The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes ‘disability’ as a term that refers to a huge spectrum of impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions.

Impairment is classed as a problem in body function or structure. An activity limitation is something that causes difficulties when undertaking a task or action, while participation restriction causes difficulties when undertaking day-to-day tasks.

Census 2001 has revealed that over 21 million people in India as suffering from one or the other kind of disability. This is equivalent to 2.1% of the population. Among the total people with disabilities in the country, 12.6 million are males and 9.3 million are females.  Although the number of people with disabilities is more in rural and urban areas. Such proportion of the people with disabilities by sex in rural and urban areas. Such proportion has been reported between 57-58 per cent for males and 42-43 per cent females. The disability rate (number of disabled per 100,000 populations) for the country as whole works out to 2130. This is 2,369in the case of males and 1,874 in the case of females.

 

Among the five types of disabilities on which data has been collected, disability in seeing is at 48.5% emerges as the top of the categories.  Others in sequence are: In movement (27.9%), Mental (10.3%), in speech (7.5%), and in hearing (5.8%). The people with disabilities by gender follow a similar pattern except for that the proportion of females with disabilities is higher in the category in seeing and in hearing.

 

Across the country, the highest number of people with disabilities has been reported from the state of Uttar Pradesh (3.6 million). Significant numbers of disabled have also been reported from the state like Bihar (1.9 million), West Bengal (1.8million), Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra (1.6 million each). Tamil Nadu is the only state, which has a higher number of females with disabilities than males. Among the states, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest proportion of males with disabilities (66.6%) and lowest proportion of females with disabilities. 

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014   Highlights of the Bill The Bill replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.  Instead of seven disabilities specified in the Act, the Bill covers 19 conditions.   Persons with at least 40% of a disability are entitled to certain benefits such as reservations in education and employment, preference in government schemes, etc. The Bill confers several rights and entitlements to disabled persons.  These include disabled friendly access to all public buildings, hospitals, modes of transport, polling stations, etc.  In case of mentally ill persons, district courts may award two types of guardianship.  A limited guardian takes decisions jointly with the mentally ill person.  A plenary guardian takes decisions on behalf of the mentally ill person, without consulting him.  Violation of any provision of the Act is punishable with imprisonment up to six months, and/or fine of ₹10,000.  Subsequent violations carry a higher penalty.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, a comprehensive measure that covers a whole spectrum of problems from physical disabilities to mental illness and multiple disabilities. It will replace the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995.

Salient features of the Bill:

• It increases reservation for disabled people in government offices and educational institutions to 5% from 3%. 
• It also mandates local governments to provide appropriate incentives to employers in the private sector to ensure that at least 5% of their work force comprises people with disabilities. Of the additional quota 1% is for people with mental disabilities and people with multiple disabilities.
• Person with disability would also have the right to appeal against the decision of appointment of legal guardian.
• Disability Certificate to be valid across the country.
• Educational institutions funded and recognized will have to provide inclusive education for children with disability.
• The appropriate Governments to constitute to expert committee with representation of persons with disabilities for identification of posts for Government employment for persons with disabilities.
• National Commission and State Commission will have power to exempt any post in an establishment from the purview of reservation for persons with disabilities.
• For greater coverage and employability in Government sector, the appropriate Governments to prescribe relaxation for upper age limit for employment of PWD.
• National Commission shall formulate and enforce regulations.

Where is help available for people with disabilities

Whether the disability develops early or later in life, there are many avenues of support available, both for the individual and the family.

Department for empowerment of person with disabilities with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has various scheme for people with disabilities.  Please visit the following website for more information.

http://www.disabilityaffairs.gov.in/content/

Similarly, there are enormous central government schemes and benefits available for persons with disabilities.  For more information and details please click on the following link:

http://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/central-government-schemes

 

If you have a disability and would like to speak to someone in a confidential and non-judgemental setting, use our advanced search tool to find a counsellor near you.

 

Disability counselling

There are a number of avenues that you can explore to help manage your situation. Disability counselling in particular can provide support to people with disabilities, as well as their partners, family and carers.

 

Living with a disability can be a long journey, both mentally and physically. It can be just as tough for those who live with, or care for a disabled person. Friends and family may too find it difficult to come to terms with the condition, as well as adapting to a lifestyle that involves new challenges. You may find disability counselling beneficial if you are suddenly classed as disabled as a result of an accident. Similarly, if you have a serious health condition, such as cancer, it can provide some of the support you may need.

It can often lead to low social support and financial hardship. These experiences can then be linked to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Counselling can help to address these issues, as well as helping you cope better with the disability and adapting to the changes it brings. The aim of disability counselling is to provide a safe and supportive space for you to discuss your concerns and fears. A trusted professional will be there to help you explore ways of making these more manageable.

Types of disability

A disability can be any physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional or developmental condition that hampers or reduces a person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks. In some cases, people may have a combination of some, or all those mentioned above. A disability can be present at birth or occur later in life, depending on the nature of the condition.

Physical

A physical disability can either temporarily or permanently affect an individual’s mobility and/or physical capacity. Such disabilities include muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, ME, Spina bifida, a spinal cord or brain injury or cerebral palsy.

Sensory

A sensory disability can affect one or more of an individual’s senses, such as touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing and special awareness.  Hearing loss, blindness and autism all fall under the ‘sensory disability’ category.

Mental health

Disabilities that affect an individual’s mental health include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, as they can affect the way a person thinks and behaves and can restrict their ability to carry out daily tasks.

Learning

A learning disability is a disorder of an individual’s central nervous system, which affects their learning process. People with a learning disability may need support to develop new skills and understand complicated information. But, it doesn’t mean that the individual is incapable of learning, it just means they learn in a different way.

Chronic

A person to meet the definition of ‘disability’, the impairment will have had a substantial and long-term effect on the person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks. For the purpose of deciding whether a person is disabled, a long-term effect is one which has lasted at least 12 months; the total period it’s due to last is likely to be at least 12 months; or the effect is likely to last for the rest of the person’s lifetime.

What should I be looking for in a counsellor or psychotherapist?

There are currently no laws or regulations in place stipulating what training and qualifications a counsellor must have in order to treat someone with a disability. However, guidelines, including:

• For patients with initial presentation of moderate depression and a chronic physical health problem, professionals must offer a choice of high-intensity psychological interventions, such as group-based CBT, individual CBT or behavioural Couples therapy.

• Patients with depression and a chronic physical health problem should be informed about the national resource, self-help groups and support groups available.