Photograph by Raju Singh, Blind With Camera
Beyond Profit is very happy to collaborate with Inclusive Planet, a great social enterprise that is creating innovative products and services for the differently-abled and, in the process, building India’s first online community and marketplace for the differently-abled. In our first guest contribution to the Inclusive Planet blog, we draw attention to three organizations that have moved away from a victim-centric view of disability by productively employing persons with disabilities. Hats off to the tireless efforts of the Diya Foundation, Blind with Camera, and EnAble India.
Disability is a global issue. Not a regional issue. Not a national issue. But a global issue. That said, in many countries, it does not get the attention that it deserves. There are a multitude of reasons: people are uncomfortable confronting the realities of disability, disability is considered socially taboo, there exists generalized societal apathy towards disability.
As a result, the differently-abled are ostracized, especially in India. They are prohibited from venturing into the public eye. From making a living. From living a life of dignity. They are treated as surplus citizens. They are seen as incapable of being contributing and productive members of society.
Social enterprise has the capability of employing the differently-abled so that they too can earn a livelihood. The following organizations are dedicated to this very mission.
- Diya Foundation – Started in 1999, Diya Foundation is a vocational training center which provides training and, more importantly, employment to adults who are mentally challenged as well as others who are differently-abled physically. Started as a bridge to smooth the transition from school to work, Diya currently employs four physically challenged staff, six abled staff, and 21 mentally challenged trainees. This year for Diwali, Diya Foundation sold delicious chocolates and colorful diyas.
- Blind With Camera – An initiative of the Beyond Sight Foundation, a not-for-profit organization prompting the art of photography in people with visual impairment, Blind With Camera provides a platform for the visually impaired to share their imagination and their point-of-view of the visual world and speak out about their unique experience, feelings, challenges, concerns and hopes. Taking photographs empower the visually disabled, provide them earning opportunities, and facilitate their social inclusion. It demystifies the polarity between blindness and visual expression and helps to sensitize people, spread awareness, and correct public perception of visual impairment.
- EnAble India – Working for the economic empowerment of the differently-abled, EnAble India empowers and ensures employment for the differently-abled. The organization ensures that the differently-abled become part of the workforce through supplemental education, extensive training and by providing assisting aids designed for daily living, education, and for the work place. Consequently, EnAble India is helping to build the next generation of differently-abled, transforming them into confident, assertive, smart, and independent people. In fact, in October 2008 in Bangalore, EnAble India even organized a job fair exclusively for the differently-abled. At the end of the fair Sunday, 70 people with low vision or hearing impairment or mild mental retardation and other physical disabilities went back home with appointment letters as housekeepers, helpers, office assistants, and other positions in leading corporate houses. Slowly but surely, the differently-abled are being accepted into the mainstream!
These three organizations are very much moving away from a victim centric view of disability. They are creating opportunities. They are dispelling sympathy and apathy towards the differently-abled. They are encouraging the families of differently-abled persons and society at large to create a strong supportive environment for people with disabilities to helping them grow into confident, independent, and productive individuals.
