2016 was a landmark year for Persons with Disabilities(PwDs) because of the passing of the Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016. Passed to bring into effect the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was adopted in 2006, this was a welcome move to make sure there were clear directives and protections for all aspects of a PwD’s life. 

One of the promises of this act was that “All existing public buildings shall be made accessible in accordance with the rules formulated by the Central Government within a period not exceeding five years from the date of notification of such rule”

Additionally, another clause mentioned in the act specifies that all service providers, government or private shall provide services in accordance with the rules on accessibility formulated by the Central Government within two years of the notification. 

As we write this piece in 2022, we are shocked at the state of affairs of public spaces for persons with disabilities. On one hand, we have established brands in the entertainment space like PVR show wheelchair-friendly options on their website, but the allotted space not being there when a patron tries to access it. Very recently, there has been a case of a famous old theatre in Kochi  renovating without including a ramp or any arrangements for making the space accessible. 

We wanted to focus on movie theaters as an example of public spaces whereas the same problem persists when it comes to cafes, restaurants, bus stops and almost all spaces used by the public in general. For a convention adopted 16 years back and an updated act for Persons with Disabilities(PWDs) 6 years ago, our public spaces in India still seem to be playing catch up and most of them don’t care about accessibility and disability rights enough to even make an effort. 

It will take sustained effort and pressure from all sections of society to bring about real change that truly makes our public spaces accessible and inclusive for Persons with Disabilities(PwDs). We hope the right people will be held accountable and that it happens sooner than later.

You can also check government schemes for individuals with developmental disabilities.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at  844-844-8996 You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali. 

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this article is for information purposes only.