Pre-1950: Lets hide it
History has not been kind to individuals with disability. Over the ages it was considered an aberration, that was supposed to be hidden and away from public eyes. Medieval societies would hide children and adults alike in asylums, leper-homes, or inside their houses – often locked with little freedom. Often being taken care by religious institutions, special hospitals were created to keep societies “clean”.
Activism for the rights of disabled took root in late 19th Century. Louis Braille, himself visually challenged in childhood due to an eye infection, developed a tactile code. This code, developed in 1824 was to be used extensively many years later. Braille died of tuberculosis in 1852. Three decades later, Helen Keller (b1880)lost her sight and hearing even before she was 2. It is likely that she had meningitis. Fortunately, her mother had perseverance and means to educate her and seek help from best centres in America. She became a leading disability rights advocate in 1920s.
Many soldiers in Europe suffered disability as a sequel to First World War. While care for the orthopaedic disabled was gaining ground in Europe, a quite opposite phenomenon happened in US. In 1927, US Supreme Court upheld a law allowing forced sterilisation for mentally disabled. This eugenics theory was later perpetuated in Nazi Germany, where thousands with disability were killed. Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, was a German pastor, who lived through these times. He had established church based institutions to take care of disabled and orphans. He lived through Nazi Germany, opposing eugenic policies, and saved many children from death.
In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt, disabled due to polio became president of United States, carefully hiding his disability from public view. Regardless activism for care of disabled grew, and many easter charity stamps were printed to raise funds for rehabilitation.
Post 1950-Lets do something about it
Rising from the ravages of Second World War, nations and organisations became altruistic. In 1948, UN recognised human rights for all, and in 1950 established early guidelines for rehabilitation. Declaration of rights of disabled persons was adopted in 1975. Meanwhile civil rights movement gained steam in US in 1960s, giving steam to disability rights. In this backdrop, UN declared 1981 as “International Year of disabled persons (IYDP)”. Many countries issued postage stamps to increase awareness about rights of the disabled. Subsequently in 1982, it was decided to observe 3rd December as disability day.
Post 1990: Affirmative action
It was only in 1990, American disability act was passed, prohibiting discrimination on account of disability. In 1995, India reserved 3% of all government jobs for “people with disability”, and in 2001 census disabled were counted for the first time. They constituted 2.1% of the population. In the coming years global disability movement gained pace, and a UN convention on rights of people with disabilities was adopted in 2006. These affirmative actions improved access of public facilities for disabled.
In 2009, US passed Rosa law, replacing the term “mental-retardation” with “intellectual disability”. Over the years we have become much more sensitive about terminologies we use for individuals with disability. Focus is on using positives rather than negatives. We are adapting to this inclusive language, which was not the case even in postage stamps a few decades ago. New forms of disability are being recognised, such as substance abuse, thalassemias, and learning disorders.
Expansion of list of disabilities suggests a greater acceptance of the conditions in the society. It also reinforces the belief that “perfection” is more of an utopia and eugenics is a concept from the past.
