We dedicate this month’s issue of Pulse to International Day of People with Disabilities*.
Nobel Prize winner Edwin Krebs was hearing impaired. Another Nobel laureate, Dorothy Hodgkins suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since her 20s. Autism, arthritis, blindness, hearing impairment, quadriplegia, and type1 diabetes- are some of the disabilities that the scientists in the list compiled by The Royal Society to commemorate International Day of People with Disabilities suffer from. Many of the scientists that made it to this list either suffered from an early age and were aware of their disability or developed a disability later in life. Then there were those who did not realize they had a disability until they were diagnosed much later in life.
“Disability is part of being human. Almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life. An estimated 1.3 billion people – about 16% of the global population – currently experience significant disability.” – WHO
While most people are familiar with the above mentioned disabilities, one category that has been left out by many, and until recently even I was not aware of is – ‘mental health disability’ Many global corporations and international universities/research institutes have now started including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia in their disability statement. I wonder how many individuals with a mental health condition would choose to disclose their condition, specially in India.I also wonder whether Indian corporate and academia will even follow this practice as many people may object and even use the cliched statement – ‘everyone is disabled in their own way’. I now feel that this statement does no good to anyone. It dismisses a disability which prevents an individual from interacting with one’s environment. It not just supports the non-inclusive environment but also justifies it. Yes, it is important to comfort a child who has just learnt about their disability but then would it not be more prudent to let them identify and see their unique ability instead of searching for disability in others?
*3rd December is celebrated as International Day of People with Disabilities.
Featured image by Nikita Bhor
Poorti Kathpalia, a scientist by training, is now pursuing her passion for making science fun and accessible through her sci-comm activities.