International Year for Disabled Persons

One child in every ten is born with an impairment or acquires it early in life, resulting in conditions such as blindness, deafness, mental retardation, or physical limitations. These impairments often remain undetected, and with scarce and inadequate rehabilitation services, these children become Disabled Persons, experiencing difficulties in moving, eating, seeing, speaking, hearing, or learning. Such limitations can prevent them from becoming self-reliant, useful, and productive members of society, turning their disabilities into handicaps.

However, if these children receive timely treatment, education, and training, impairments need not become disabilities, and disabilities need not become handicaps, alleviating the burden for both the individual and the community. Unfortunately, in today’s world, these children are often caught in a web of misunderstanding, superstition, and neglect. As a result, the global population of disabled persons now exceeds 500 million, with 120 million being children in developing countries. By the year 2000, it is estimated that there will be 600 million disabled persons worldwide, 150 million of whom will be children.

Much of this severe disability could be prevented, as the main causes include inadequate nutrition, complications at birth, preventable diseases, infections, and accidents. There is widespread ignorance not only about the causes but also about prevention and rehabilitation possibilities. Families and communities worldwide often allow children to grow up disabled and handicapped due to this lack of knowledge. Society tends to turn away from the disabled instead of helping them by creating needed services and opportunities.

Recognizing this global problem, the United Nations declared 1981 as the International Year for Disabled Persons. This year serves as an opportunity for governments to assess the challenge and make plans to address it. In India, the full scope of disability is still unknown, but the 1981 Census has made progress by counting the severely disabled. Sample surveys will provide additional information to help policymakers plan services. India has existing incentive schemes to encourage the employment of the disabled. In 1980, the Union Government formulated a National Plan of Action to improve prospects for prevention, rehabilitation, and assimilation. The 1981-82 Budget includes encouraging concessions and subsidies for the disabled.

The future of prevention and assistance for the disabled depends on societal attitudes. Disabled children and adults are people with problems and potential. They deserve a fair deal, and 1981 provides an opportunity to offer them just that. The Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department considers it a privilege to issue a special stamp to commemorate the International Year for Disabled Persons.

(Text by Razia Ismail, UNICEF)