AccessAbility
Creating Access to Ability
My Story
When my son Stevin was born with Down's syndrome in 1996, I was not aware of the condition or what it entails.
However as he grew, my understanding of the challenges and potential of children, youth, and adults with disabilities increased. I realized that the biggest challenge they faced was not internal, but external. It was the society which would stand in their way of achieving their full potential by denying them many of the essential opportunities. As God would want it, I was tasked with creating some of these opportunities for my son Stevin, and through him, for many others.
As Stevin encountered obstacles in finding meaningful education, HOPE Qatar was created. In wanting to create a long term solution to parents who worried about the future of their disabled children after the death of the parent, Village of HOPE foundation was created.
One of the challenges Stevin currently faces is that he is unable to access gymnasiums or health clubs to develop his muscle tone issues. He has weak lower limbs. Unfortunately many of the gyms I have approached are reluctant to open their doors to a person with special needs. Their main dialogue being "We are not trained to handle such youth", or "Our equipment may not be suitable for him". Yet another common response that some other parents with similar situation have brought to my attention is "What will the other customers feel when they have someone with disability working out with them?"
In researching the subject I realized that there is a dire shortage of gymnasiums and health club facilities in India for individuals with disabilities - both physical and intellectual. My options are either to sit back and deny Stevin, and many others like him the opportunity to achieve full potential; or do something about it. I have chosen the second option. While many of the advanced countries in the world have legislations that guarantee equal opportunities for children, youth, and adults with disabilities, India lags behind. Even with what legislations are available currently, implementation and follow up lags behind. Many of the high end gym brands currently in India have their counterparts in America, Australia, UK and other countries who have 'equal opportunity gyms' where their equipment and staff are available to cater to the needs of the differently abled individuals. Unfortunately this is yet to happen in India.
So rather than wait for change to happen, I am initiating this small project to make the change and to be the change. But I know that being an ordinary parent with limited resources, I can not do this on my own. However with the support of other parents, corporates, and well wishers, we can make this happen. We can establish a model gym and create a social movement which can then be replicated across the country, opening up doors in existing gyms and in newly established gyms for accepting and catering to the needs of persons with disabilities. Legislations and governmental support will eventually catch up.
If any of you would like to join hands with me and the Village of HOPE foundation in making this happen, please contact us. If you have access to decision makers in the government, funding agencies, like minded corporates, please connect us. Help share our message through your social media channels, print and other media, and any other means that you have access to.
Together we can make the future of Stevin and others like him across the length and breadth of India brighter. Together we can help them achieve their full potential.
Thank you for your time.