Need to make our buildings, intellectual resources accessible to differently abled: CJI DY Chandrachud

Our architectural models, intellectual resources and choices of physical or institutional design does not take into account the disabled but only considers an ableist perspective, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud recently said. .He illustrated this point with practical examples such as narrow lift doors and entry thresholds that often go unnoticed by those without disabilities but create significant obstacles for those with mobility issues.."Legal framework aside, our architectural models, intellectual resources, and choices of physical or institutional design sometimes adopt singular ableist perspective. The law now identifies that these barriers create disabilities and exclude persons from equal participation in social, economic and cultural terms," he said.Hence, he called for recognizing and overcoming systemic ableism to foster a more inclusive and equal society.The CJI was delivering the inaugural address at the India Accessibility Summit and State Disability Commissioner's Conclave 2024 in Bengaluru on Saturday..He stated that under-representation of persons with disabilities due to these barriers also excludes them from public discourse, violating a whole range of their civil rights and compromising their citizenship as well as fundamental freedoms."This exclusion also robs our public discourse of valuable inputs. We are left with a deluge of ableist perspectives that overcrowd our social conscience and weigh heavily on the way we see the world," he added..Quoting Caroline Perez’s findings on workplace bias, he drew a parallel to ableism, stating, "Similarly, our physical infrastructure and some of our policy considerations are ableist. They stem from lack of participation and they also further entrench the lack of participation of persons with disabilities—forming an endless loop of exclusion.".The CJI highlighted several initiatives and success stories that have started to break this loop, including Karnataka's 'Participatory Governance in Disability' policy, which promoted participation through various social programs. He also lauded Indian corporate institutions for leading by example in creating diverse workspaces, noting that inclusive hiring practices have become 'better economic and institutional choices.'The CJI also pointed out the importance of addressing non-visible disabilities (NVDs) and the stigma surrounding them. He mentioned a 2014 report in the Economic Times, which found that 71% of children with disabilities live in rural areas with fewer support structures. "Active diagnosis, education, and awareness campaigns will go a long way in overcoming the stigma and prejudice around NVDs," he asserted..In conclusion, CJI Chandrachud called for continuous and cooperative efforts to dismantle the 'shameful walls of exclusion.He quoted Javed Abidi, a pioneer in the disability rights movement, who once said, "I don't want the future generations of people with disabilities to experience an India that does not include them." Emphasizing the role of laws and technology as instruments of change, he stated,"Laws and technology are but instruments of change. Disability and accessibility are both complex social phenomena and the solutions lie in social dialogue. Dismissed as objects of ridicule, exploitation, and segregation, persons with disabilities have long endured institutional indifference. An accessible, dignified public life for all, can be achieved by deliberate dents at the vestiges of this indifference."