Physically Challenged: Coping with Life Effectively

The Preamble to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that “Disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” Again it  emphasizes  that  “Persons  with  disabilities  include  those who  have  long  term  physical,  mental, intellectual  or  sensory  impairments  which  in  interaction  with  various  barriers  may  hinder  their  full  and  effective  participation in society on an equal basis with others. Disability should be considered as an important issue by the Government so that this essential public health problem can be tackled in the community. The services should cover all types of disabled who need rehabilitation services and it should be part of mainstream development in the community. One of the biggest challenges is providing rehabilitation services to the unreached persons with disabilities living in rural areas and small towns. Efforts have to remain focussed on the prevention of disability and rehabilitation in our country; and, particularly in lower income countries, disabled people have to rely largely on informal systems for support. Disability should not be an obstacle to success.