When the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, became a reality, there was a lot to cheer about. Reason: The number of disabilities within the ambit of the Act went up from seven to 21. However, several months down the line, people with the newly introduced disabilities are realising that the Act was only half the battle won. Many of those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are finding that getting certified as being disabled is a mammoth task in itself.
Sarbani Mallick, founder-director and managing director of Bubbles Centre for Autism, said the process of getting a disability certificate from government hospitals, as mandated by the Act, is proving to be “cumbersome” as medical staff are often ill-equipped to handle such cases.
“We have about 40 students and only half of them have been able to get the certificate. When they go to get the certificate, they are being shown as mentally retarded. This is because many of our students are very good at reading, can answer social questions as they are taught and rehearsed, and have a rote memory better than most of us. People are less informed about a prominent disability like autism,” she said.
Without the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) certificate, people with disabilities will not be able to apply for a Unique Disability ID (UDID).
Parents and children who have made the trip to the hospital say the experience has left them numb. Preeti took her nine-year-old autistic daughter to the hospital in May. “They try bracketing every one under mental retardation. As a parent, you want an expert opinion. But what you get is basic questions such as what is ASD, and if she is on medication. You expect medical professionals to counsel you, but here I was educating them,” she said, narrating how a child with anxiety issues was made to go through a similar procedure thrice, and being handed over a result that said she had mild mental retardation.
Ayesha’s 15-year-old son was certified as having ASD when he was four years old. With subsequent therapy and training, he grew into a high-performing child. This turned out to be his bane. “They refused to certify him as disabled. It is not the monetary benefits I am interested in with this certificate. We fly frequently to the UAE as my husband works there. A disability certificate would ease the immigration process for us. He is set to go to college, and it would help him there too,” she said.
Guidelines soon
But there may be a solution in sight. Senior officials at the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi, said they were in the process of readying guidelines in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. “The guidelines will be notified in two months, after consultation with Law Department,” said an official.
“There is no problem in getting certificates and identity cards for the seven disabilities as per the old Bill. For the new ones added, it will be clearer once the guidelines have been completed. In addition to this, State governments may also want to give some kind of training to doctors and others involved in the process to make it easier,” he said.
As for Aadhaar cards, the official said it was not a mandatory requirement to get a UDID.
