How to Help Disabled Persons Overcome Everyday Challenges

Nobody gives a second thought to the ease with which we perform everyday activities like brushing our teeth, bathing, and even commuting from one place to another. However, take a moment to stop and think about how doing such routine tasks might bring immense difficulties for people with disabilities. 

While we value independence and the ease of taking care of ourselves, most people with disabilities live dependent lives where they need a caretaker to help them do such things. You may ask how can we help a disabled person. Rather than philosophical jargon, we’re here to give you practical and targeted ways that can actually make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities around you.

Ladders for Inclusive Education

Children imbibe values better than adults. While in their nascent stages of education and thought building, children can grasp concepts easily as adults around them establish what’s ‘normal.’ To this extent, every school should include a dedicated curriculum on disabilities and the conjoined struggles. When children understand the issue at hand, they will be more adept at solving those problems and bridging the gap in the future. Moreover, seeing people with disabilities around them, kids will find it easier to understand their point of view without diminishing them or making them feel inferior.

With that being said, the model of disseminating education and knowledge in school should be wide-ranging and all-inclusive. Before asking how to help a handicapped person, we should consider the possibilities in which we can include them in daily activities. In schools, teachers should learn sign language or employ multimedia formats so that at least the communication gap can be filled.

Leveraging Technology for Inclusive Knowledge Empowerment

Rapid technological advancements have enabled our society to keep up with modern trends and hasten the process of inclusive growth. Today, some apps can turn speech into text so that deaf people can communicate, and apps can convert images into text and even audio so that people with disabilities can interact with their surroundings. 

Most classrooms and workspaces today are using smart technology to link devices and create a connected ecosystem where file sharing and communication are easy. Only using such technology to include people with disabilities can make a world of difference. Assistive tech can help disabled people work efficiently and stay on top of daily tasks. 

Essential Infrastructure: Ensuring Access to Basic Facilities

The fight for inclusivity and equitable distribution of resources is not theirs alone, but a collective effort to make our society a better place to live in. The approach of turning a blind eye to issues that don’t concern you needs to change and helping people with disabilities should become one of the top priorities for our society. 

In our schools, colleges and workplaces, we should actively participate in infrastructure discourse where we highlight the need for basic facilities that can mean the difference between livelihood and unemployment for people with disabilities. Imagine a world where your office is on the fourth floor but the building has no stairs, lifts or escalators. How helpless would you feel? You would never be able to showcase all your talent and skill if you can’t get to your place of work. Supporting people with disabilities begins with planning and maintaining basic accessibility infrastructure including ramps, elevator buttons on a suitable height, and signboards in Braille or multimedia formats. These facets bridge the gap between comfort and discomfort for people with disabilities across the globe.

Nurture People with Disabilities with Dignity

Inclusive and accessible facets will be wasted if people with disabilities don’t feel welcome and respected in society. Removing the stigma that labels them as a burden needs to be plucked and discarded. Similar to the recent conversation around gender and pronouns, we need to be careful while using certain terminology around people with disabilities. 

Until now, we have spoken about the physical barriers that stand in the way of success for people with disabilities. However, a very important topic of discussion are the social barriers that include disrespect, harassment and even abuse that people with disabilities face. They directly impact the overall well-being and mental health of disabled people which hinders them from leading a happy life. 

Guidelines for Recognizing Uniqueness and Fostering Inclusivity

Helping disabled people is not rocket science. All it takes is a little compassion, consideration, and cognitive thinking. One of the primary things is not to see them outside the confines of our society. Perspective matters and making them feel included is important. Moreover, people often have different sets of abilities so we need to recognize their unique skills and inclusively foster creativity. 

On Atypical Advantage’s platform alone, there are over 500 people with disabilities who are performing artists. Shattering the glass ceiling, these performers are excelling in their respective arts and earning a dignified livelihood. Mentors, teachers and parents should recognize such talents early on so that they can nurture them timely. 

Tailored Employment Opportunities Across Sectors

After education and a polished skillset comes an opportunity to showcase their talent. People with disabilities actively seek job and livelihood prospects that can help them capitalize on their talents. The sad reality of today is HR managers and recruiters dismiss profiles of disabled people because of the extra work they would need. As covered in the previous points, there would not be the need for ‘extra work’ when inclusive facets get normalized and added to our daily lives. 

Companies need to be open to hiring people with disabilities not just to tick off a corporate social responsibility mandate, but to embrace their diverse skills and take advantage of all the value they can add to growing your business. 

Maximizing Opportunities

Along with the rest of society, people with disabilities need to do their fair share to make space for their rights and needs. A thorough self-assessment can help people with disabilities recognize their hidden talents so they can focus on the positive and work towards leading a life of respect and dignity. It can be through participating in co-curricular activities in school and college, or through IQ and cognitive tests that outline the fields one can excel in. This is how one can find their calling and work on gaining more knowledge in that field.

When people know their worth and what they’re great at, nobody can stop them from achieving their dreams. Skill development, networking, and gaining work experience through internships contribute to a well-rounded profile. Continuous learning and professional development along with strategic job search approaches are essential components of a successful career journey. With actionable goals and a consistent mindset, people with disabilities can turn their dreams into reality. 

Sustaining Active Engagement

Whether we’re in school or at an office event, being picked last for anything hurts. Now imagine a world where you cannot even partake in the activity let alone be picked last. Inclusion in society does not happen overnight. With active efforts from both people with disabilities and others, we can ensure everyone feels welcome. Sustaining active engagement includes organizing events that celebrate the talents of people with disabilities including sports, talent shows, and olympiads. Paratheletics is a growing field that still needs more attention and support from society. 

How does Atypical Advantage help disabled people overcome their everyday challenges?

Established with the sole aspiration of making lives easier and respectable for people with disabilities, Atypical Advantage wants to empower every person with disability across the country and ultimately across the globe. With separate verticals for employment opportunities, performing arts and visual arts, the platform prides itself on connecting organizations and employers with people with disabilities. We also organize seminars and workshops that educate people on the needs of people with disabilities and how they can contribute towards a more inclusive society. The journey hasn’t been easy, but the rewards we reap along the way make every moment worthwhile. Our impact stories are endless, from selling artworks by people with disabilities to ensuring they get placed at a good company. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the journey of empowerment for people with disabilities is a testament to resilience, determination, and the ability to transcend everyday challenges. Through proactive measures such as self-awareness, effective communication, and skill development, people with disabilities can not only overcome obstacles but also thrive in their personal and professional lives. 

The power of community, the support of allies, and the celebration of diversity contribute to an inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to realize their full potential. As we continue to break down barriers and promote understanding, it becomes evident that empowerment knows no bounds. By embracing the strengths and unique perspectives of individuals with disabilities, we pave the way for a more compassionate and equitable world.

Atypical Advantage is India’s largest livelihood platform for Persons with Disabilities(PWD). Whether it is a singer looking for a show, a visual artist looking to sell their paintings, or job seekers with disabilities looking for career opportunities, it bridges the supply & demand side inefficiencies so that Persons with Disabilities can earn a dignified income. We have a large pool of 15,000+ talents with disabilities and have worked with 250+ corporates within a short span of 3 years. We were also featured on Shark Tank Season 2 and were declared the winner of the prestigious National Startup Award under the social impact category by the Union Government. For more information, visit our website here.