The Disney park is truly a ‘dream’ world – especially in India. The experience of each and every guest at any of the Disney Parks of the world is one of joy and happiness. The infrastructure and the trained hosts make everyone feel wholesome and wanted; be it a toddler, an adult, a senior citizen, an obese person or a guest with disability on a wheelchair. Each and every show, ride and facilities like a store or restaurant is wheelchair friendly, enabling inclusion in its true sense.
Cut to India. Schools, parks, gardens, bazzars, colleges, banks, post offices, railways stations, transportation systems, roads, footpaths, places of worship, corporate offices and complexes, theaters, courts, government offices…none of them are disabled friendly. Not even 1% of our nation is wheelchair accessible; depricing over 700 million people with disability the dignity of independence. To reverse and set this right are the voices of only the people with disabilities and their family members. Our constitution grants every citizen Equality for over 52 years now. This is as unequal as it can get. The built environment and infrastructure plays a very crucial role to grant this equality.
Insaniyat (hindi) – Humanity, humanness is what it takes to include this huge invisible population. A Stephen Hawking got the opportunity in his country and thus was able to come up with the Theory of Black Holes, which none able bodied people could do. A quadriplegic in Canada holds a ministerial post in the House of Commons. A Oscar Pictorius can compete in the Olympics with artificial legs due to the positive attitude in his home nation.
Having tasted the joy of the Disney Park personally, I believe it is still possible. If they can do it all over the world, surely this is not something which we cannot replicate? Imagine the high self esteem of our people with disabilities given an infrastructure and positive behaviour of people managing these places can create. More nobel laureates, more Olympians and more patriots. Its strongly recommended that every urban planner, architect, interior designer, corporate decision maker to take a break and visit a Disney park on their next trip abroad. One needs to have such an attitude towards its citizenry to transform to a truly inclusive society. We can then proudly say in unison “ India is indeed a global superpower!”
Dr Ketna L Mehta
(Author can be reached at ketnam@gmail.com)
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