Disability-unfriendly Nepal

It hasn’t been very long since we started celebrating World Disability Day in Nepal. When I was in school, no one did anything for disability. There was a day for women, a day for HIV AIDS and even a day for lovers but nothing for people with disabilities. Nobody talked about disability. You never heard about it on radio or TV or saw it in the papers. Now, there has been some progress. I see some awareness of disability-related issues. On World Disability Day, like today, you see some attention given to coverage of disability. There are workshops and talk programs held on this day to generate awareness. It never used to happen before. I think there is an increased sensitivity on the part of the media as well as policymakers now. Some of the hidden or ignored issues about disability are more talked about now. It is encouraging to see this progress. At the same time, much still remains to be done for people with disabilities in Nepal.



We have so many radio stations but there are still very few programs on the radio targeted at people with disabilities and even fewer shows conducted by people with disabilities.

Nepal needs infrastructure-level progress. Most roads don’t have sidewalks. Zebra crossings don’t have sound signals so the visually impaired can cross safely and there isn’t enough public consciousness among the drivers to stop in order to allow a blind person to pass.



Our public transport is completely unfriendly to the disabled. I have been actively discouraged by drivers not to use their vehicles. A bus driver once refused to take me on his bus, saying he was not going where I wanted to go. A passenger on the bus gave me the correct information and helped me onto the bus. The bus driver was displeased with the passenger for bringing me onboard. Perhaps, this is because he has had experience with some people with disabilities not paying the bus fare. Or, perhaps, it is because people with disabilities get 50 percent discount on public transport and that they would rather take on a full fare paying passenger. Whatever the reason, we need to make an effort to become a more integrated, disability-friendly society.



I understand that policy changes take time to get fully implemented. In the meantime, we as individuals and organizations can strive to make a positive difference.



The Rotary NDACP (Nepal Disability Awareness Campaign Project) campaign shared the stories of a few people with disabilities and the response has been huge. I have had people calling me with questions and encouragement. They come to ask me for advice for their children. They say they now believe that with a little encouragement children or people with disabilities can also achieve. There seems to be a greater feeling of hope. Parents are finding ways to help their children cope with their disabilities and excel in life in their own way. We need more inspirational stories, so that more people are inspired to overcome the limitations of their disabilities. We must create a society that encourages and empowers people living with disabilities to become actively participating and contributing members of society.



On this important day, it is my sincere hope that more people will participate in making Nepal a more disability-friendly country.



Writer is visually impaired

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