During a Twitter chat with Mumbai-based feminist collective Why Loiter on December 23, disability and gender rights activist Nidhi Goyal spoke about the many ways in which our society denies access to women as well as people with disabilities (PWD).
Goyal, who is visually impaired, drew on her own experiences of navigating through urban spaces. Crumbling or missing pavements, an utter disregard for pedestrians, and traffic signal systems that were never made disability-friendly, the inadequacies of public transport, a lack of street lighting – these and more pose severe challenges to the mobility of women and PWDs.
Disabled women invisible in the planning discourse both because they are women & disabled. Double discrimination@dameinindia @dis_sexuality
— Why Loiter? (@whyloiter) December 23, 2016
And the cause for this?
The image in our heads is that the disabled woman is helpless, dependent, and confined to her house so for us she is invisible @whyloiter
— Sexuality&Disability (@dis_sexuality) December 23, 2016
Once you have invisibilised an entire population, you no longer have to address their concerns. Things have been carrying on like this for so long, which is why Goyal points out that:
To become disability inclusive and to particularly cater to the needs of women with disabilities – we need a major change @whyloiter
— Sexuality&Disability (@dis_sexuality) December 23, 2016
When infrastructure fails to be women- and PWD-friendly, safety becomes a huge concern.
If I as a woman need to give access to my hand to every stranger on the street, just b/c there are no beepers at the signal + @whyloiter
— Sexuality&Disability (@dis_sexuality) December 23, 2016
then that heightens my vulnerability @whyloiter
— Sexuality&Disability (@dis_sexuality) December 23, 2016
The example Goyal gives is one that non-disabled people are unlikely to have even considered, but this is what makes up the everyday experience of disabled women in India. And while infrastructure may be lacking, there’s something to be said other people’s behaviour too:
It’s not acceptable to stare at women, but when I enter a restaurant, all the tables go quiet and stare at me @whyloiter
— Sexuality&Disability (@dis_sexuality) December 23, 2016
And it’s not because I’m hot or a celebrity, it’s because I’m disabled 😉 😉 😉 😉 @whyloiter
— Sexuality&Disability (@dis_sexuality) December 23, 2016
Yes the gaze is not just ableist, sexist but also paternal benevolent even then they try to do something!#WhyLoiter @dis_sexuality
— Why Loiter? (@whyloiter) December 23, 2016
Goyal spoke of the role technology has played in making public spaces more accessible. She says it’s a mixed bag, with its positives:
As a blind woman I always travelled alone but Google Maps has enhanced my confidence of navigating a space @beralertalibosh @whyloiter
— Sexuality&Disability (@dis_sexuality) December 23, 2016
And negatives:
As a blind woman using voiceovers I can’t access most dating apps, many banking apps, can’t even book my own ticket! @whyloiter
— Sexuality&Disability (@dis_sexuality) December 23, 2016
Public spaces and technology need to become accessible. This isn’t a debate. This will require non-disabled people to respect facilities created specifically for disabled people – like lifts and reserved seats in the Metros, or tactile paths in public spaces. It will require public works and transport to take a far more active role in ensuring mobility for disabled people. It will require learning material to be available in formats that are more accessible. And it will require policy and decision-making to happen with the involvement and express approval of PWDs. The passing of the Rights of People With Disabilities Bill earlier this month comes as a significant victory, with its provisions on free education for disabled children, on reproductive health rights for pregnant women with disabilities and more. It now remains to be seen how well all of this will be implemented.