When a person is having a difficulty in doing some daily functions, like:

• seeing
• hearing
• in moving from one place to the other
• using limbs such as hands
• difficulty in thinking or learning very basic concepts
• undergoes changes in behaviors she or he may have an impairment.

According to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by India in 2007, "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."

An impairment leading to disability may be present from birth or a person may acquire a disability at any time during the person's life.

There may be individual differences in the pace of growth and development of children, but when the attainment of a developmental milestone is significantly delayed, it calls for a cautious follow-up. In very young children, one can see if the child is doing things like crawling, standing, walking, talking more or less at the same age as other children. If an infant follows you with her or his eyes at three months, it is important for a caretaker or mother to notice if the baby responds to sounds or is able to hold a toy. If disability is recognized in time, the chances of effective treatment are better.

It is best to share concerns with a doctor or specialists so that they can advise on activities to help the overcome the limitations of disability.

There are also instances where people acquire disability at a later stage in life due to an injury, accident or a medical condition. It is possible to recognize the disability when functions that the person was earlier able to perform are difficult or can no longer be continued. These functions may include eating food, bathing, walking, reading, cooking and other such common activities.

Certain disease conditions may lead to disability, but disability in itself is not a disease; hence the terms 'cure' or 'treatment' are not applicable. "Can a person be helped to overcome the problems associated with a disability?" is a question that can be answered in the affirmative.

Early identification of disability is important to minimize the effect of impairment. This will help the person to learn to be as independent as possible and to be able to participate in activities with others on an equal basis.

Early identification of disability is important to minimize the effect of impairment. This will help the person to learn to be as independent as possible and to be able to participate in activities with others on an equal basis.

Family support and encouragement is very important, from the time of understanding the problem from a specialist to being supportive of continuedcare.

The home environment must firstly provide the emotional and psychological support to the person living with disability to overcome their feeling of being 'different.'

The spatial environment should stay conducive to their independent functioning; for instance, making changes placement of furniture without the knowledge of a visually impaired person would make it difficult for them to get around. Many of these thoughts come out of the need to love, share, care and inform as a family member, but these needs are heightened for a person with disability. For example, if the person uses a wheelchair, things of daily use can be kept at a height where she/he can reach them on her/his own.

As a friend just be there. It is best not to be over inquisitive about the person's disability. If the person living with disability shares information about their condition, respect her or his privacy and maintain confidentiality of what is shared. Try to overcome the fear of misunderstanding or stigma and do not neglect or segregate the person or be over protective. It is possible to ensure that the person's life can continue in the same manner as before, as much as possible, with all support that she or he may need. When you make plans for fun, include your friend with disability.Do not assume that the person with disability will not like to go out to restaurants or movies or a cricket match. Again, the approach needs to be that of rehabilitation and participation in all the activities that she/he was doing earlier with whatever support is needed.

If a family member or a friend is having difficulty in hearing/speaking, apart from going to a speech therapist, efforts should be made to ensure communication does not get reduced with that person. Alternative modes of communication using information technology (SMS service, e-mails, chatting on computer), writing letters, and so on can be tried out. Positive thinking helps. Many a time, the person herself or himself would come up with an idea of the kind of support she/he would need.

Some impairments are preventable and there are various programmes in this area. There are facilities for screening, vaccinations, regular check-ups, nutrition packages and awareness programmes to know more about disability.

There are many people with disabilities who have become lawyers, journalists, doctors, scientists, engineers, bureaucrats, civil service officers, managers, entrepreneurs, politicians, assembly line workers, hospitality workers, data entry operators and so on. Films, theatre, radio programmes, street plays, puppet shows, animation programmes, melas, advertisements, painting, slogan and essay competitionsshould all be used to portray the 'correct' image of persons with disabilities in order to break the stereotypical image.

Persons with disabilities face many barriers in daily living:

• Negative attitudes
• Poor infrastructure
• Inaccessible transport
• Lack of access to information
• Lack of access to health and rehabilitation facilities
• Discrimination in education and employment
• Limited access to services like banks
• Lack of equal opportunities.

Reasonable adjustmentsby society can help persons with disability overcome some of the challengesandwould contribute to nation-building.

For example, a person using a wheelchair may not be able to go to a shop to buy a shirt, not because she/he is a wheelchair user, but because there are staircases instead of a ramp.

Similarly, a person with visual impairment may not be able to read a printed book, not because of her/his impairment, but because the book in not available in Braille or in audio format.

A hearing impaired person is unable to communicate with a banker or a police not because she/ he has a hearing impairment, but because there are no sign language interpreters in these places.

A person with mental impairment may be rejected in the interview not because she/he may not be capable of performing the job but because the employer may have a negative attitude towards persons with disabilities.

If all these barriers are removed, a person with disability can participate in the society on an equal basis with others.

Yes. There are legislations and policies that promote the rights of persons with disabilities in the country. Persons with disabilities in India have the right to get educated, travel by public transport, have reservation in education and employment, are protected against abuse/violence, have right to one's choice, equal right to justice and to live in the community.

The various disability laws in the country are:

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ratified on 1st October 2007;
• Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995;
• National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability Act, 1999;
• The Mental Health Act, 1987.
  
  Some beneficial schemes:
• Concessions in the railways for persons with disabilities.
• 3% reservation in education institutions.
• No school should refuse admission to a child with disability.
• 3% reservation in employment in government and public sector jobs.
• Vocational rehabilitation centres for persons with disabilities.
• 3% reservation in poverty alleviation programmes, like Indira AwaasYojana and NREGA.
• Provisions for loans at concessional rates from national handicapped finance and development corporation (NHFDC).
• Income tax rebates for family members who have dependent members with disabilities and also for persons with disabilities.
• Insurance policy of the national trust for persons with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, multiple disabilities and autism. There is disability pension for persons with disabilities. For availing these entitlements, it is important to get a disability certificate which is given in certain government hospitals. The information could be found from the district welfare officers.
• Many non-governmental organisations across India work for persons with disabilities in the area of rehabilitation, education, vocational training and even job placements.
  
  This information is not exhaustive and more information is available at the following websites:
• Punarbhava (comprehensive website on disability policies and schemes of persons with disabilities): www.punarbhava.in
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (nodal Ministry for Disability): www.socialjustice.nic.in
• National Trust (a statutory body, particularly for people with Developmental disabilities): http://thenationaltrust.in/
• Disability India Network (comprehensive website on disability related information): www.disabilityindia.org
• National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) ( provides loans for education and setting up of enterprise): http://nhfdc.nic.in/
  
  One could also access websites of NGOs in the disability sector for more information:
• Disability News and Information Service (timely news on disability, particularly with respect to policy): www.dnis.org
• CARENIDHI (an NGO working with children with special needs and their families/care providers in slum communities in Delhi, also produces learning resource materials/IEC materials for information dissemination in this area): www.carenidhi.org

Visit an NGO for guidance on rehabilitation, aids and assistive devices or get in touch with others with similar disabilities to know more about the disability and share your concerns. Internet and helplines such as the one maintained by AASTHA for the National Trust in India can provide information on the disability, various provisions, experiences of persons with disabilities, etc.

The Municipal Bodies and RWA can play an important role in:

• Developing disabled-friendly environment (improving physical access - schools, residential facilities, public places, monuments and so on)
• Developing parks and gardens with disabled friendly designs can contribute to improved early childhood care for all
• Universal access (design and architecture) helps people of all ages, including elderly, to enjoy a barrier-free physical environment
• Spreading the word- holding information sessions for members of the community

Persons with disability are increasingly getting mainstreamed today, thanks to the heightened awareness and advocacy efforts of various sections of society, legislation and policy measures with a rights-based approach.

Breaking down barriers - attitudinal, informational and access-related - is at the heart of inclusion and mainstreaming. The theme for this year's World Disability Day well sums up the way forward as we adapt the Disability-in-Development model - Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.