For quite some the, however, the a p h i s of di&ility policy
on an k&viblised
approach. The disabled person should receive training, technical aids and different suppo&
services to increase his or her capacity to deal with various tasks and challenges in life. Thus,
the concept of developmental rehabilitation emerged and along with it, the appreciation of the
need to develop the necessary professional workers. The need to convey that persons with
disabilities are entitled to qualitative services not only to the society, but also to the disabled
themselves is felt. Despite all the training and services, disabled persons have been facing
obstacles preventing them &om participating in day-to-day life activities. What is the use of
being able to maoeuvre a wheelchair perfectly, if the physical enviroment does not allow you
to go to the places you want to go ? What is the use of learning to read Braille, if nothing or
very little of what you want to read is available in Braille ?
A first attempt to structure this new and more complex disability concept was made by
the World Wealth Organisation in its classification of impairment, disability and handicap. The
WHO defmitions, however, are considered by many, to be too much individual - oriented and
medical in nature. The breakthrough for these new ideas came in the form of the International
Year of Disabled Persons in 198 1 and its theme " full participation and equality". A World
Programe of Action was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982, which
outlined and sumarised a modern disability policy. The World Programe included many
important contributions. Disability policy was for the first time structured in three main areas -
prevention, rehabilitation and equalisation of opportunities. The first two areas - Prevention and
Rehabilitation - whlch are well lcnown and established in the disability field, were presented in
a rather traditional manner. The third area, equalisation of oppomities, offers a very important
contribution to disability policy, dealing with the task of &g the surrounding society accessible
and usable,
The States should recognise the right of the organisations of persons with disabilities to
represent their groups at all levels. States should encourage and support the fornation and
strengthening of such orgmisations. Disability involves all spheres of society and therefore, it is
necessary to evolve a comprehensive approach.
In all societies of the world there are still obstacles preventing persons with disabilities -firom
exercising their rights and freedom and making it discult for them to participate fUlly in the
activities of their societies. It is the responsibility of states to take appropriate action to remove
such obstacles. Equalising oppomnities for the persons with disabilities means to "remove
obstacles". It is the responsibility of States, i.e. governments, to ensure that this is done. The
actual obstacle may be present anywhere
ciety, in the private or the public sector, and
therefore, the methods chosen by the gove
t must vary from sihlation to sihation. The
ent, however, still has the final responsibility to make sure that something fiqpens.
It is hoped that India's entry into the next millennium would be as grafld, fascinating and
promising as the birth of a baby without disability which is ready to explore the world and take
on the challenges of life with free appropriate education, health care, seltesteem and socio-
emtional well-king.
I am sanguine that as we enter in the first year of 21st century, we will focus with new
vision and collecgve enera, in hproving the qualily and employment optiom for persons with
disabilities. We em embrace employers, other organisations and cotleag-ues in the process of
enabling persons with disabilities to transfom the economic dependency to productive work
and buitd a civilised society To quote Indira Gandhgi who said "'I am forever astonished how,