The situation of People with Disabilities TODAY.
PwD will become equals when the discrimination stops. Subsidies and freebies are discriminative in nature. Read..
Ram is a child with a disability. His parents are loathe to spend money on his education. Government says, OK, we will pay for his education and all that is attached thereto. Ram goes to school. The teacher has no clue how to teach him because special education is not a part of her own education. So Ram is sent to a 'special' school. There, the quality of education cannot be questioned because it is free anyway and well, they must be the experts! And when he is in a higher class, they send him to a 'normal' school and he has no idea how to integrate and his classmates and teachers have no interest or clue either.
If he is blind, he gets a writer who often writes his paper for him and scores on his behalf too. Not always, but often times.
Note, everything is free so far.
So Ram then goes to college where his course is decided by his disability, and the intellect and empathy of the college staff that interview him. He joins a course that he hasn't chosen for himself and remains absent most of the term. Schooling was in the vernacular language. In college, the challenges begin. He still gets a writer. BTW, Ram has a free bus pass that remains unused for any meaningful purpose but he uses a fancy cellphone for whatsapp-ing and downloading his favorite songs.
He thinks this is how the world is. "Everything is free. I am entitled. You owe me. Sadda Haqq ethay rakh. Saddi Zimmedari WTF? " Hey Ram!
Ram grows into a young man who knows he has a right to employment and that there are quotas. He is told to aspire only for Bank or Government jobs. So he applies and gets a job but no work. [VI- The writer helps again.] His colleagues are not particularly empathic and no real work is given to him. The boss is not really interested. He has done his bit as the rules and policies stipulate. This nonchalant attitude has trickled down to his teams too. So there's this employee with a Disability who is not really wanted. The link breaks at some point and Ram begins hunting for another job, finds none and stays with this organization that pays him a salary that he needs!! Win win, no? He may quit and try again...and again..
Some dream of working in air-conditioned steel and glass buildings of MNCs. This is where the NGO$ come in. They conduct training programs that CANNOT POSSIBLY change an unqualified person to a fully qualified and skilled candidate in such short periods. Who is checking? Funders...aah! So NGOs show numbers by aiming at the low hanging fruit - those candidates from encouraging self respecting families who have ensured that their child has an education and training enough to qualify for good jobs. These candidates don't really need those NGOs really but hey!! Also they serve as showcase samples for websites for many years with quotations and videos in the Queen's English that bring tears to your eyes.
The good NGOs always have tears in their eyes because their bank balances are about as high as their PR [BS] skills.
Companies are confused whether this whole PwD recruitment thing comes under CSR or HR...some know, some don't. But it doesn't matter as long as numbers are available. To save on taxes, they hunt for NGOs with the highest numbers, not even bothering to find out whether the candidates are placed in jobs to their liking or worthy of their innate capabilities. Nobody really wants to meet these candidates unless it is for buying them a fancy lunch or running a marathon or painting the walls of their training rooms. [PHOTO OP PHOTO OP]
HOW WILL THIS CHANGE? Since I don't enjoy complaining without offering gyaan, here goes:
Families of the children with disabilities, Educators, NGOs, the Government, Funders seeking to save on taxes, Employers, Society...we are all a part of the problem and the solution. We must work as ONE.
1. Identify Disabilities, encourage early intervention. AWARENESS
2. Educate the child to the best level possible. Offer a subsidy only if necessary. FREE is a bad habit.
3. Ensure that the quality of education provided is not compromised. You will strain our economy more by offering free hopeless education than if you spend on better teachers' training and raise qualified candidates. BETTER TEACHERS' TRAINING. BETTER TEACHING. BETTER STUDENTS. BETTER PROSPECTS.
4. Offer reasonable incentives to parents that encourage education for their children with disabilities. RESPONSIBILITY.
5. Have more disability awareness programs for all. This is so that our society treats People with Disabilities with respect. NO PITY.
6. Teach that DUTY goes with RIGHTS.
7. Plan HOLISTIC SUPPORT for families with children and adults with disabilities
8. Understand ACCESSIBILITY in the entire sense of the word.
9. Raise SELF RESPECTING individuals who know what they want, then allow/encourage/empower them to work towards their goals.
10. Introduce SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAMS for INDIVIDUALS with different disabilities. Companies and others that complain that INVENTION AND INNOVATION are dead can perhaps try this as a challenge.
11.CORPORATE and INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS must come forward with their expertise to help train the current crop of candidates that are not fully qualified for the existing posts but can learn. NGOs are not rich or capable enough to train candidates for different jobs in different companies. Stop making them lie for funds! If you care, help them become efficient by really participating as a team member. then keep a tab on their requirements and spending. Make suggestions, help implement them. Or simply donate or don't donate...and leave if you know you don't give a rat's ass really and you've saved on your taxes! DON'T PRETEND, PLEASE!
12. Every job comes with its unique requirements and challenges and every individual comes with his/her unique capabilities. RECOGNISE INDIVIDUALS. ROUND PEGS IN SQUARE HOLES ARE UNCOMFORTABLE! Make THIS your corporate social responsibility.
13. Stop calling yourselves equal opportunity employers if you blatantly discriminate among disabilities too!
We can do this together. But our actions have to match our words. Our own intentions have to be clear. This is not an isolated single layered problem. This is about us all. WE are paying taxes that fuel these subsidies and freebies. We are making People with Disabilities incapable of productive lives. Let us set ourselves free. Let us all live with self respect and dignity. Let us restore the dignity of People with Disabilities. I have the courage to say what I think because EKansh is my passion and not my JOB. If I am forced to close it down due to sheer frustration, I will continue to work as an individual volunteer like I did before because I want to help. You...what about you?
How will we make a difference unless we really care? Sorry, but I believe Colin when he says ....
PwD will become equals when the discrimination stops. Subsidies and freebies are discriminative in nature. Read..
Ram is a child with a disability. His parents are loathe to spend money on his education. Government says, OK, we will pay for his education and all that is attached thereto. Ram goes to school. The teacher has no clue how to teach him because special education is not a part of her own education. So Ram is sent to a 'special' school. There, the quality of education cannot be questioned because it is free anyway and well, they must be the experts! And when he is in a higher class, they send him to a 'normal' school and he has no idea how to integrate and his classmates and teachers have no interest or clue either.
If he is blind, he gets a writer who often writes his paper for him and scores on his behalf too. Not always, but often times.
Note, everything is free so far.
So Ram then goes to college where his course is decided by his disability, and the intellect and empathy of the college staff that interview him. He joins a course that he hasn't chosen for himself and remains absent most of the term. Schooling was in the vernacular language. In college, the challenges begin. He still gets a writer. BTW, Ram has a free bus pass that remains unused for any meaningful purpose but he uses a fancy cellphone for whatsapp-ing and downloading his favorite songs.
He thinks this is how the world is. "Everything is free. I am entitled. You owe me. Sadda Haqq ethay rakh. Saddi Zimmedari WTF? " Hey Ram!
Ram grows into a young man who knows he has a right to employment and that there are quotas. He is told to aspire only for Bank or Government jobs. So he applies and gets a job but no work. [VI- The writer helps again.] His colleagues are not particularly empathic and no real work is given to him. The boss is not really interested. He has done his bit as the rules and policies stipulate. This nonchalant attitude has trickled down to his teams too. So there's this employee with a Disability who is not really wanted. The link breaks at some point and Ram begins hunting for another job, finds none and stays with this organization that pays him a salary that he needs!! Win win, no? He may quit and try again...and again..
Some dream of working in air-conditioned steel and glass buildings of MNCs. This is where the NGO$ come in. They conduct training programs that CANNOT POSSIBLY change an unqualified person to a fully qualified and skilled candidate in such short periods. Who is checking? Funders...aah! So NGOs show numbers by aiming at the low hanging fruit - those candidates from encouraging self respecting families who have ensured that their child has an education and training enough to qualify for good jobs. These candidates don't really need those NGOs really but hey!! Also they serve as showcase samples for websites for many years with quotations and videos in the Queen's English that bring tears to your eyes.
The good NGOs always have tears in their eyes because their bank balances are about as high as their PR [BS] skills.
Companies are confused whether this whole PwD recruitment thing comes under CSR or HR...some know, some don't. But it doesn't matter as long as numbers are available. To save on taxes, they hunt for NGOs with the highest numbers, not even bothering to find out whether the candidates are placed in jobs to their liking or worthy of their innate capabilities. Nobody really wants to meet these candidates unless it is for buying them a fancy lunch or running a marathon or painting the walls of their training rooms. [PHOTO OP PHOTO OP]
HOW WILL THIS CHANGE? Since I don't enjoy complaining without offering gyaan, here goes:
Families of the children with disabilities, Educators, NGOs, the Government, Funders seeking to save on taxes, Employers, Society...we are all a part of the problem and the solution. We must work as ONE.
1. Identify Disabilities, encourage early intervention. AWARENESS
2. Educate the child to the best level possible. Offer a subsidy only if necessary. FREE is a bad habit.
3. Ensure that the quality of education provided is not compromised. You will strain our economy more by offering free hopeless education than if you spend on better teachers' training and raise qualified candidates. BETTER TEACHERS' TRAINING. BETTER TEACHING. BETTER STUDENTS. BETTER PROSPECTS.
4. Offer reasonable incentives to parents that encourage education for their children with disabilities. RESPONSIBILITY.
5. Have more disability awareness programs for all. This is so that our society treats People with Disabilities with respect. NO PITY.
6. Teach that DUTY goes with RIGHTS.
7. Plan HOLISTIC SUPPORT for families with children and adults with disabilities
8. Understand ACCESSIBILITY in the entire sense of the word.
9. Raise SELF RESPECTING individuals who know what they want, then allow/encourage/empower them to work towards their goals.
10. Introduce SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAMS for INDIVIDUALS with different disabilities. Companies and others that complain that INVENTION AND INNOVATION are dead can perhaps try this as a challenge.
11.CORPORATE and INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS must come forward with their expertise to help train the current crop of candidates that are not fully qualified for the existing posts but can learn. NGOs are not rich or capable enough to train candidates for different jobs in different companies. Stop making them lie for funds! If you care, help them become efficient by really participating as a team member. then keep a tab on their requirements and spending. Make suggestions, help implement them. Or simply donate or don't donate...and leave if you know you don't give a rat's ass really and you've saved on your taxes! DON'T PRETEND, PLEASE!
12. Every job comes with its unique requirements and challenges and every individual comes with his/her unique capabilities. RECOGNISE INDIVIDUALS. ROUND PEGS IN SQUARE HOLES ARE UNCOMFORTABLE! Make THIS your corporate social responsibility.
13. Stop calling yourselves equal opportunity employers if you blatantly discriminate among disabilities too!
We can do this together. But our actions have to match our words. Our own intentions have to be clear. This is not an isolated single layered problem. This is about us all. WE are paying taxes that fuel these subsidies and freebies. We are making People with Disabilities incapable of productive lives. Let us set ourselves free. Let us all live with self respect and dignity. Let us restore the dignity of People with Disabilities. I have the courage to say what I think because EKansh is my passion and not my JOB. If I am forced to close it down due to sheer frustration, I will continue to work as an individual volunteer like I did before because I want to help. You...what about you?
How will we make a difference unless we really care? Sorry, but I believe Colin when he says ....
