Braille printer installed in Madras HC for visually challenged

• The Madras High Court has installed a Braille printer at its principal seat in Chennai for providing judgment and order copies to visually challenged lawyers and litigants.
• The notification states that the facility had been created to facilitate access to justice and to comply with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016.
• The Bench had also insisted upon appointing interpreters proficient in interacting with those with speech and hearing difficulties.

Braille

• It is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired.
• It is traditionally written with embossed paper.
• Braille users can read computer screens and other electronic supports using refreshable braille displays.
• They can write braille with the original slate and stylus or type it on a braille writer, such as a portable braille notetaker or computer that prints with a braille embosser.
• Braille is named after its creator, Louis Braille, a Frenchman who lost his sight as a result of a childhood accident.
• In 1824, at the age of fifteen, he developed a code for the French alphabet as an improvement on night writing.

Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.

• An impairment is a problem in body function or structure;

• An activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action;

• A participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations.

• As per Census 2011, in India, out of the total population of 121 crore, about 2.68 Cr persons are ‘Disabled’ (2.21% of the total population)

• Out of 2.68 crore, 1.5 crore are males and 1.18 crore are females.

• Majority (69%) of the disabled population resided in rural areas.

Constitutional Frameworks for Disabled in India

• Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) states that State shall make effective provision for securing right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, within the limits of its economic capacity and development.

• The subject of ‘relief of the disabled and unemployable’ is specified in state list of the Seventh Schedule of the constitution.

Legislations for Disabled

Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016

• The Act replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

• ""Person with disability"" means a person with long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with barriers, hinders his full and effective participation in society equally with others.

• ""Person with benchmark disability"" means a person with not less than 40% of a specified disability where specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms and includes a person with a disability where specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority.

• Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.

• Principles stated to be implemented for empowerment of persons with disabilities (PWD) are respect for the inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons.The principle reflects a paradigm shift in thinking about disability from a social welfare concern to a human rights issue.

• The types of disabilities have been increased from 7 to 21. The act added mental illness, autism, spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological conditions, speech and language disability, thalassemia, hemophilia, sickle cell disease, multiple disabilities including deaf blindness, acid attack victims and Parkinson’s disease which were largely ignored in earlier act. In addition, the Government has been authorized to notify any other category of specified disability.

Programmes/initiatives for Disabled in India

1. Accessible India Campaign : Creation of Accessible Environment for PwDs:

• A nation-wide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility that will enable persons with disabilities to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.
• The campaign targets at enhancing the accessibility of built environment, transport system and Information & communication ecosystem.

2. DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Under the scheme financial assistance is provided to NGOs for providing various services to Persons with Disabilities, like special schools, vocational training centres, community based rehabilitation, pre-school and early intervention etc

3. Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP): The Scheme aims at helping the disabled persons by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach.

4. National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities (RGMF)

• This scheme aims to increase opportunities to students with disabilities for pursuing higher education.
• Under this Scheme, 200 Fellowships per year are granted to students with disability.