Mohammad Irshad, a person with a disability and a native of Bengaluru, when asked about the current state of accessibility for the disabled in the city, said: “I have never been to a public washroom”. Irshad, diagnosed with a condition called Spina Bifida, where a baby's spinal cord fails to develop properly, has been a wheelchair user for as long as he can remember. Irshad believes that the lack of accessibility in Bengaluru stems from the fact that the public and policymakers are unaware of the types of disabilities that exist. He believes accessibility for people with disabilities can only…
Read moreArticles by Jacob Kurian
After several decades as a senior professional with the Tata Group and a variety of multinational companies, Jacob Kurian was invited to join The Association of People with Disability (APD) as a trustee and Honorary Secretary in 2017. He has served in that capacity since and is actively engaged in supporting the executive team across a variety of areas. APD is a 63-year-old, Bengaluru-headquartered NGO, which collaborates with diverse organisations, including the Government, corporates, social and disabled people organisations. It works to support people with disabilities, using diverse programs and initiatives, in the areas of health, education, livelihood, and advocacy.