My tryst with Inclusivity

I stay in Gurugram, a place also known as the “millennium city”. In the residential society I stay in, there is child who takes a walk with his mother every evening. I have seen this particular child many times while I go for a run in the evenings. In many of these instances, I wanted to step up and say hello to the child. But I was afraid. I didn’t want to be judged. And also didn’t want the mother to think that I was being judgmental. You see, that child is no ordinary child, he has cerebral palsy — a condition that affects muscle coordination & limits body movement. Seeing him on a wheelchair, I (for some reason) didn’t know how to behave. I didn’t know if my saying hello would be welcomed by the mother & child or it would be considered prying.
As life would have it, we (at Plowns) got a golden opportunity to work with the Government of India( through its autonomous body — National Trust) on the “Inclusive India initiative”. This initiative is particularly aimed at building mass level awareness around Developmental disabilities, a diverse group of chronic conditions caused due to mental or physical impairments (including cerebral palsy). And having closely worked with the team of National Trust, volunteers & parents doing significant work in the field — I have come to realize that it is not just me who suffers from this confusion. We, the mainstream, just don’t have enough information on what developmental disabilities are & neither do we make an effort to enlighten ourselves. Most of us have an attitude — “Since I am not affected, Why should I care?”. Which, my friends, is a shame!
How many of us know the difference between Autism & Down’s syndrome? How many of us know that severity of autism is measured on a spectrum? How many of us know that Down’s Syndrome is the only developmental disability which can be made out visually. But shouldn’t we? According to estimates 2–3% of India’s population is directly affected by Developmental disabilities, which converts to about 10% affected indirectly. Isn’t that too large a population not to “Care” about.
But the problem somewhere lies in the system. A mainstream School Director once told me — “80% kids in our school are useless”. Over the past 2 years, I have had the fortune & misfortune of meeting many such people who have disappointed me, but have also encouraged me to keep striving for change.
When we started Plowns, we were clear on what our mission is — “Showcasing the best in every child” & when we say every, we don’t discriminate in anyway. No religion, No country, No caste, No disability, No XYZ. We genuinely believe that every child brings with him/her special gifts, If one can’t draw he maybe an excellent speaker & someone who isn’t gifted at speech may be amazing at science. Who are we to decide — Who’s talented & who’s not?
Inclusive India Initiative has helped us & me go a step further in that journey. It has given me the fortune of meeting a Special Olympics Gold medalist -He’s the only Olympian I have ever met & He is an inspiration. It has also helped me make friends with a Down’s Syndrome child, who is the most amazing girl I have ever met in the world. I am waiting for the day I come across the child & mother in my society & I will make sure I go upto the child & smile & say hello. Because that’s all they need. That’s all anyone needs. Because, beneath the abilities & disabilities — we are all the same.
I am Inclusive. Are you?
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