilities in their reporting requirements under the existing human rights treaties and calls for cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to examine possible measures to strengthen the protection and monitoring of the human rights of persons with disabilities.
World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons:
Persons with disabilities often are excluded from the mainstream of the society and denied their human rights. Both de jure and de facto discrimination against persons with disabilities have a long history and take various forms. They range from invidious discrimination, such as the denial of educational opportunities, to more subtle forms of discrimination, such as segregation and isolation because of the imposition of physical and social barriers. Effects of disability-based discrimination have been particularly severe in fields such as education, employment, housing, transport, cultural life and access to public places and services. This may result from distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference, or denial of reasonable accommodation on the basis of disablement, which effectively nullifies or impairs the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities.
However, the experiences from developed societies have indicated that provision of affirmative social, cultural, economic, legal and healthcare actions and support through barrier free environmental setting with the help of scientific, technical aids and appliances have significantly reduced their handicaps and paved the way for their smooth inclusion, interaction and adaptation with the society and surroundings. Social model of disability views handicaps more as a consequence of oppression, prejudice and discrimination by the society. Therefore a view that handicap is made, and not acquired by a majority of impairments and disabilities are gaining recognition globally.
Despite some progress in terms of legislation over the past decades, such violations of the human rights of persons with disabilities have not been systematically addressed in many societies. Most disability legislation and policies are based on the assumption that disabled persons simply are not able to exercise the same rights as non-disabled persons. Consequently the situation of persons with disabilities often will be addressed in terms of rehabilitation and social services. A need exists for more comprehensive legislation to ensure the rights of disabled persons in all aspects - political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights - on an equal basis with persons without disabilities. Appropriate measures are required to address existing discrimination and to promote thereby opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate on the basis of equality in social life and development.
Attitude towards Disability:
Leeds Metropolitan University identifies disability can be negotiated in two way, one leads towards their inclusion and the other leads to their exclusion. The two major ways are:
Social or Barrier Model: It views that disabilities often lead to
Environment - this includes inaccessible buildings and services, inaccessible communication and language
Attitudes - this includes stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice
Organisations - this includes procedures and practices, which are inflexible.
These barriers 'disable' people with impairments. If these barriers are taken away or reduced the disabled people will be able to take a full and active part in society.
Medical Model of Disability: It is the traditional view that views:
The approaches of attitudes towards disabled are explained in the following model, which leads towards inclusion or exclusion depending upon the attitude towards the disabled in the society.
In the World Programme of Action, the General Assembly proclaimed 1983-1992 the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (1993) states that place of disabled person is everywhere. It states that these persons should be guaranteed equal opportunity through the elimination of all socially determined barriers, be they physical, financial, social or psychological, which exclude or restrict their full participation in the society. In the same year, the Economic and Social Council endorsed the proclamation of 1993-2002 as Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, a decision taken by the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific, in order to implement effectively the World Programme of Action in the Asian and Pacific region.